Crypto startups are increasingly challenged by external forces, necessitating adaptation. Bridging the gap between crypto natives and the broader market is crucial for future success. The line between crypto and non-crypto products is blurring as builders focus on real-world problems.
Key takeaways
- Crypto startups are increasingly challenged by external forces, necessitating adaptation.
- Bridging the gap between crypto natives and the broader market is crucial for future success.
- The line between crypto and non-crypto products is blurring as builders focus on real-world problems.
- Institutions like BlackRock are influencing the crypto landscape, challenging native startups.
- The current phase of crypto adoption is marked by increased accessibility for non-crypto natives.
- Despite short-term volatility, the long-term trajectory of crypto remains positive.
- The initial DeFi phase laid essential groundwork for future crypto developments.
- The market’s ‘casino’ mentality may not be sustainable for the majority of users.
- NFTs gained early excitement due to perceived value beyond physical assets.
- Future crypto apps must cater to both existing and new users to thrive.
- The current sentiment in crypto is comparable to the FTX collapse, potentially worse.
- Speculative capital is shifting from crypto to other tech sectors like AI and defense.
- The crypto industry is transitioning from an ‘imagination phase’ to a more mature phase.
- Three main sectors—token issuance, stablecoins, and perps—show product market fit in crypto.
- The winners in crypto sectors are often centralized, contrasting with decentralization ideals.
Guest intro
The guest featured on Empire is a prominent figure in the crypto industry, offering insights into the evolving landscape of digital assets. Known for their deep understanding of market dynamics, they shed light on the challenges and opportunities facing crypto startups today. With a focus on bridging the gap between crypto natives and traditional markets, their perspective is crucial for understanding the future trajectory of the industry. This episode covers the blurring lines between crypto and non-crypto products, the influence of institutions like BlackRock, and the sustainability of the current market dynamics.
The challenges facing crypto startups
- Crypto native startups are facing increasing challenges from external forces.
-
— Dougie
- Bridging the gap between crypto natives and the broader market is essential for future success.
-
— Dougie
- The involvement of institutions like BlackRock will continue to challenge crypto-native startups.
-
— GuestName
- For the crypto industry to succeed, it must adapt to the changing landscape shaped by traditional institutions.
-
— GuestName
Blurring lines between crypto and non-crypto products
- The divide between crypto and non-crypto products will blur as builders focus on solving real problems.
-
— GuestName
- Those who refuse to accept the merging of crypto with traditional finance will be left behind.
-
— GuestName
- The current phase of crypto adoption is different because it is now accessible to non-crypto natives.
-
— GuestName
- The future of crypto applications will need to cater to both existing users and attract new users from outside the crypto space.
-
— GuestName
The long-term vision for crypto
- The future of the crypto space will continue to evolve despite short-term volatility.
-
— GuestName
- The initial DeFi phase was crucial for building foundational elements necessary for future developments in crypto.
-
— GuestName
- The current dynamics of the crypto market resemble a ‘casino’ that may not be sustainable for the majority of users.
-
— GuestName
Shifts in market sentiment and capital
- The current sentiment in crypto is comparable to the FTX collapse, potentially even worse.
-
— GuestName
- The crypto market is experiencing a shift from speculative capital to other tech sectors.
-
— GuestName
- The crypto industry is transitioning from an ‘imagination phase’ to a more mature phase.
-
— GuestName
The evolution of crypto sectors
- There are three main sectors in crypto that have shown product market fit and significant financial success.
-
— GuestName
- The winners in the current crypto sectors are largely centralized companies, which contrasts with the original promise of decentralization.
-
— GuestName
- Prediction markets and privacy-focused projects may gain traction in the future.
-
— GuestName
Adapting to a maturing industry
- The crypto industry needs to pragmatically adapt to the reality that not all founding principles will appeal to the entire market.
-
— GuestName
- The idea that maximum decentralization is the optimal path has been proven incorrect.
-
— GuestName
- Future successful companies in the crypto space will be built by identifying specific customer needs rather than solely catering to crypto natives.
