Hello Hive ❤️
In this extra-long and candid episode we welcomed back @Starkerz, one of the most experienced builders on Hive. We dove deep into his journey from mechanical engineering and oil & gas project management into #Bitcoin, then Steem -> Hive, and eventually co-founding 
The conversation covered why Hive remains special (no ICO, no pre-mine, no CEO, true parallel economy potential when combined with Bitcoin + Monero + HBD), the birth and rocky road of #3speak, recent frontend/backend improvements that finally brought upload speed and reliability back, and exciting upcoming tech like client-side encrypted messaging, one-click website archiving to Hive, contactless HBD airdrops via phones, and easy onboarding features.
A big part of the talk focused on Hive's current challenges: persistently high #inflation (9–12%+ instead of the scheduled ~5%), massive DHF spending (especially via ValuePlan), questionable proposals (rally cars, boreholes, large recurring budgets with unclear ROI), and the resulting constant sell pressure dragging the price down faster than the broader market.
@Starkerz argued for temporary belt-tightening: reduce DHF outflows, ask big proposals to enter maintenance mode, cut ValuePlan to sustainable levels (~$40k/month), add more accountability (reports, milestones, possibly downvotes or spending caps on DHF), lower HPD/Hive APR rewards, and redirect funds toward measurable digital marketing, new-user retention, and showcasing Hive's real utility.
We ended on a hopeful note highlighting talented people still grinding (@Meno, @Eddiespino, 
A raw, sometimes controversial, but very human discussion about what Hive is, what it could be, and what needs to change to get there.
▶️ 3Speak