Rostyslav Bortman, the Head of Blockchain Development at IdeaSoft and founder of ETHKyiv Community, is a key figure in the global and Ukrainian Web3 development. With a focus on decentralisation and the absence of intermediaries, he has played a crucial role in the growth of the crypto community in Ukraine. Through his work, he has developed numerous Web3 products and organised successful events such as the Ethereum hackathon in Kyiv, which was attended by Vitalik Buterin.
His passion for smart contracts on Ethereum led him into the blockchain industry, and he has been instrumental in advancing the Ukrainian Web3 sector. Despite the progress made by Ukrainian developers in creating innovative solutions, Rostyslav believes there is still work to be done in building products that go mainstream. He is committed to changing the culture of startups in Ukraine and promoting the idea that building one’s own product is rewarding.
Rostyslav sees a bright future for Ukrainian startups in competing internationally in the Web3 and blockchain space. He believes that anyone who creates a valuable product with a good user experience can succeed in the global market. With notable projects like Global Ledger, Trustee Plus, and HackenProof emerging from Ukraine, the country’s potential in blockchain development is evident.
As the founder of the Kyiv Ethereum Community, Rostyslav has been instrumental in organising meetups and events to nurture the Ethereum ecosystem in Ukraine. The community’s achievements include hosting events with industry leaders, raising funds for charitable causes, and fostering collaboration among developers, founders, and visionaries. Through initiatives like the ETH: Kyiv Hackathon, Rostyslav aims to onboard more Ukrainian developers to Ethereum and contribute to the growth of the ecosystem.
Hackathons and developer conferences play a crucial role in the development of the Ethereum ecosystem, according to Rostyslav. These events provide a platform for developers to showcase their skills, collaborate with industry experts, and explore new innovations. While there are challenges in organising such events, the impact they have on the blockchain space is significant in fostering creativity and driving technological advancements.
In the rapidly evolving Web3 market, Rostyslav sees potential for emerging technologies like Base, Whitechain, and Near to bring about innovative solutions. While Ethereum remains a leader in the space, he acknowledges the importance of other blockchains in diversifying the market. He believes that the future of Web3 will see a variety of protocols coexisting and serving different needs within the ecosystem.
Looking ahead, Rostyslav envisions a future where blockchain technologies play a more prominent role in everyday applications. He believes that NFTs will continue to evolve beyond their current use cases, particularly in tokenising real-world assets. With trends like Account Abstraction, SocialFi, and decentralized messengers gaining traction, the Web3 industry is poised for significant growth in the next five to ten years.
As an advocate for education in blockchain technologies, Rostyslav emphasises the importance of training new specialists for the industry. He believes that integrating Ethereum and Solidity into school curricula, as seen in Argentina, can help accelerate adoption and innovation. By building simple, user-friendly applications and addressing key issues in consumer payments, developers can drive mass adoption of blockchain technologies and showcase the benefits of decentralisation to the masses.