-
— GuestName
The role of blockchain in traditional finance
- The future will likely see traditional finance adopting blockchain technology in a way that is more beneficial for their operations.
-
— GuestName
- Most companies entering the blockchain space will likely build their own solutions rather than using existing blockchains.
-
— GuestName
- Corporate chains may not be great investments but can onboard users effectively through tokenomics that distribute costs to users.
-
— GuestName
Investment strategies in a maturing market
- The appetite for new general-purpose Layer 1 or Layer 2 solutions has diminished significantly.
-
— GuestName
- Investments should focus on infrastructure that solves clear problems for application builders.
-
— GuestName
- Tokens that provide meaningful utility and impact will likely hold value and grow over time.
-
— GuestName
Market dynamics and investor behavior
- Crypto has become a stock picker’s market, unlike previous cycles.
-
— GuestName
- Current market conditions require multiple positive factors to align for successful investments.
-
— GuestName
- The current market is characterized by more negative surprises than positive ones.
-
— GuestName
The cyclical nature of crypto markets
- Risk appetite in crypto can return quickly after a period of selling exhaustion.
-
— Doug
- Current sentiment in crypto is at an all-time low, with many investors sidelined.
-
— Doug
- Many arguments against crypto are based on the misconception that overvaluation is a recent realization.
-
— Doug
Positioning for future opportunities
- Investors who position themselves well during downturns will be rewarded in the future.
-
— Guest
- The best investment opportunities arise when conviction is lowest.
-
— Guest
- Crypto offers unparalleled transaction efficiency compared to traditional finance.
-
— Guest
Crypto startups are increasingly challenged by external forces, necessitating adaptation. Bridging the gap between crypto natives and the broader market is crucial for future success. The line between crypto and non-crypto products is blurring as builders focus on real-world problems.
Key takeaways
- Crypto startups are increasingly challenged by external forces, necessitating adaptation.
- Bridging the gap between crypto natives and the broader market is crucial for future success.
- The line between crypto and non-crypto products is blurring as builders focus on real-world problems.
- Institutions like BlackRock are influencing the crypto landscape, challenging native startups.
- The current phase of crypto adoption is marked by increased accessibility for non-crypto natives.
- Despite short-term volatility, the long-term trajectory of crypto remains positive.
- The initial DeFi phase laid essential groundwork for future crypto developments.
- The market’s ‘casino’ mentality may not be sustainable for the majority of users.
- NFTs gained early excitement due to perceived value beyond physical assets.
- Future crypto apps must cater to both existing and new users to thrive.
- The current sentiment in crypto is comparable to the FTX collapse, potentially worse.
- Speculative capital is shifting from crypto to other tech sectors like AI and defense.
- The crypto industry is transitioning from an ‘imagination phase’ to a more mature phase.
- Three main sectors—token issuance, stablecoins, and perps—show product market fit in crypto.
- The winners in crypto sectors are often centralized, contrasting with decentralization ideals.
Guest intro
The guest featured on Empire is a prominent figure in the crypto industry, offering insights into the evolving landscape of digital assets. Known for their deep understanding of market dynamics, they shed light on the challenges and opportunities facing crypto startups today. With a focus on bridging the gap between crypto natives and traditional markets, their perspective is crucial for understanding the future trajectory of the industry. This episode covers the blurring lines between crypto and non-crypto products, the influence of institutions like BlackRock, and the sustainability of the current market dynamics.
The challenges facing crypto startups
- Crypto native startups are facing increasing challenges from external forces.
-
— Dougie
- Bridging the gap between crypto natives and the broader market is essential for future success.
-
— Dougie
- The involvement of institutions like BlackRock will continue to challenge crypto-native startups.
-
— GuestName
- For the crypto industry to succeed, it must adapt to the changing landscape shaped by traditional institutions.
-
— GuestName
Blurring lines between crypto and non-crypto products
- The divide between crypto and non-crypto products will blur as builders focus on solving real problems.
