UBC: Tell us about the project you’re building.
David: The project I’d really like to talk about is Empathease. The idea is to create a community centered around empathy. We offer training in empathetic communication, nonviolent communication, on-demand empathy, and regular group sessions where people can practice through empathy circles.
The long-term vision includes a Web3 component. We want people to be able to request empathy on demand—kind of like Uber, but instead of requesting a ride, you’re connecting with someone who’s trained to listen. Once we reach enough users, people will be able to tip those who help them using a stablecoin like USDC.
The goal is for that experience to feel completely seamless. Users would sign in like they would with any normal web application, but under the hood they’d have a wallet that allows them to make blockchain-based payments. Eventually, I’d also like to use that system to give ownership and governance back to the people who participate in the platform. Right now, EmpathEase is completely owned by me, but blockchain creates an opportunity for the community itself to have a stake in what it’s building.
UBC: How do you see people using Empathease day to day?
David: I think different people will use it in different ways. For some, it could become a therapy replacement for certain situations. Sometimes you just need someone to talk to for ten minutes. Therapy can be expensive, and your friends aren’t always available or willing to listen. If someone can open an app, connect with a trained person who genuinely enjoys listening, and either use the service for free or voluntarily tip afterward, I think many people would choose that.
The other side of the platform is for people interested in meditation, self-improvement, and healing practices. We have a deep course on nonviolent communication, which I see as an extension of meditation because it helps people connect more deeply with themselves. So there are really multiple audiences: people who simply need support in the moment, and people who want to develop empathy as a lifelong practice.
UBC: What inspired you to get involved with blockchain technology?
David: There are probably three or four layers to that story. I used to be a professional online poker player. Around 2011, someone on a poker forum mentioned Bitcoin as a possible solution to some of the regulations affecting online poker. Bitcoin was around a dollar at the time, and I remember thinking I’d already missed the opportunity.
A few years later I was doing web development work for a friend who paid me in Bitcoin. Then Bitcoin forks started happening, and I found myself learning more about cryptocurrency. Around that time, a lot of professional poker players were also getting involved with cryptocurrencies and ICOs, so I started exploring the space from an investment perspective. I lived in Thailand for almost ten years. When I returned to the U.S., I planned to move into machine learning because I’d always loved programming. I actually wrote my first program when I was twelve. Instead, I ended up diving deeper into blockchain development. In 2021, I founded Blockchain Solutions LLC in Salt Lake City, where we built decentralized applications for startups, including smart contracts and the software that allows users to interact with them.
UBC: How do you view the broader blockchain industry today?
David: I recognize that Utah is really becoming a pioneer in this space. We have legal recognition for DAOs and other blockchain-related frameworks that put Utah ahead of many places. As I’m building, I also recognize there are still challenges ahead. For example, when I eventually want to implement tipping, governance tokens, and community ownership, I know there will be regulatory hurdles. I don’t fully know what those hurdles are yet because I’m not at that stage. I wish the pathway were clearer, but I think that’s part of building in an emerging industry.
UBC: Why did you decide to build in Utah?
David: I never actually intended to come to Utah. After living in Thailand for about ten years, I came back to visit family and friends just as COVID happened. I originally planned to stay briefly before returning to Asia, but that didn’t happen. While I was here, my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I brought her to Utah so I could become her caretaker, and that anchored me here.
That experience forced me to become more grounded and accountable. It also coincided with founding my blockchain company. I often say I was brought here by the universe with no intention of staying. Since then, I’ve focused on supporting myself, my family, and doing my best with the circumstances life has given me.
UBC: What impact do you hope Empathease will have?
David: I would love to see more people recognize the value of empathy and actually practice it. Technology today often encourages conflict and outrage. I want to help people express themselves without violence, connect more deeply with themselves, and become less defensive when someone else is hurting. I think the world would benefit tremendously if more people had those skills. My hope is that Empathease can become part of that healing.