On June 26, Mayor Eduardo Pimentel welcomed American economist and blockchain expert E. Glen Weyl to discuss how emerging technologies can help heal political divides and evolve communication between government and its citizens.

Glen, a major voice in the field of digital democracy and co-author of Radical Markets, is recognized internationally for his work on consensus-driven governance models. He also co-wrote the widely discussed paper Decentralized Society with Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum.

Glen’s visit to Curitiba illustrates a growing interest in using open-source and blockchain-based platforms to grow public dialogue and participatory governance in Brazil.

The significant meeting featured a novel digital platform designed by Glen and was successfully tested in Taiwan. The technology uses consensus algorithms to help transform ideological polarization into collaborative decision-making—transforming conflict into dialogue. According to Glen, the ultimate goal is to create systems where “divergent groups can work toward consensus and generate solutions for the common good.”

Mayor Pimentel expressed his city’s excitement for the initiative, acknowledging that political polarization in Brazil has often limited productive public discourse.

“The idea you brought is very interesting. We will study how to apply it in Curitiba and continue talking to put it into practice,” said the mayor.

Also present at the historic meeting were Paula Berman, director of RadicalxChange—the global movement founded by Glen—and Beatriz Battistella Nadas, president of the Municipal Institute of Public Administration (Imap). Nadas emphasized that the city is already exploring ways to incorporate the platform into participatory initiatives such as Fala Curitiba, public hearings, and long-term planning.

This vanguard approach syncs up with Curitiba’s larger embrace of decentralized innovation. The city has recently discussed accepting tax payments in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin—a proposal currently under consideration by the City Council. In 2023, Agência Curitiba organized public forums on cryptocurrency and blockchain adoption, broadcasting the city’s willingness to welcome technological transformation.

Glen’s career involves multiple disciplines, with ongoing research at Microsoft, a leadership role at the Plurality Institute, and advisory positions connected to Harvard University.

His number-one goal: integrating technology, democracy, and justice in practical, scalable ways.

With this visit, Curitiba joins a growing international network of cities reimagining public administration for a digital age. The conversation with Glen is more than simply symbolic—it represents a major shift toward civic tools that foster inclusion, trust, and transparency. In an era of overwhelming technological change and political fragmentation, Curitiba’s leadership in democratic innovation is both timely and urgent.

As this collaboration evolves, all eyes will be on Curitiba to see how the city moves from pilot project to practical implementation—potentially setting a model for other municipalities in Brazil and across the globe.

To book Glen for your next event, contact ProjectSpeaker here.