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Web3 Investor Day 2023: Proof of Adoption

By: Danny Pantuso

Fresh Perspectives into the Evolving Web3 Landscape

For the 2nd year, the team at Decasonic hosted our annual Web3 Investor Day, an invite-only gathering of our industry leaders to discuss the current and future of Web3 investments and innovations. This year, our themes centered on Fresh Perspectives, Proof of Innovation and the Evolving Landscape in Web3.

In contrast to 2022, markets have normalized in crypto. But throughout the day, we discussed how bear markets make healthier ecosystems, how founders can finally get back to building with patience and how a get-rich-quick mindset has been replaced by a ‘prove-it’ market.

In light of these macro changes, we’ve themed this year's conference around the Proof of Adoption and backed it up with panels that showcase the sprouts of crypto thawing. Continuing to iterate on previous successes, this year’s conference beamed with over 300 attendees, 100 investors, and 22 different startups demoing.

From the conference's eight thought-provoking panels, ten key takeaways emerged. Let’s take a closer look at what’s changed from last year's Web3 Investor Day and what it means for the next one.

1. Institutional Interest Lends Legitimacy

The first standout takeaway from Web3 Investor Day was that the Web3 landscape is garnering interest from mainstream asset allocators such as pension funds, university endowments, and Fortune 500 companies. The "Institutional Interest" panel highlighted the significance of this development, as it further legitimizes the sector and instills confidence in the minds of investors. It’s clear that the market is still maturing, but a growing number of investors are eager to back web3 projects.

As the proof of innovation becomes more apparent, institutional investors display greater interest in Web3 projects. The participation of established institutions in Web3 investment signals the recognition of its transformative potential, and will likely play a crucial role in driving late-stage price discovery and the sector's overall maturation. The density of ideas and capital is fueling a healthier trajectory of innovation, attracting long-term capital even in bear markets.

2. The Regulatory Landscape Still Evolves

The regulatory landscape is evolving. Governments around the world are still trying to figure out how to regulate and or embrace web3. While there is a growing consensus that regulation should foster innovation, finding the right balance remains a challenge. Web3's immense promise as a disruptive technology is met with challenges of scalability and usability, alongside the need to establish a clear and supportive regulatory framework.

However, this period of regulatory turbulence also presents an opportunity for the industry to mature and for innovators to proactively address the challenges ahead. Mike Frisch from leading Chicago Crypto law firm CrokeFairchild took the stage to note that despite the regulatory uncertainties, the Web3 community has demonstrated its resilience and commitment to driving positive change.

Check out the Web3 Investor Day recap!

Top of Mind

• East Asia is providing an early look into how this global technology will transform the global digital landscape. Decasonic CEO, Paul Hsu attended WebX in Tokyo and shared his thoughts here.

• The way we engage on the internet today is broken. Venture Investor, Lauren Tierney discussed why she believes engagement is stale, fragmented, and non-personal here.

• The European Central Bank (ECB) has finalized prototypes for a digital euro. Venture Investor, Danny Pantuso, delves into why this is paving the way for the digital age here.

• Blockchain innovation is a foundational layer of technology that can better enable the things brands and marketers are already trying to do. Marketing Manager, Grace Casey, talks more about this here.

Where to Find Us  

• Paul Hsu sat down with MoneyLive to chat about spatial computing, what value virtual assets hold, and much more here.

• Video replays of our Web3 Investor Day sessions will be released soon. Stay tuned!

Thanks for reading!

Follow Decasonic on Twitter and LinkedIn for daily insights on the web3 ecosystem, Decasonic happenings, and beyond.

Are you or someone you know building in crypto or web3? Get in touch with the investment team here.

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