Presenting at ThetaEuroCon 2024 and the feedback that shaped the project

08 July 2024

When I arrived at ThetaEuroCon and presented SmartBux, I had no idea how it would be received. Would people like it or think the idea is stupid? During my presentation I handed out SmartBux cards. Then after the presentation I setup a demo and let everyone who wanted to, create a card and process a transaction on chain using that card. During this time I received a lot of questions. I did not know how people would react, interact or use SmartBux. Just that I had a awesome idea and the skills to build it. Below are some of the questions that were asked and how they shaped the current project.

How do you protect the recovery phrase on the kiosk from someone else getting it?

This question lead to the creation of the Android app SmartBux Create. It lets anyone with a $20 CCID smart card reader create a card. You can use your own phone so you know, creating the card was secure.

Can I go spend Theta or Tfuel right now to buy a cup of coffee?

Not yet, but this question got me thinking. What is the fastest way to get SmartBux in vendors hands. I started with buying a couple of ingenico credit card handhelds. Then thought $400 is too high of a barrier to enter for a lot of businesses. Next I created the SmartBux Payments app. Which lets anyone buy a $20 CCID smart card reader and instantly accept Theta payments directly on their Android phone.

How do I get sales reports?

I had a couple of ideas in mind, of how to use the blockchain to generate reports. After I thought about it for a week I decided to create SmartBux Back Office. It is a web based report generator. Simply enter a Theta address and it will show how many tokens or coins were received in a day or week.

Are you going to enter this into the hackathon?

Originally, I was not planning on entering it. After everyone used it at ThetaEuroCon the number of people asking about it being entered into the hackathon, really surprised me. So upon returning home I cleared my schedule for the next 4 weeks and spent over 80 hours a week turning SmartBux into the project it is now.

The last one is not a question but more of a statement that I heard over and over. Now I will be able to sell merchandise and accept Theta as a payment.

As I watched people say this to me, I saw a twinkle in their eye. Like opening a Christmas present when you were 6 years old. This information and excitement also lead me to clearing my schedule and expediting the development of SmartBux.