Understanding this shift matters for anyone building in or navigating the Web3 space today.

From monolithic chains to modular infrastructure

Early blockchains were built to do everything in one place. A single network handled transaction execution, reached consensus, ensured data availability, and provided settlement finality. Bitcoin and early Ethereum are the clearest examples: unified systems where every node participates in every function.

The problem with this approach is scalability. When one chain must do everything, it hits limits quickly. Higher demand means higher fees, slower transactions, and pressure to make trade-offs between decentralization and performance.

The modular approach breaks these responsibilities apart. Execution, settlement, consensus, and data availability each become distinct layers that can be optimized independently. A rollup, for instance, handles execution off the main chain and posts transaction data to a separate data availability layer like Celestia or EigenDA, while settling on Ethereum. Each component does one job well instead of one system doing everything adequately.

This architectural shift mirrors what happened in software engineering more broadly – the move from monolithic applications to microservices. The logic is the same: specialization enables scale.

For builders and innovators in the crypto space, this modular foundation has opened up new possibilities. Developers can now launch application-specific chains without building validator infrastructure from scratch, plug into shared security layers, and choose data availability solutions that fit their needs and budget.

The stack is expanding beyond blockchain scaling

Here’s where things get genuinely interesting. The modular blockchain stack started as a solution to a scaling problem. But it’s increasingly becoming something else: infrastructure for autonomous AI agents to communicate, transact, and coordinate.

This might sound like a stretch, but the logic follows naturally. AI agents – software systems that can take actions, make decisions, and interact with external services on a user’s behalf – are becoming more capable and more autonomous. As they start participating in real economic activity, they need reliable infrastructure underneath them. They need to prove who authorized them, make payments, verify the trustworthiness of other agents, and leave auditable records of what they’ve done.

Blockchain’s core properties – transparent records, programmable rules, portable identity, and tamper-resistant logs – map almost perfectly onto what agentic AI requires. The stack isn’t replacing AI; it’s providing the trust and accountability rails that make autonomous agent activity safe and verifiable.

The convergence of agentic AI and decentralized infrastructure isn’t a future scenario – it’s already shaping how we think about Web3 architecture today. The projects that will define the next phase aren’t just building on blockchain; they’re building the coordination layer that lets autonomous systems act with trust, accountability, and economic purpose.

Liwaa Chehayeb

Head of Web3 at what.

Read also: the ongoing tokenization era points to a parallel shift — blockchain is moving from purely speculative infrastructure toward systems that support real economic value. Agentic AI is accelerating that same trajectory.

The protocols shaping the agentic Web3 stack

Several emerging protocols and standards are extending the modular stack specifically to support AI agent activity. Together, they form something that could reasonably be called an agentic commerce infrastructure.

Agent Communication: A2A

A2A (Agent-to-Agent protocol) addresses how AI agents communicate with each other. The future of agentic AI isn’t one all-knowing agent doing everything. It’s a network of specialized agents, each handling a particular domain. 

One agent handles research, another handles payments, another handles compliance checks. A2A provides the common language these agents use to coordinate and delegate tasks between each other.

Tool Access: MCP

MCP (Model Context Protocol) handles tool access. It allows agents to connect with external systems – databases, APIs, blockchain explorers, business workflows, payment services. 

Without MCP, an agent is essentially isolated. With it, an agent can actually interact with the digital world: checking a transaction on-chain, retrieving a document, calling a pricing API, or triggering a business process.

Payment Authorization: AP2

AP2 (Agent Payments Protocol) focuses specifically on authorization. When an AI agent makes a payment on a user’s behalf, a critical question arises: was this actually authorized? AP2 is designed to answer that. 

It’s less about the mechanics of moving money and more about consent, permission scopes, and accountability. Think of it as the authorization layer that sits above the actual payment.

Payment Execution: x402

x402 handles the payment execution side. It revives the old HTTP 402 “Payment Required” status code and turns it into a workable standard for internet-native micropayments. 

An agent can pay for a premium data request, an API call, or even compensate another agent for completing a subtask – all automatically, without human involvement at each step. AP2 proves the agent was authorized; x402 handles the actual transaction flow.

Agent Identity and Reputation: ERC-8004

ERC-8004 tackles agent identity and reputation. As agents increasingly interact with other agents outside their own platform or organization, they need a way to evaluate trustworthiness.

Who built this agent? Has it successfully completed tasks before? Can its claims be verified? ERC-8004 aims to create an open reputation layer for agent-to-agent interactions – essentially helping agents decide who’s worth trusting and paying.

Smart wallets, spending limits, and constrained autonomy

One of the most important design questions in agentic AI is simple: how much financial autonomy should an agent have?

