Two months into my journey at Lightshift, I’m excited to **officially announce** that I’ve joined the team as a **Senior Investment Manager**, fully immersed in backing the next generation of early-stage companies that will shape the decentralized future. 

## From TradFi to Web3: A Logical Evolution

Before transitioning into venture capital and Web3, my career was firmly rooted in traditional finance (TradFi). As Vice President and Senior Product Manager at [Onyx by J.P. Morgan](https://www.jpmorgan.com/onyx/index), I led the development of **Confirm**, a blockchain-based cross-border payment solution designed to make payments faster, cheaper, and more secure for global financial institutions. This experience gave me a deep appreciation for the **transformative power of blockchain technology** and its potential to revolutionize financial services.

While building products at J.P. Morgan, I saw firsthand the enormous **demand from corporates and financial institutions** to streamline operations, enhance security, and increase transparency. However, the **pace of progress in TradFi is slow**—constrained by legacy infrastructure, regulatory hurdles, and risk-averse cultures. Web3, on the other hand, operates in an environment free from these restrictions.

In contrast to TradFi, Web3’s permissionless ecosystem allows for rapid iteration and a pace of innovation that is incredibly compelling. The freedom to build and evolve quickly is what makes Web3 so dynamic and aligns perfectly with **my desire to support forward-thinking founders.**

## Web3 is the Future: Why I’m All In

The shift toward decentralization is accelerating, as the limitations of traditional finance become clearer. Decentralized Finance (DeFi), unlike legacy financial systems, offers scalability, transparency, and interoperability that appeal to an increasingly broad base of users and institutions alike. My experience with Confirm showed me blockchain’s ability to revolutionize finance, but I also saw how regulatory and structural limitations within TradFi stymied its full potential.

Web3 unlocks a new frontier, offering open and permissionless financial systems accessible to anyone. For founders, this means unprecedented **opportunity** to innovate without the barriers that exist in TradFi. For investors, it presents an unparalleled chance to back companies that are pioneering the decentralized financial infrastructure of tomorrow.

Recent developments, such as [Stripe’s acquisition of Bridge](https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2024/10/22/stripes-acquisition-of-bridge-validates-the-usage-of-stablecoins-bernstein/), highlight how **even leading Web2 companies are integrating Web3 technologies** into their operations. With stablecoins now a viable tool for cross-border payments, TradFi firms are increasingly adopting the technology as a streamlined alternative to traditional banking systems. As many have pointed out, this deal represents a challenge to the TradFi banking system—enabling payments at scale without the involvement of a bank. This trend underscores the **disruptive power of Web3** and why decentralized solutions are fast becoming integral to the global financial ecosystem.

At Lightshift, we recognize that Web3 isn’t just about replacing existing systems—it’s about building entirely new models of interaction and governance that aren’t constrained by geographical borders or legacy systems. By focusing on the decentralized future, we’re betting on the builders who will create the backbone of this new decentralized world.

## The Future of Web3: Building It Together

We are at a critical inflection point in the evolution of Web3. The **next generation of decentralized tools and financial systems** will be the foundation for everything from banking to governance. At Lightshift, we believe that this future will be built by a small group of **visionary founders** with bold ideas and the resilience to bring them to life.

At Lightshift, we are the **first believers**, investing at the earliest stages when a project is just an idea. We act as the **third co-founder**, offering hands-on support to ensure each venture’s success. And we’re the **last ones standing**, building long term ideas with long-term oriented people.

This “[First. Third. Last.](https://www.lightshift.xyz/blog/making-the-shift-by-lighting-the-way-1)” philosophy—was a key inspiration for my decision to join Lightshift. I was drawn to the idea of not only providing capital but also deeply engaging with founders to help build and shape their vision.

## A Builder-First Approach: How Lightshift Elevates Founders

At Lightshift, our commitment extends far beyond writing the first check. We take pride in **co-building** with the teams we back, leveraging our collective expertise in blockchain development, cryptography, and product architecture. Our **open-source ethos** allows us to actively contribute to the success of each company, helping founders overcome the technical and strategic challenges that are inherent to Web3. For me, Lightshift presented an exciting opportunity to put my product and growth expertise to work, helping founders refine their vision and bring it to life.

We also recognize that founders need support beyond development. This is where our global network of **VCs, advisors, and industry leaders** comes into play. From going to market and closing their first clients to securing follow-on funding, we ensure our companies have every tool and relationship they need to scale effectively.

We’re committed to being there every step of the way—helping founders build, market, and scale their projects to become the **cornerstones of the decentralized economy.** The next few years will define the shape of this ecosystem, and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this journey, alongside the incredible team at Lightshift and the founders we support.

If you’re ready to **build the future** of Web3, let’s connect. We’re here to help you get there.

X/Twitter - [@0xPatrickM](https://x.com/0xPatrickM)
Linkedin - [Patrick McIntyre](https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-mcintyre1/)
