Nomad Spotlight: David B. aka @CtBaller_
Share
When I met, David, Mono had just finished our first 100 bamboo-blend t-shirts which at the time we were calling the D/1. It was October 2023 and David had arrived in Hong Kong with a bag full of handmade bracelets from Accra, Ghana where he founded For The Autistic By The Autistic (FTABTA). After an enlightening interview on X, it was made clear the magic of thinking big. His knack for web3 marketing and commitment are what make him stand out among the noise on X. His heart and willingness to go and put himself in the rooms he needs to be is why David is a true modern nomad and someone I am proud to call a friend.
David and I at Hong Kong Disneyland Park 2023 This installment in Mono’s World is a companion to the full interview. We recommend checking out both. If you want to skip the line, ignore the VIP entrance, and find a way to get involved with the king of web3 philanthropy, tap in here.
Peer-to-Peer Power of the Blockchain
Funding from web3 was pivotal to his success. As capital intensive as charitable foundations can be, the opportunity to create immediate global value through the blockchain is truly beautiful.
Post from @OthersideMeta the home of all things metaverse for Yuga Labs.
As you can see, the power inherent in truly borderless, peer-to-peer technology is capable of real good. Especially in the hands of individuals like David, and Tripp.
Financial freedom is about giving back to people. What good is any amount of abundance if you cannot create more value for the world around you?
David shared he used to survive on $7 per week. Less today with the inflation present in fiat currency systems, closer to $5 per week. While that may shock most readers the truth behind this data is that here we have someone who truly understands the value of resource allocation.
Very quickly after teaching himself the basics of blockchain technology he experienced many six-figure swings in a managed portfolio. David specifically credited a leadership course in college for his success. A time in his life where he did not know if he would be able to afford the final exams necessary to pass. It was at this transformative point the early ideations of FTABTA took shape.
During college David worked at a friends property helping out with a range of duties including renovations. He vividly recalled one day in particular.
Why FTABTA?
Hunger is something in the Western world we associate with discomfort. At worst we feel a sense or urgency or possibly anger en route to the nearest grocery store or restaurant.
On this formative day, David arrived for a day of labor to his friend’s property. He had one banana to make it through the work day. As he carried his meal he was met with the face of a child, young enough that he might be in school in the West. The face was one of hunger at a visceral, gut—wrenching level. As the child’s saliva dripped onto his chest he held out a hand an gestured to David’s food.
It’s moments like this that change a man. It’s his reaction that makes him who he is.
Bored Ape Yacht Club ApeFest 2022 ‘Good Ape’ T-Shirt After giving up his food for the day, David went on a mission to find the child’s mother where he was faced with a cruel reality in Accra, Ghana. Many parents flee when they discover their child is autistic (neurodivergent). Every year children all over Ghana are abandoned and left due to a strong stigma against the disease associated with long-standing cultural norms. This was no different for the child David met that day. He continued searching for the child’s parents and found his mother. She shared her story with David. Because this child was neurodiverse and needed special care including potty training his father wanted to take the child’s life. The mother would not abandon her child. Without the income of the family’s patriarch they fell into a poverty many people cannot fathom in their wildest dreams. David was later introduced into the child’s teacher by the mother. His calling was clear.
“I never thought I would find myself as a social entrepreneur… and I exposed myself to the world.” — David
The Mission
Western world hegemony was something he wanted to combat in the web3 space as he delved more into his personal education. He hired a professional videography team to begin to tell the world his story. This team has since been brought in house with FTABTA. Today David thrives in philanthropy, job creation, and building. I look forward to watching as he develops his vision for scaling FTABTA into the future. He seems truly addicted to curing the curses of misguided cultural norms around neurodivergence in Ghana. Before he knew it he was traveling the world, sourcing funding and laying the groundwork to connect with the world of traditional art.
“I know when I envision something I can make it happen.” — David
Accra
Africa is a very respectful continent with beautiful people always willing to help and support you. It is a haven full of organic food, beaches, sun 365 days of the year. I like to imagine David working as hard as he can every single day, but like everyone of us, he is a human. He has a family, he likes to have fun, he enjoys a relaxing day at the beach, and all the qualities that make life worth living. Personally, I think it’s important to note the Ghanaian jollof, distinct from the Nigerian spin-off, is one of the must-try cuisines for me when I make it out to visit Africa. You should visit too.
Life in Accra
Faith and Blessings
One of David’s first endeavors in cryptocurrency was a simple ad campaign on Instagram to help families send kids to school and empower youth in Ghana. It worked.
David’s strength comes from a strong inner locus of control. The root of this is grounded in faith. I asked David about his relationship with God. For him it is not about how many times you show up to a place of worship. It is about the quality of your dialogue with God and opening your life up to let God do the work. He cites many common stigmas globally with megachurches in the United States taking in millions which remain with a board of directors and a pastor who may claim god told him to spend the church’s purse on a private jet. He went on to say that echo-chambers are not a real relationship with God. To him it’s simple.
“Hustling is about me determining my fate, but when it’s those moments of peace in the shower, it’s about hey I did this much, the rest is up to you.” — David
I see David as someone who is truly blessed. He seems to always find the right people. Maybe that really is all him, or maybe there is something driving him to connect the dots he does in the world. David is actively growing the web3 presence in his home country. His involvement with ETH Accra and more workshops impact so many lives in the community.
What’s Next?
Product. But also art as a vehicle of continued collaborations and fundraising efforts. Art is a vehicle to convey a message, David shared. Creation is imperative to projecting identity. He strives to merge diversity and abstract expression. When asked about what’s coming next, David shared some upcoming quests with ThankAPE, a community organization led by members of the Bored Ape Yacht Club. Their goal is to uplift projects through amplification of the native token of the upcoming Apechain, ApeCoin. Imagine if the youth of Ghana can make 3-months of a banker’s salary in a matter of days. That is the power of the blockchain for David and so many people around the world. But what about FTABTA? As the project scales, the next milestone is the first factory on land to create jobs for the mothers of neurodivergent children. Just one to start, then more. David looks forward to bringing more tourism and storytelling to Ghana. When asked about a future Ape Improvement Proposal, a proposal to the ApeCoin DAO, he shared it’s coming soon. Keep an eye on the list of proposals over the next quarter for the opportunity to directly support the next steps for FTABTA.