The answer should be: constrained. Not unlimited access to a wallet, but programmable, policy-bound access. Smart wallets and account abstraction make this possible. A user or business can configure an agent to spend only up to a certain amount per day, transact only with approved counterparties, request human approval above a certain threshold, or avoid specific transaction types entirely. Every action gets logged for review.

This matters because the goal isn’t maximum autonomy – it’s useful autonomy within clear guardrails. An AI travel agent that books the cheapest flight within your budget is helpful. An AI agent with unconstrained access to your funds is a liability.

Cross-chain coordination and the UX opportunity

AI agents won’t care which blockchain a service runs on. They’ll care whether the task can be completed quickly, cheaply, and safely. This makes interoperability a first-order concern for the agentic Web3 stack.

An agent might need to pay on one network, verify data on another, and use a service that settles on a third. Cross-chain infrastructure that handles this routing invisibly – without requiring the agent (or the user) to manually manage bridges and gas tokens – is essential for this vision to work in practice.

This connects to one of Web3’s persistent challenges: user experience. Managing wallets, private keys, gas fees, and cross-chain transfers has kept most people at arm’s length from blockchain-based services. AI agents could absorb all of that complexity. Instead of a user interacting directly with decentralized infrastructure, the agent handles it – and the user simply receives results.

That’s a genuinely compelling proposition for broader Web3 adoption. The next major interface for Web3 might not be a wallet or a dApp. It might be an AI agent. Projects like the DMCC crypto and AI ecosystem are already building regulatory and commercial frameworks that anticipate exactly this kind of convergence.

Trust, accountability, and the risks that remain

Autonomous agents create real trust challenges. They act faster than humans can supervise, may interact with unknown services, and can spend real money. Mistakes are possible. So is manipulation – fake or low-quality agents gaming reputation systems, compromised wallets, or insecure API connections.

Blockchain helps address parts of this problem. Transparent execution records, smart contract-enforced rules, verifiable identity, and auditable transaction histories all reduce the risk surface. But blockchain isn’t the brain of an AI agent. It’s the accountability layer around it. The agent decides and acts; the blockchain ensures those actions are recorded, authorized, and traceable.

The honest framing here is that agentic AI and Web3 integration is still early. Standards are fragmented, liability questions are unresolved, and regulatory frameworks haven’t caught up. As with tokenization’s positioning problem, the technology is often ahead of the governance and communication structures needed to make it work in practice. The goal should be constrained autonomy – agents that can act effectively within well-defined rules, budgets, and accountability frameworks, not agents operating without meaningful oversight.

A real-world agentic workflow: what this looks like in practice

Abstract protocol names are one thing. But how does the full agentic Web3 stack actually behave in a real scenario? Here’s a concrete example.

Say a logistics company wants to automate vendor procurement. They configure an AI agent with a clear mandate: source a certified freight partner for a shipment from Dubai to Rotterdam, negotiate within a predefined budget, and complete the booking – all without manual intervention.

Here’s what happens under the hood:

• The user defines the task and sets parameters inside a smart wallet: maximum spend of $8,000, approved vendor categories only, human sign-off required above $10,000. The agent gets to work.

• Using MCP, it connects to freight databases, logistics APIs, and compliance registries to pull live rates, carrier certifications, and regulatory requirements for the route.

• It needs help assessing carbon offset compliance for the EU leg. So via A2A, it delegates that subtask to a specialized compliance agent. That agent checks relevant registries, confirms compliance status, and reports back.

• Before committing to a vendor, the agent checks the carrier’s ERC-8004 reputation profile. The carrier has completed 400+ verified cross-border bookings, holds a strong on-chain track record, and has no dispute history. Trustworthy enough to proceed.

• The carrier’s API responds with an x402 payment request for the booking deposit. The agent checks back with AP2 to verify the payment is within authorized parameters. It is.

• The smart wallet validates the spend against the user’s policy rules and executes the transaction. The booking is confirmed, the transaction is logged on-chain, and a full audit trail is created automatically.

• The user gets a notification. Total time: minutes. Manual steps required: zero.

For businesses exploring how AI automation can power these kinds of workflows, the underlying principles align closely with what our AI automation services team builds for clients today. The difference is that Web3 infrastructure adds the trust, payment, and identity layers that make those workflows verifiable and economically sovereign.

Also worth reading: 2026 Will Be the Year of Autonomous Workflows explores how AI-driven automation is reshaping business operations more broadly.

What to watch as the agentic stack matures

The protocols and standards discussed here are still developing, but several trends are worth tracking closely:

• Adoption of x402 for API-level micropayments and agent-to-agent compensation
• AP2 becoming a standard for verifiable agent payment authorization in enterprise contexts
• ERC-8004 development as a trust and reputation layer for cross-platform agent interactions
• Smart wallet infrastructure maturing to support complex, multi-agent spending policies
• Stablecoin micropayments enabling machine-to-machine transactions at scale
• Agent marketplaces where specialized AI agents offer services to other agents or users

Each of these represents a piece of the broader picture: a Web3 infrastructure that was built to scale blockchains, now evolving to coordinate autonomous digital activity across networks, agents, and economic systems.

