Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
In this 58th episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, we sit down with Miguel de Vega, co-founder and Chief Scientist of Nillion, to explore the groundbreaking concept of a blind computer and its implications for Web3 privacy.
With a background in engineering, mathematics, and AI, Miguel's journey led him to zero-knowledge proofs and the world of cryptography. In 2021, recognizing the urgent need for privacy-enhancing technologies in Web3, he co-founded Nillion, a company pioneering the development of a decentralized infrastructure for handling personal and private information. We delve into the intricacies of Nillion's blind computer, a decentralized network that allows computation on data without revealing the underlying information. Miguel explains how this innovative technology leverages a combination of privacy-enhancing techniques, such as multi-party computation and fully homomorphic encryption, to empower users and developers with unprecedented security and control over their data.
Join us as we discuss the challenges and opportunities of building a decentralized company, the evolution of Web3 privacy, and the potential for Nillion's blind computer to revolutionize various industries, from healthcare to finance. Discover how this cutting-edge technology is paving the way for a future where privacy and decentralization are paramount.
⌛ Timestamps:
00:00:00 Episode trailer
00:00:28 Introduction and brief self-introduction of Miguel De Vega
00:01:08 Miguel’s journey: From engineering and AI to Web3
00:04:34 Zero-knowledge proofs and the evolution of cryptography
00:05:51 How Miguel discovered Web3 and joined the crypto space in 2017
00:08:13 The shift from globalization to automation and Web3’s role in AI
00:10:09 Miguel’s hobbies: Traveling, snowboarding, and skateboarding
00:12:49 Introduction to Nillion and the concept of the “blind computer”
00:17:33 Decentralizing sensitive data with Nillion’s blind computer
00:20:35 Building production-ready systems: From academia to scale
00:22:15 Quantum security and the challenges of privacy-enhancing technologies
00:25:22 How Nillion simplifies PETs (privacy-enhancing technologies) for developers
00:31:29 Nillion’s support for Web2 and Web3 developers
00:37:10 Business model: Token incentives and building public infrastructure
00:40:47 How many people are currently working at Nillion Labs
00:43:18 What are the challenges facing Nillion Labs
00:44:45 The importance of marketing in complex Web3 projects
00:45:25 Nillion’s Tuk Tuk campaign: Bridging physical and digital marketing
00:51:36 Miguel’s take on the future of privacy in Web3
01:02:15 Nillion’s roadmap: Mainnet launch and developer success stories
01:04:34 Advice for aspiring Web3 entrepreneurs
01:08:54 Where to follow Miguel and stay updated on Nillion
01:10:27 Outro and closing remarks for the episode
Follow Miguel and his company:
Nillion website: nillion.com
Nillion Twitter/X: https://x.com/nillionnetwork
For Nillion devs: masquerade.nillion.com
Miguel's Twitter/X: https://x.com/miguel_de_vega
My social media:
Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/
Website: https://lamtrinh.xyz
My old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984
If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
In this 58th episode of Colors of Web3 and Entrepreneurship, we sit down with Miguel de Vega, co-founder and Chief Scientist of Nillion, to explore the groundbreaking concept of a blind computer and its implications for Web3 privacy.
With a background in engineering, mathematics, and AI, Miguel's journey led him to zero-knowledge proofs and the world of cryptography. In 2021, recognizing the urgent need for privacy-enhancing technologies in Web3, he co-founded Nillion, a company pioneering the development of a decentralized infrastructure for handling personal and private information. We delve into the intricacies of Nillion's blind computer, a decentralized network that allows computation on data without revealing the underlying information. Miguel explains how this innovative technology leverages a combination of privacy-enhancing techniques, such as multi-party computation and fully homomorphic encryption, to empower users and developers with unprecedented security and control over their data.
Join us as we discuss the challenges and opportunities of building a decentralized company, the evolution of Web3 privacy, and the potential for Nillion's blind computer to revolutionize various industries, from healthcare to finance. Discover how this cutting-edge technology is paving the way for a future where privacy and decentralization are paramount.
⌛ Timestamps:
00:00:00 Episode trailer
00:00:28 Introduction and brief self-introduction of Miguel De Vega
00:01:08 Miguel’s journey: From engineering and AI to Web3
00:04:34 Zero-knowledge proofs and the evolution of cryptography
00:05:51 How Miguel discovered Web3 and joined the crypto space in 2017
00:08:13 The shift from globalization to automation and Web3’s role in AI
00:10:09 Miguel’s hobbies: Traveling, snowboarding, and skateboarding
00:12:49 Introduction to Nillion and the concept of the “blind computer”
00:17:33 Decentralizing sensitive data with Nillion’s blind computer
00:20:35 Building production-ready systems: From academia to scale
00:22:15 Quantum security and the challenges of privacy-enhancing technologies
00:25:22 How Nillion simplifies PETs (privacy-enhancing technologies) for developers
00:31:29 Nillion’s support for Web2 and Web3 developers
00:37:10 Business model: Token incentives and building public infrastructure
00:40:47 How many people are currently working at Nillion Labs
00:43:18 What are the challenges facing Nillion Labs
00:44:45 The importance of marketing in complex Web3 projects
00:45:25 Nillion’s Tuk Tuk campaign: Bridging physical and digital marketing
00:51:36 Miguel’s take on the future of privacy in Web3
01:02:15 Nillion’s roadmap: Mainnet launch and developer success stories
01:04:34 Advice for aspiring Web3 entrepreneurs
01:08:54 Where to follow Miguel and stay updated on Nillion
01:10:27 Outro and closing remarks for the episode
Follow Miguel and his company:
Nillion website: nillion.com
Nillion Twitter/X: https://x.com/nillionnetwork
For Nillion devs: masquerade.nillion.com
Miguel's Twitter/X: https://x.com/miguel_de_vega
My social media:
Twitter/X: twitter.com/LamWeb3
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lamweb3/
Website: https://lamtrinh.xyz
My old article about the 2-3 prevailing narratives of 2024-2025: substack.com/home/post/p-143541984
If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to stay updated on our upcoming episodes with industry experts and innovators in the Web3 and Entrepreneurship spaces. Thank you for listening!
