Hassam-Moussa Rawat is a dynamic entrepreneur with a rich history of building successful businesses across various industries. As the Co-Founder and CEO of Lingo, he is on a mission to onboard the next billion users into Web3. With a career that began at the age of 10, selling MP3 CDs, Hassam-Moussa has since founded Mauritius’s first digital agency, launched the Subway franchise in the country, and now leads Lingo, a groundbreaking initiative in the blockchain space. His visionary approach combines real-world assets with blockchain technology to create a user-friendly and rewarding experience, aiming to transform the landscape of social finance and tokenization.
Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Hassam-Moussa Rawat, Co-Founder and CEO of Lingo. With a remarkable entrepreneurial journey and a vision to onboard the next billion users into Web3, Hassam-Moussa shares insights about Lingo’s innovative approach to integrating blockchain technology with real-world assets.
What inspired the creation of Lingo, and how do you envision it changing the landscape of social finance and real-world asset tokenization?
Hassam-Moussa Rawat: Over the last decade and a half, crypto has come a long way, but we still haven’t found a killer use case that will ensure its wide adoption into the mainstream world. Understanding crypto can be difficult for those who are used to Web2. It can lack tangibility and offer little fun or incentives. To fill this void and address these issues, we came up with Lingo. It disrupts the $200 billion loyalty industry by combining popular brands that everyday users consume with crypto’s attractive reward system. By building a gamified, RWA-powered rewards token, we will empower users with real-world benefits, bring the next billion users to Web3, and make RWA interesting beyond crypto.
Can you explain how Lingo integrates blockchain technology with real-world assets to create a unique user experience?
Hassam-Moussa Rawat: At Lingo, we leverage the power of real-world assets to offer stability and durability to the Web3 ecosystem. This strengthens us against the risks of market fluctuations, gives us credibility for Web2, and provides an extra layer of confidence for our current audience. By integrating this revolutionary tech with the restrictive but well-established world of real-world assets, we enable resources to create value for the ecosystem.
How does Lingo ensure that the rewards offered are sustainable for its community members in the long term?
Hassam-Moussa Rawat: RWAs are projected to be a trillion-dollar market by the end of this decade. We believe in this huge untapped potential and are capitalizing on it to disrupt community rewards. Sustainability and stability from real-world asset revenues, compared to the sometimes negative performance of the crypto market, offer us a regular stream of revenue. We implement this in our reward ecosystem, fueled by a network of global brand partners. Ensuring our community enjoys the best perks possible in the Lingo ecosystem. At the same time, this vast network and the rewards provide us with the ability to capture a lot of attention and adoption, including Web2, thanks to our ambassadors, which translates to increased platform fees, which are reinvested into RWA to generate, once again, consistent value.
What measures has Lingo implemented to ensure the security and integrity of transactions within its platform?
Hassam-Moussa Rawat: At the base of Lingo is blockchain technology, a distributed network that ensures no single centralized entity is in control. It’s also an immutable ledger, where it can’t be altered once a transaction is recorded. In addition to utilizing this tech for its fundamental benefits that ensure data security and authentication, Lingo has undergone an in-depth audit, reflecting our commitment to building a secure platform. That is why we built Lingo on-chain.
Besides the airdrop, what are the primary uses of the $LINGO token within your ecosystem, and how do you plan to enhance its utility moving forward?
Hassam-Moussa Rawat: The airdrop is one of Lingo’s events but not a use of the $LINGO token. $LINGO powers our entire rewards ecosystem. We are building on two of the most popular blockchains in the crypto space, Solana and Base, to ensure their wide availability and usage. The LINGO token will soon have its community sale. The token will be used to get once-in-a-lifetime experiences and gift cards for over 3000+ brands, including Netflix, Nike, PlayStation, and hotels, with our partner, Travala.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced while integrating real-world assets with blockchain, and how have you addressed these challenges?
Hassam-Moussa Rawat: As we have seen, most Web3 projects either fail to reward their communities or lack actual value generation. We overcame these changes by utilizing RWA, which allows us to offer our users real-world rewards. More than just using RWA, we use its value, sustainability, and stable revenue to fuel our ecosystem. However, integrating RWA has its challenges, including a need for more standardization, complex processes, and secure custody. At LINGO, we simplify the entire process by allowing our users not to interact with the RWA but to enjoy the Lingo experience on our platform.
How does Lingo navigate the complex regulatory landscape associated with cryptocurrencies and tokenized assets?
Hassam-Moussa Rawat: Crypto is currently experiencing a rough phase in terms of regulatory clarity in certain parts of the world. However, when it comes to Lingo, it’s clear that it is not a security token but a utility one. More specifically, Lingo holders are not entitled to legal ownership of RWA; they are only entitled to its rewards ecosystem by owning the $LINGO token. Our RWA portfolio is contracted by Lingo’s holding company foundation.
What are the next big steps for Lingo in the coming year? Are there any exciting projects or expansions on the horizon?
Hassam-Moussa Rawat: Having secured partnerships with Magic Eden, Fizen, Travala, and many top Web3 IPs, we have made considerable progress, which has helped us build a strong community of over 250K members. The coming year will also mark the launch of MVP and a rewards claim platform, along with securing tier 1 CEX and DEX listings to reach the masses. This is just the beginning; we plan to expand our RWA acquisitions further and ultimately integrate with a cash-back model in the rewards ecosystem.
How do you think Lingo’s approach to SocialFi could influence broader trends in the cryptocurrency and blockchain industries?
Hassam-Moussa Rawat: Community and people are the most vital assets a Web3 project can have. Our approach with SocialFi aims to give people a fun but rewarding experience, allowing them to participate in the adventure the way they want by inviting friends, supporting us on social media, or creating quality content. As one of the first Web3 startups to truly combine blockchain and RWA in a safe, scalable, and sustainable way while being 100% community-centered, we aim to inspire more people.
What advice would you give to potential investors or community members who are interested in participating in Lingo’s ecosystem?
Hassam-Moussa Rawat: For the last couple of years, we have had our heads down and dedicated all our focus to a platform that addresses the pain points of wide mainstream crypto adoption yet appeals to Web3 lovers. We have built our product for the next billion crypto consumers, so we want everyone to enjoy the Lingo journey.
Thank you for joining us today, how can people get in contact with you?
I’m most available through my LinkedIn, however readers should definitely visit our wonderful website at lingocoin.io, and of course follow us on social media to keep up with all of the updates.