The modular blockchain stack isn’t just a better way to build blockchains. It’s becoming the coordination and trust layer for the next generation of the internet – one where AI agents are active economic participants, not just tools that answer questions.

If you’re building in this space or thinking about how agentic AI and decentralized infrastructure intersect with your business, our team at what. works with crypto and Web3 projects at exactly this frontier. Explore our Web3 & Crypto services to see how we can help you navigate and build in this evolving landscape.

The post How Modular Blockchain Powers Agentic AI and Web3 appeared first on what. AG.

Here’s how we at what. helped DMCC build one of the most active blockchain and Web3 hubs in the UAE – and what we learned along the way.

DMCC overview: why Dubai’s hub is key for crypto & blockchain

DMCC – the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre – isn’t just another free zone. It’s a government-backed ecosystem specifically designed to attract and support blockchain, crypto, Web3, and AI companies looking to establish themselves in the UAE.

Positioned in Dubai, the city sits within eight hours’ flying time of markets representing 65% of global GDP. That geographic advantage is real – but only if the right founders, developers, and investors know about it.

DMCC’s ambition was clear: become the go-to destination for crypto and AI businesses in the region, generate qualified leads, and build a community that actually delivers value.

That’s where we came in.

Inside the DMCC Crypto Centre: a physical hub for Web3 companies

The DMCC Crypto Centre is more than a co-working space. It’s an entire floor at Uptown Tower dedicated to bringing crypto, blockchain, and Web3 companies under one roof.

Physical proximity matters in this industry. Being able to walk down the hall and meet your next investor or technical co-founder creates a network effect that no Telegram group can replicate.

The Crypto Centre offers companies not just licensing, but access to a thriving ecosystem – advisors, regulators, service providers, and other builders all working in the same space.

That infrastructure gave us something real to market.

DMCC AI Centre: building infrastructure for artificial intelligence companies

Alongside the Crypto Centre, DMCC also operates a dedicated AI Centre – part of the same technology ecosystem floor at Uptown Tower.

The strategy was the same: bring AI startups, researchers, and enterprise teams into one physical location where collaboration happens organically. The AI and crypto verticals share resources, events, and a regulatory environment that supports innovation without unnecessary friction.

For us at what., managing the digital presence of both verticals meant understanding the overlap and reflecting that in our content strategy.

DMCC’s goals: lead generation, positioning, and community growth

DMCC’s objectives were threefold: position themselves as the leading crypto and AI hub in the UAE, generate licensing leads from qualified companies, and build an engaged community around the ecosystem.

The licensing landscape in the UAE is competitive. Free zones across Dubai and other emirates all compete for the same Web3 and AI companies.

To stand out, DMCC needed to demonstrate real community value – the kind that comes from events, shared infrastructure, and access to decision-makers.

Our job was to amplify that value digitally.

How what. managed DMCC’s full digital presence

We at what. took on the full digital presence of DMCC’s technology ecosystem – specifically the crypto and AI verticals.

In practice, our work covered:

• Managing and growing all social media accounts across X, Instagram, and LinkedIn
• Live coverage of physical blockchain and AI events across the UAE
• Running and moderating the DMCC Telegram community server
• Publishing blogs and placing PR to support lead generation and positioning

We weren’t just scheduling posts. We were building infrastructure for a community that needed to feel valuable to its members and credible to the outside world.

Using blockchain and Web3 events as a growth channel

Over the course of our engagement, DMCC hosted 25+ physical events. We attended and covered 24 of them live, creating real-time content across Instagram and other channels.

But live coverage was only part of the strategy. The more important work was building a system around those events – post-event analysis that tracked what actually came out of each one.

Which conversations led to licensing inquiries? What topics generated the most engagement?

Physical events in the crypto and blockchain space do something social media can’t easily replicate: they put thought leaders, investors, and builders in the same room.

We focused on capturing that value and making it visible online.

Our greatest challenges: community building and working within strict constraints

A community only grows when everyone in it gets something out of it. That sounds obvious, but it’s where most ecosystem-building efforts fall apart.

You can’t manufacture belonging. If the people in your ecosystem aren’t getting tangible value – connections, knowledge, opportunities – no amount of content will keep them engaged.

DMCC understood this early. They built physical infrastructure, hosted regular events, and created environments where meaningful connections could form.

Our job was to amplify that signal digitally.

Marketing for a semi-government organization comes with strict brand guidelines, structured approval processes, and a small margin for error.