-
— GuestName
- Those who refuse to accept the merging of crypto with traditional finance will be left behind.
-
— GuestName
- The current phase of crypto adoption is different because it is now accessible to non-crypto natives.
-
— GuestName
- The future of crypto applications will need to cater to both existing users and attract new users from outside the crypto space.
-
— GuestName
The long-term vision for crypto
- The future of the crypto space will continue to evolve despite short-term volatility.
-
— GuestName
- The initial DeFi phase was crucial for building foundational elements necessary for future developments in crypto.
-
— GuestName
- The current dynamics of the crypto market resemble a ‘casino’ that may not be sustainable for the majority of users.
-
— GuestName
Shifts in market sentiment and capital
- The current sentiment in crypto is comparable to the FTX collapse, potentially even worse.
-
— GuestName
- The crypto market is experiencing a shift from speculative capital to other tech sectors.
-
— GuestName
- The crypto industry is transitioning from an ‘imagination phase’ to a more mature phase.
-
— GuestName
The evolution of crypto sectors
- There are three main sectors in crypto that have shown product market fit and significant financial success.
-
— GuestName
- The winners in the current crypto sectors are largely centralized companies, which contrasts with the original promise of decentralization.
-
— GuestName
- Prediction markets and privacy-focused projects may gain traction in the future.
-
— GuestName
Adapting to a maturing industry
- The crypto industry needs to pragmatically adapt to the reality that not all founding principles will appeal to the entire market.
-
— GuestName
- The idea that maximum decentralization is the optimal path has been proven incorrect.
-
— GuestName
- Future successful companies in the crypto space will be built by identifying specific customer needs rather than solely catering to crypto natives.
-
— GuestName
The role of blockchain in traditional finance
- The future will likely see traditional finance adopting blockchain technology in a way that is more beneficial for their operations.
-
— GuestName
- Most companies entering the blockchain space will likely build their own solutions rather than using existing blockchains.
-
— GuestName
- Corporate chains may not be great investments but can onboard users effectively through tokenomics that distribute costs to users.
-
— GuestName
Investment strategies in a maturing market
- The appetite for new general-purpose Layer 1 or Layer 2 solutions has diminished significantly.
-
— GuestName
- Investments should focus on infrastructure that solves clear problems for application builders.
-
— GuestName
- Tokens that provide meaningful utility and impact will likely hold value and grow over time.
-
— GuestName
Market dynamics and investor behavior
- Crypto has become a stock picker’s market, unlike previous cycles.
-
— GuestName
- Current market conditions require multiple positive factors to align for successful investments.
-
— GuestName
- The current market is characterized by more negative surprises than positive ones.
-
— GuestName
The cyclical nature of crypto markets
- Risk appetite in crypto can return quickly after a period of selling exhaustion.
-
— Doug
- Current sentiment in crypto is at an all-time low, with many investors sidelined.
-
— Doug
- Many arguments against crypto are based on the misconception that overvaluation is a recent realization.
-
— Doug
Positioning for future opportunities
- Investors who position themselves well during downturns will be rewarded in the future.
-
— Guest
- The best investment opportunities arise when conviction is lowest.
-
— Guest
- Crypto offers unparalleled transaction efficiency compared to traditional finance.
