For episode 221 of the Crypto Altruists podcast, we’re excited to welcome I. Christwin, Co-Founder of M3tering Protocol and Switch Electric. His journey into Web3 began with a simple question: how do we make clean power reliable, affordable, and investable where it’s needed most? That question led to M3tering, a protocol that coordinates rooftop solar using smart contracts, stablecoin prepayment, and token incentives; and to Switch Electric, the specialized hardware layer that makes it all work on the ground.
Traditional energy systems often fail at the last mile where the need is greatest. Credit risks, unreliable metering, and opaque payments keep millions without access to affordable power. M3tering changes that by using smart contracts and stablecoins to make clean energy reliable, transparent, and fair, while Switch Electric provides the smart meters that bring it all to life on the ground.
Now with Version 2, M3tering is scaling that vision and creating a system where communities can trust the data, automate payments, and build energy markets that truly work for people.
If you care about climate, energy access, or economic empowerment, this episode is for you.
You’ll learn:
🌍 Bridging the Digital and Physical Worlds: M3tering brings together blockchain, IoT, and community infrastructure, turning clean energy systems into transparent, decentralized networks that connect the blockchain to real-world impact.
⚡ Power at the Edges: By producing and managing energy locally, M3tering helps reduce corruption, increase reliability and transparency, and unlock grassroots investment, shifting power (literally and financially) back to the people.
🔗 Why Blockchain Matters: Smart contracts act as trustless purchase agreements, NFTs bring smart meters on-chain, and crypto payments ensure transparent, automatic settlements. Each device runs on native crypto hardware, enabling a new era of secure, autonomous energy coordination.
I. Christwin
M3tering Protocol
Switch Electric
PIPE gDAO is leveraging blockchain for their University Real World Asset IP Launchpad that helps bring groundbreaking ideas from lab to market. By joining the Pipe Associate Network (aka PAN), associates can create a profile highlighting their skills, be notified of opportunities, and then contribute fractional work to pre-IPO companies in return for equity and tokens.
Check out their Linktree for links to all of their socials so you can get involved and join this growing community!
02:05 - Let’s start with your journey. What firstdrew you into Web3, and how did that path ultimately lead to the creation ofM3tering Protocol and Switch Electric?
03:40 - To set the stage,can you give us a high-level overview of M3tering Protocol’s mission? Inparticular, how are you tackling the challenge of energy poverty by tokenizingenergy assets?
05:45 - Switch Electricprovides the hardware backbone for this vision. Can you walk us through whatmakes your smart meters different from traditional ones, and why havingspecialized hardware is so essential for decentralized energy systems?
08:30 - Your meters arerepresented on-chain as NFTs. Why did you choose this model, and how does itimprove transparency, ownership, and revenue distribution across decentralizedsolar networks?
10:00 - Can you explain howyour Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) contract worked, and why thistrust-minimized model was such a breakthrough for mitigating default risks andbuilding confidence in regions with fragile financial infrastructure?
12:35 - You’re nowpreparing to launch Version 2 of M3tering Protocol. Can you walk us through theupgrade story, what you learned from V1’s “optimistic metering” approach, andhow V2’s more sophisticated state evaluation and rollup architecture takesthings to the next level?
16:10 - Why blockchain?What are the benefits of building on a Web3 stack instead of traditionaltechnology?
19:00 - Tell me more aboutstrategies you’ve used to abstract the complexity of blockchain and onboardusers who aren’t Web3 native?
22:35 - Can you walk methrough the step-by-step process of how end users engage with the platform?
24:45 - You’ve set a boldvision of building a decentralized energy internet for 1 billion users inAfrica by 2100. How does V2 redefine M3tering Protocol’s role as a coordinationlayer for distributed energy resources, and what does success look like on thatlong journey?
30:40 - Stablecoins havereally taken off lately, especially in Africa, with some referring to thissummer as “Stablecoin Summer”. Can you tell me more about the role ofstablecoins in your platform?
34:20 - For listeners whowant to get involved, do you have a call to action? How can builders, funders,or community members contribute to what you’re building?
36:55 - Finally, whatgives you hope? In the face of energy poverty and climate instability, whatkeeps you inspired, and why do you believe Web3 can be the coordination layerthat unlocks a more equitable energy future?
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While we may discuss specific web3 projects or cryptocurrencies on this podcast, please do not take any of this as investment advice, and please make sure to do your own research on potential investment opportunities, or any opportunity. We host a variety of guests on this podcast with the sole purpose of highlighting the social impact use cases of this technology. That being said, Crypto Altruism does not endorse any of these projects, and we recognize that, since this is an emerging sector, some may be operating in regulatory grey areas, and as such, we cannot confirm their legality in the jurisdictions in which they operate, especially as it pertains to decentralized finance protocols. So, before getting involved with any project, it’s important that you do your own research and confirm the legality of the project. More available HERE.
