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Following the US presidential election, I feel that the momentum of virtual currencies will continue unabated. Bitcoin (BTC) has surpassed $100,000 for the first time, a number that felt like a pipe dream just a year ago. There is a strong atmosphere of FOMO as investors and entrepreneurs scramble to ride the wave. But let’s not get carried away. Moments like this are certainly exciting, but they can also obscure the fundamentals. If we want blockchain to be truly successful, we need to shift our focus from speculative proliferation to building products that generate sustainable revenue.
Understood. Excitement is contagious. Volatility and moonshots are part of the DNA here. But this time the excitement is more than just noise. The signals are clear. Cryptocurrency is finally ready for serious adoption. Revolutionary innovations such as account abstraction and chain abstraction have made the user experience seamless. SocialFi projects like Farcaster are pushing the boundaries, and tokenization is rapidly evolving (even if meme coins sometimes make us cringe).
really necessary growth
Yes, indicators like the growth of TVL and the popularity of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds show that the ecosystem is expanding. Indeed, it’s normal for technology startups to turn to venture capital in their early stages. But let’s face it. No industry can prosper indefinitely with venture capital alone. Ultimately, every company needs to stand on its own two feet, and that means generating real revenue.
Think of early-stage crypto projects like babies in the womb. They rely on an external lifeline, namely VC funding, to survive. But at some point they have to breathe, walk, and grow independently. That’s where we are now. Cryptocurrency is ready to enter the world and prove that it can not only innovate but also sustain itself.
For too long, growth has been tied to an inflationary token model. Although these systems make technical sense, the value they create is often illusory and focused on circulating supply rather than actual demand. Thankfully, new models are starting to emerge. These are not just speculations. It’s about solving real problems, unlocking mainstream adoption, and scaling in meaningful ways.
don’t get comfortable
Crypto startups need to aim higher than simply increasing valuations and driving quick returns. The token price is flashy, but that’s not the end goal. We should focus on building a sustainable and interoperable economy. Models built on the premise that native tokens “keep going up” are inherently unstable and foster skepticism that clouds cryptocurrencies in the eyes of traditional markets.
The good news is that we have the tools to shift gears. As user experience catches up with technological capabilities, the door is wide open for building robust, user-centric businesses.
One of the key opportunities is interoperability. Let’s think about why people value the dollar. Dollars work everywhere. Now imagine if every store you visited had its own currency. Shopping would be a logistical nightmare. Cryptocurrencies should not fall into that trap. Rather than flooding the market with orphaned tokens, we should focus on rewards and assets that are useful across the platform.
This does not mean sacrificing the unique benefits of blockchain. Many L1 and L2 support tokens that are compatible with DeFi and beyond products. The time has come to rely on tokenomics, which provides users with assets that they can use and not just hold as speculative bets.
conclusion
Blockchain is a revolutionary technology that has the potential to radically transform the world’s infrastructure. It’s like replacing a steam engine with a bullet train: faster, smarter, and better. But no matter how innovative we are, the basic laws of economics still apply. If our products do not generate substantial cash flow, they cannot survive.
Hype cycles come and go, but if you focus on creating products that provide clear value and grow sustainably, the possibilities are endless. This is not just wishful thinking and we are ready to make it a reality. The foundation is here, and the possibilities are immeasurable. Let’s not waste it.