The First Block: Ferdie Nervida on Discovering Bitcoin and Building Purpose

From 2016’s DIY mining scene to blockchain advocacy, Ferdie Nervida reflects on the journey so far. What began with curiosity has become a mission for education, inclusion, and technological equity.

In the early days of cryptocurrency, mining Bitcoin was often viewed as a fringe pursuit. It was a mix of computer wizardry and risk-laden speculation. For Ferdie Nervida, it was something else entirely: a door into a world that would reshape how he thought about technology, power, and purpose.

Ferdie James Nervida is a seasoned blockchain investigator and cybersecurity adviser based in the Philippines. He is a TEDx speaker and the founder of the Blockchain Practitioners Association of the Philippines. Nervida specializes in helping organizations and individuals navigate the evolving digital landscape through expertise in emerging technologies, crypto investigation, and cybersecurity education.

His mission: to make complex technology understandable and actionable for everyone, from tracking suspicious blockchain transactions to educating institutions on digital risk.

What began in 2016 as a hobby quickly evolved into something larger. Nervida was captivated not just by Bitcoin but also by the blockchain that powered it and by its implications for decentralization, transparency, and access. Over time, this interest matured into a full-fledged mission: to use emerging technologies not just to innovate but to include.

Today, Nervida is a recognized voice in the Philippine tech ecosystem, advocating for ethical design and inclusive education in blockchain, cybersecurity, and beyond. His story is one of curiosity turned conviction — and of staying ahead of the digital curve while bringing others along.

“What began as curiosity about mining soon deepened into a broader interest in the technology behind it: blockchain.”

From Hobby to Industry

Back in 2016, the crypto mining scene was still rough around the edges. Nervida recalls it as a period of exploration, innovation, and, at times, ethical gray areas. Individuals hacked together mining rigs in their homes; others went as far as setting up systems in slums using illegal electricity. It was unregulated and uneven and undeniably alive.

Ferdie wasn’t in it to cut corners. For him, the initial thrill came from the discovery itself: the idea that digital value could be created through computation, verified by a decentralized network.

“Crypto mining felt both exciting and a bit like the Wild West. The idea that you could simply power up your computer and start earning digital currency was fascinating.”

That personal experimentation led him deeper into the mechanics of blockchain and ultimately, to the realization that the technology’s real potential lay beyond profit.

An Ethically Neutral Tool

As Nervida’s involvement in tech deepened, so did his message. Whether speaking at conferences or consulting with institutions, he consistently emphasizes that technology is neither good nor bad; it’s what we do with it that counts.

"I always emphasize that technology itself is ethically neutral. Innovations don’t choose whether they’ll be used for good or bad — that choice lies with us."

He sees the current wave of technological development as an opportunity to rethink who benefits from innovation. For Nervida, the next chapter in tech isn’t just about scaling or speed. It’s about inclusivity.

“True innovation, in my view, must be inclusive. It should not just create advantages for the privileged but must also open opportunities for the marginalized and underrepresented.”

His work increasingly centers on advocacy, not for any single product or platform, but for an approach to emerging tech that prioritizes ethics, education, and equity.

Education as a Survival Strategy

In a world of relentless digital disruption, Nervida believes that staying informed isn’t a luxury but a necessity. The pace of change in blockchain, AI, and cybersecurity means that entire industries can be reshaped in a matter of years. Those who don’t keep up risk losing more than just market share; they risk relevance.

“Those who fail to understand emerging technologies won’t just be left behind — they risk becoming dependent on those who do.”

To meet that challenge, Nervida is focused on building education pipelines that are practical, inclusive, and grounded in real-world needs. Whether it’s through workshops, policy advocacy, or public speaking, he aims to make technical fluency more widespread and accessible.

“Education isn’t optional anymore. It’s survival.”

Ferdie Nervida’s story is, in many ways, a microcosm of the broader Web3 movement: grassroots, exploratory, and driven by purpose.

From his early days mining Bitcoin to his current mission of tech education and inclusion, Nervida reminds us that the future isn’t just about faster systems but also about who gets to use them and why. For him, the first block wasn’t just a line of code. It was the foundation of a lifelong pursuit.

If you would like to contact Ferdie James Nervida, you can find all his details on his website. Nervida offers workshops, trainings, and speaking engagements on the following: