Behind the Blocks is where we highlight the extraordinary individuals who make Chorus One more than just a workplace—it’s a space where passion meets purpose. "When I joined in 2022," says Chief People Officer, Flora Bondici, "I was drawn not only to the innovative work in decentralized infrastructure but also to the opportunity to be part of something deeply meaningful. At Chorus One, a career is more than a job—it’s a journey of growth, learning, and making a real impact."
As a fully remote and globally diverse team, we empower our people to thrive on their own terms. In this series, you’ll meet inspiring team members like Thalita Franklin, who entered Web3 through a developer course we sponsored, alongside others who’ve forged unique paths into blockchain. Their journeys reflect a culture built on transparency, collaboration, and curiosity. Let’s dive into Thalita’s story and explore how her work is shaping the future of decentralized technology.
From Web2 to Web3: Thalita’s Journey to Chorus One
Today, we’re excited to feature Thalita Franklin, Networks Lead at Chorus One. From Brazil to Portugal, Thalita’s journey into Web3 started with a unique opportunity—a one-month Web3 developer course sponsored by Chorus One. Now a key leader in the company, Thalita shares how that opportunity opened the door to a thriving career in blockchain, and how her work continues to make an impact across the ecosystem.
Q: How long have you been with Chorus One, and what’s your role? What does your day-to-day look like?
Thalita: I’ve been with Chorus One for 2,8 years, but it all started when I applied for a one-month Web3 developer course. Chorus One sponsored 10 women, and I was lucky enough to be one of them. That experience introduced me to the world of blockchain and gave me a chance to prove myself. I started working on Solana as a Research Analyst, but now I’m the Networks Lead. My day-to-day involves a mix of deep work in the mornings, being in between the business and engineering, handling projects like staking research, and meetings with internal teams and external partners to explore investment opportunities or new networks we’re looking at.
Q: Can you tell us more about that initial course and how it shaped your journey?
Thalita: Absolutely. Before joining Chorus One, I was living in Brazil and didn’t have much experience in Web3. When I saw the opportunity for the Web3 developer course, I knew I had to apply. The fact that Chorus One was sponsoring women to join the space really stood out to me. During my initial 3 months with Chorus One, I found out about MEV and started working on a project focused on MEV (learn more), after I joined, which was my introduction to how complex and exciting the blockchain space has become. The course gave me the confidence and skills I needed to step into this field. It was an incredible launchpad that led to where I am today.
Q: What’s it like being a Networks Lead at Chorus One? Can you walk us through your typical day?
Thalita: Being a Networks Lead is both challenging and rewarding. I focus a lot on analyzing new staking opportunities and keeping up with our live networks like Solana and Cosmos. My mornings are all about focus—whether it’s research or preparing for the day’s meetings. I have most of my meetings around midday due to different time zones, and those can range from internal strategy sessions to calls with networks we’re looking to partner with. I also work closely with the ventures team to explore potential investments, which keeps things really interesting.
Q: What’s one of the most exciting projects you’ve worked on, and why did it stand out?
Thalita: I’d say the Solana project was the most exciting. When I first started, many people were skeptical about Solana’s potential, but Chorus One believed in it. I got heavily involved in the research and educational content creation for Solana, which was a big part of getting people to see the value in the project. Watching Solana grow and survive through challenges was incredibly fulfilling. It showed me that research and education could really make a difference. Plus, I enjoyed hosting podcasts about it—getting to communicate the value of these networks to a broader audience is something I love.
Q: Can you share a moment when your research directly influenced a major decision at Chorus One?
Thalita: A big one was our work on MEV. I was involved in researching and creating educational materials about it, and it became clear how important MEV was to the validator ecosystem. This work helped Chorus One adjust our strategy, not just in how we provide infrastructure, but in how we approach new networks and educate our partners and the broader community. It was one of those moments where you can see your research shaping decisions that impact the entire company.
Q: Beyond Chorus One, how does your work impact the broader ecosystem?
Thalita: Our role as validators goes beyond just running nodes. We try to contribute to the broader conversation around blockchain economics and how validators can provide more than just infrastructure. For example, our educational work on MEV and other topics has helped the community better understand the increasing complexity of the new trends. It’s important to me that the work I do has a ripple effect beyond Chorus One, whether it’s through writing articles, giving feedback to networks, or sharing insights on podcasts.
Q: You work closely with many teams across Chorus One. What’s been your favorite moment of collaboration?
Thalita: One of the best moments was to find myself having casual dinners at the beach with Gabriella, Maria and other team members. It’s through these informal moments that remind me how connected we are as a team. In terms of work, I’ve really enjoyed collaborating with the ventures team. We work together to evaluate potential investments and decide which networks we should get involved in. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see how those collaborations lead to tangible growth for Chorus One.
Q: How has Chorus One supported your career and personal growth?
Thalita: Chorus One has been amazing in helping me grow. When I first joined Web3, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to focus on development or something else, but they gave me the room to explore. Over time, I found my strengths in leading network research, and they’ve supported me all the way. On a personal level, moving from Brazil to Portugal was a big step, but the team was so supportive. Being closer to the team has helped me feel more empowered in my role.
About Chorus One
Chorus One is one of the largest institutional staking providers globally, operating infrastructure for over 60 Proof-of-Stake (PoS) networks, including Ethereum, Cosmos, Solana, Avalanche, Near, and others. Since 2018, we have been at the forefront of the PoS industry, offering easy-to-use, enterprise-grade staking solutions, conducting industry-leading research, and investing in innovative protocols through Chorus One Ventures. As an ISO 27001 certified provider, Chorus One also offers slashing and double-signing insurance to its institutional clients. For more information, visit chorus.one or follow us on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), and Telegram.