-
— Guest
Loading more articles…
You’ve reached the end
Add us on Google
`;
}
function createMobileArticle(article) {
const displayDate = getDisplayDate(article);
const editorSlug = article.editor ? article.editor.toLowerCase().replace(/\s+/g, ‘-‘) : ”;
const captionHtml = article.imageCaption ? `
${article.imageCaption}
` : ”;
const authorHtml = article.isPressRelease ? ” : `
`;
return `
${captionHtml}
${article.subheadline ? `
${article.subheadline}
` : ”}
${createSocialShare()}
${authorHtml}
${displayDate}
${article.content}
`;
}
function createDesktopArticle(article, sidebarAdHtml) {
const editorSlug = article.editor ? article.editor.toLowerCase().replace(/\s+/g, ‘-‘) : ”;
const displayDate = getDisplayDate(article);
const captionHtml = article.imageCaption ? `
${article.imageCaption}
` : ”;
const categoriesHtml = article.categories.map((cat, i) => {
const separator = i < article.categories.length – 1 ? ‘|‘ : ”;
return `${cat}${separator}`;
}).join(”);
const desktopAuthorHtml = article.isPressRelease ? ” : `
`;
return `
${categoriesHtml}
${article.subheadline}
` : ”}
${desktopAuthorHtml}
${displayDate}
${createSocialShare()}
${captionHtml}
`;
}
function loadMoreArticles() {
if (isLoading || !hasMore) return;
isLoading = true;
loadingText.classList.remove(‘hidden’);
// Build form data for AJAX request
const formData = new FormData();
formData.append(‘action’, ‘cb_lovable_load_more’);
formData.append(‘current_post_id’, lastLoadedPostId);
formData.append(‘primary_cat_id’, primaryCatId);
formData.append(‘before_date’, lastLoadedDate);
formData.append(‘loaded_ids’, loadedPostIds.join(‘,’));
fetch(ajaxUrl, {
method: ‘POST’,
body: formData
})
.then(response => response.json())
.then(data => {
isLoading = false;
loadingText.classList.add(‘hidden’);
if (data.success && data.has_more && data.article) {
const article = data.article;
const sidebarAdHtml = data.sidebar_ad_html || ”;
// Check for duplicates
if (loadedPostIds.includes(article.id)) {
console.log(‘Duplicate article detected, skipping:’, article.id);
// Update pagination vars and try again
lastLoadedDate = article.publishDate;
loadMoreArticles();
return;
}
// Add to mobile container
mobileContainer.insertAdjacentHTML(‘beforeend’, createMobileArticle(article));
// Add to desktop container with fresh ad HTML
desktopContainer.insertAdjacentHTML(‘beforeend’, createDesktopArticle(article, sidebarAdHtml));
// Update tracking variables
loadedPostIds.push(article.id);
lastLoadedPostId = article.id;
lastLoadedDate = article.publishDate;
// Execute any inline scripts in the new content (for ads)
const newArticle = desktopContainer.querySelector(`article[data-article-id=”${article.id}”]`);
if (newArticle) {
const scripts = newArticle.querySelectorAll(‘script’);
scripts.forEach(script => {
const newScript = document.createElement(‘script’);
if (script.src) {
newScript.src = script.src;
} else {
newScript.textContent = script.textContent;
}
document.body.appendChild(newScript);
});
}
// Trigger Ad Inserter if available
if (typeof ai_check_and_insert_block === ‘function’) {
ai_check_and_insert_block();
}
// Trigger Google Publisher Tag refresh if available
if (typeof googletag !== ‘undefined’ && googletag.pubads) {
googletag.cmd.push(function() {
googletag.pubads().refresh();
});
}
} else if (data.success && !data.has_more) {
hasMore = false;
endText.classList.remove(‘hidden’);
} else if (!data.success) {
console.error(‘AJAX error:’, data.error);
hasMore = false;
endText.textContent=”Error loading more articles”;
endText.classList.remove(‘hidden’);
}
})
.catch(error => {
console.error(‘Fetch error:’, error);
isLoading = false;
loadingText.classList.add(‘hidden’);
hasMore = false;
endText.textContent=”Error loading more articles”;
endText.classList.remove(‘hidden’);
});
}
// Set up IntersectionObserver
const observer = new IntersectionObserver(function(entries) {
if (entries[0].isIntersecting) {
loadMoreArticles();
}
}, { threshold: 0.1 });
observer.observe(loadingTrigger);
})();
© Decentral Media and Crypto Briefing® 2026.
Source: https://cryptobriefing.com/dougie-crypto-startups-face-unprecedented-external-challenges-the-line-between-crypto-and-traditional-finance-is-blurring-and-market-sentiment-mirrors-the-ftx-collapse-empire/
