Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and pastor Jerry Lopez has helped philanthropic organizations in more than 50 countries and positively impacted the lives of thousands. Presently serving as Philcoin’s CEO and Founder, he is leveraging the power of blockchain to transform digital giving.
In an exclusive interview with Coin Edition, Jerry discusses the specifics of building an ecosystem for a blockchain-based philanthropic project, explains the inherent Give-to-Earn concept, and explores how distributed ledger technology can help underprivileged communities.
Q: Can you tell us about your pastoral background and why you became interested in blockchain technology?
As a pastor, I have acted as a guide, mentor, and counselor of individuals and families and have seen their needs and challenges. When I was introduced to the blockchain space in early 2015, I realized this technology had great potential to revolutionize the way giving and earning happen. I saw how, from a ministry perspective, blockchain could provide tools to build wealth while empowering others instead of us being at the receiving end all the time.
After many years of deep study on blockchain and what it represented for humanity, I realized there was a need for a philanthropy token: the first of its kind. This was when Philcoin was born.
Q: What inspired you to start Philcoin, and what was your process for building an ecosystem?
Philcoin was made to change the way giving happens. Starting from that vision, we took on the mission to create a platform where giving is embedded into its very fabric. The idea was to create a space where people could conduct their usual activities, such as learning, earning, chatting, socializing, and listening to music while giving back to other community members.
I wanted to reach the most remote corners of the world, which meant our app needed to be easily accessible, operate on low bandwidth, and offer a great yet simple user experience.
A project like this doesn’t just require a capable team but a team who shares the same goal to make a positive impact on the world. I am grateful I found the right team to help bring this vision to life: those creating this ecosystem, those marketing it, and those doing the community building alike.
Q: Tell us more about PhilApp. What does it offer, and how does it work?
PHILApp is a decentralized super app with numerous products and features available from App Store or Google Play. Users can earn while they learn, chat, connect, refer, stake, listen to music, give back, create an account and wallet, and enjoy the numerous benefits.
Q: What web services are available through PhilApp, and what can users learn there?
There are various products and features within PHILApp. The upcoming PHILSocial is a social application where users will be able to post media, create their own causes, earn, and listen to podcasts and music. PHILStream is a space to stream one’s favorite podcasts or radio, filling their ears with all things blockchain, crypto, and Web3.
Through PHILChat, a first-of-the-kind messenger system, our users can connect with people worldwide regardless of their internet connection quality. On PHILEducation, an accredited platform, they can access free soft skills training and more;and they can also watch PHILCast for expert industry insights and more.
We also have earning opportunities: a referral program that rewards each successful and verified referral with NFTs and a staking mechanism that lets users get 15% APY on their tokens, keep half, and give back the other among them.
Q: Can you explain the Give-to-Earn concept and how it benefits underprivileged communities?
Give-to-Earn is built into each of PHILApp’s products and features. The concept is simple: to unlock your rewards, you need to give. You earn as you engage with our products, and those earnings are yours once you give back to a cause of your choice.
There are numerous non-profits listed on our app that people can give to. Alternatively, people can create their own causes in PHILSocial to help families, individuals, and communities directly, without a middleman. This is where we are pioneering peer-to-peer philanthropy.
Q: How does Philcoin promote accessible learning and communication in underprivileged communities?
Breaking out of the poverty cycle often starts with opening access to education. Philcoin’s largest communities are in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, and Latin America. These communities have faced many challenges, specifically when it comes to accessible education.
What makes our education programs unique is their focus on emotional intelligence and soft skills training to help people grow financially, mentally, socially, and emotionally. These courses are US-accredited, with internationally recognized certificates. So, in the long run, it’s not only an educational opportunity but an employment one, too.
Q: What role do you see blockchain technology playing in philanthropy and global wealth redistribution?
We’ve seen massive adoption of blockchain technology in many traditional sectors, yet the philanthropic sector remains slow to adopt it. With my background, I’ve seen first-hand how challenging it can be to give back to those in need through traditional means. Blockchain offers enormous reinventive opportunities where giving can be faster, cheaper, more transparent, and traceable.
Q: How does Philcoin measure success, and what are some of your long-term goals for the ecosystem?
Philcoin is still in its infancy, but we are scaling faster than expected. Our success is measured by the number of active users and adoption rate: today, we have over 250,000 users in our ecosystem, which has exceeded our expectations for the first year.
This traction is only set to amplify as we launch more game-changing products and features. Success will not only be about users but also how much we’ve been able to give back as a community. When we see more people in our community thrive — financially, socially, or regarding their education — that’s when we know our vision is becoming a reality.
Q: How can interested individuals and organizations get involved with Philcoin to support its mission?
We welcome all new users and organizations into the ecosystem. We know our vision is ambitious and not easily achieved alone, but with the right people and partnerships, we can achieve far more than we ever could on our own.
Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. The article does not constitute financial advice or advice of any kind. Coin Edition is not responsible for any losses incurred as a result of the utilization of content, products, or services mentioned. Readers are advised to exercise caution before taking any action related to the company.
