Summary of my Journey
Web3 Community Growth & Ecosystem Builder
From Local Events to International Ecosystems (2021-2025)
Phase 1: Building Communities (2021-2022)
Started organizing ReFi events, quickly scaled to international coordination. Co-founded ReFi Spring: launched 27 events across 20+ countries, reached ~2,500 participants. Created first Portuguese-language ReFi content, opening Web3 to Brazilian audiences.
Growth 0 → 27 events · 1 → 20+ countries · 0 → 2,500 participants in 10 months
Phase 2: Scaling Through Structure (2022-2024)
Shifted from event organizing to ecosystem infrastructure. Set up methodology for 29 local ReFi nodes globally, launched first cohort. Founded Blockchain na Escola: first Web3 program in Brazilian public schools, scaled to thousands of on-chain certifications. At General Magic, helped 7 clients raise funds, contributed to $3.5M in one year.
Growth 0 → 29 global nodes · 0 → first national Web3 education program · 0 → $3.5M fundraising contribution
Phase 3: Institutional Validation & Product Growth (2024-2025)
Brought Web3 products through regulatory validation. Led Ekonavi's tokenomics through Central Bank's LIFT Labs program (where PIX was created) — became finalist. Won G20 Hackathon with Bank of International Settlements. At CeLatam, grew from researcher to DAO member, created usebalaio.com.
Growth Researcher → DAO governance in 4 months · Central Bank finalist · G20 winner
Growth Competencies
Community Building & International Scaling
- Scale events from local to international (27 events, 20+ countries, 2,500+ participants)
- Coordinate distributed teams across continents
- Build methodology frameworks others can replicate (29 global nodes)
- Create first-mover educational programs (first Web3 in Brazilian public schools)
Product Launch & Market Validation
- Launch products that win national recognition (Blocknews Prize 2025)
- Navigate regulatory validation (Central Bank LIFT Labs finalist, G20 winner)
- Grow from individual contributor to leadership (researcher → DAO member in 4 months)
- Create platforms from scratch (usebalaio.com, Blockchain na Escola)
Fundraising & Resource Mobilization
- Help clients raise significant funding (contributed to $3.5M in one year)
- Design tokenomics that pass institutional scrutiny (Central Bank validation)
- Secure grants and support for public goods projects
- Bridge Web3 funding with traditional institutional resources
Ecosystem Development
- Build infrastructure that outlasts founding teams (ReFi DAO node framework)
- Create Portuguese-language Web3 content opening new markets
- Connect academia, government, and Web3 communities
- Identify and execute growth opportunities in emerging markets
Growth Track Record
ReFi Spring — Co-Founder
Built international ReFi community from zero. Growth: 0 → 27 events across 20+ countries. Reached ~2,500 participants in under a year. Created decentralized event coordination framework.
Blockchain na Escola — Founder
Launched Brazil's first Web3 education program in public schools. Growth: 0 → thousands of on-chain certifications delivered. Winner of Blocknews Prize 2025 as best Web3 educational project in Brazil.
ReFi DAO — Community Lead
Built global coordination infrastructure. Growth: 0 → 29 local ReFi nodes across multiple countries. Created replicable methodology framework. Published ecosystem mappings for Brazil, Suriname, Cameroon.
General Magic — Grant Manager
Managed fundraising for Web3 public goods clients. Growth: Helped 7 clients secure funding. Team raised $3.5M USD in one year.
Ekonavi — Research Lead
Led product through institutional validation. Growth: Central Bank LIFT Labs finalist (program that created PIX). Won G20 Hackathon organized by Central Bank with Bank of International Settlements.
CeLatam — Researcher & DAO Member
Growth: Started as researcher (Feb 2024) → invited to DAO governance (Apr 2025). Created usebalaio.com. Produced impact capital allocation research.
ReFaz — Co-Founder
Co-founded consultancy for regenerative blockchain in Brazil. Built Blockchain na Escola. Advised on tokenomics and governance design.
Technical Background
Published comparative analysis of stablecoins (USDC, DAI, BREAD), DeFi attack modeling, and regenerative finance ecosystem research. Work available at marcelorefi.github.io.
Academic Foundation
Languages
Growth Philosophy
I build things that scale across borders without losing local context.
Started with a simple question: how do you organize Web3 events when your community is spread across 20 countries? Answer: create frameworks others can replicate. That's how ReFi Spring went from 0 to 27 events. Same principle for ReFi DAO: 0 to 29 global nodes with a methodology anyone could copy.
The Brazilian work taught me that growth in emerging markets requires institutional validation. You can't just drop Web3 products into schools or pitch tokenomics to regulators—you need to speak their language. That's why Blockchain na Escola won national recognition and why Ekonavi became a Central Bank finalist.
What I bring: Proven ability to grow communities internationally, launch first-mover products in new markets, navigate institutional validation, and build frameworks that scale beyond founding teams.