Early in the engagement, approval workflows created friction. Material was taking too long to get published, which matters in a fast-moving space like crypto and AI.

We worked to improve the process from the inside – mapping bottlenecks, improving communication between teams, and reducing back-and-forth without compromising compliance.

The result was a faster, more efficient pipeline for getting content approved and published – making the rest of the work possible.

Results of what.’s engagement with DMCC

We can point out the following headline results from this project:

• 800+ Web3 and AI companies licensed in Dubai through DMCC
• 24 physical blockchain and crypto events attended and covered with live content
• 10,000+ organic community members grown across social platforms

Growing from 500 to 700 licensed companies within a single year – and continuing beyond 800 – reflects what happens when lead generation, community building, and positioning all reinforce each other.

This wasn’t about one viral post or one successful event. It was about building a system where every piece contributed to the same goal.

Our biggest learning on community building

The biggest lesson from this project: community isn’t a content strategy. It’s a value proposition.

If the people in your ecosystem aren’t getting something tangible out of being there, no amount of posting will manufacture genuine belonging.

DMCC’s physical infrastructure gave us at what. something real to market. The Crypto Centre, the AI Centre, the events, the network of 800+ companies – those are genuine reasons for a founder to choose Dubai and DMCC.

Our job was to make that value visible and compelling to the right audience.

Next steps: building your crypto, blockchain, or AI ecosystem

If you’re building or scaling a crypto, blockchain, or AI project and need a team that understands both the technical landscape and how to grow an audience in it, we at what. would love to talk.

Check out our Web3 and Crypto Marketing services to see how we approach community building, lead generation, and positioning for blockchain and AI companies.

Or book a free consultation to explore what’s possible for your project.

The post How We Grew DMCC’s Crypto & AI Ecosystem to 800+ Companies appeared first on what. AG.

In practice, many of the most important layers of Web3 are built during periods of low visibility. When speculation recedes, incentives change. Teams that continue working are no longer optimizing for attention or short term validation. They are building systems meant to operate years into the future.

This phase can be described as the quiet cycle. It is not a pause in innovation, but a shift toward less visible, more structural work. Understanding this distinction is essential to understanding what Web3 may look like in 2026.

Why 2026 Is a Useful Time Horizon

Looking toward 2026 is not about prediction. It is about respecting how long real systems take to mature. Foundational Web3 work tends to move on multi year timelines because it depends on:

• Iterative protocol upgrades rather than one time launches
• Gradual improvement in developer tooling through usage feedback
• Long testing and integration cycles for enterprises and institutions

Work done during quieter periods often becomes visible only much later. Features that feel stable or obvious in 2026 will likely trace back to architectural decisions made when market interest was low. A longer horizon helps separate durable progress from temporary activity.

What Quiet Building Looks Like in Practice

Quiet building is defined by behavior rather than announcements. Teams in this phase focus less on expansion and more on refinement.

In practice, this work usually involves:

• Improving reliability and performance
• Reducing complexity and technical debt
• Making developer workflows simpler and more predictable

Builders Working Through the Quiet Cycle

One example of quiet building at scale is the ongoing development around Ethereum. Many improvements related to scalability and resilience were developed during periods of reduced market enthusiasm. Rather than launching new narratives, core contributors focused on long term protocol research, cautious upgrades, and extensive testing. Much of this work attracted little attention outside technical circles, yet it significantly strengthened the network’s foundations.

Another example is Chainlink. During slower market conditions, its efforts centered on strengthening existing infrastructure and expanding real world integrations. This work lacked the visibility of earlier growth phases, but it increased the reliability of applications that depend on external data.

Both examples reflect a broader pattern. Progress was slow, deliberate, and largely invisible, yet critical for future adoption.

How Market Downturns Improve Execution

When attention and capital become scarce, inefficiency becomes costly. Teams are forced to prioritize.

Downturns push builders to confront questions that are often postponed in stronger markets:

• What problem is this product actually solving
• Who is the user, and why would they stay
• Which features are essential, and which are distractions

The result is often simpler, more focused products. Governance and compliance considerations become practical rather than theoretical. Teams dependent on external validation tend to exit, while those that remain usually operate with clearer conviction and stronger internal alignment.

Signals That Matter More Than Sentiment

Market sentiment is easy to observe but unreliable. More meaningful signals exist, though they are quieter.

Two of the most telling indicators are consistent developer activity and long term technical integrations. Roadmaps that evolve without losing direction suggest discipline. Small but persistent user retention often matters more than rapid growth driven by incentives.

These signals take time to notice, but they are harder to manufacture.

Strategic Implications for Builders

For builders and entrepreneurs, the quiet cycle is uncomfortable but productive. Feedback loops are slower. Visibility is lower. External validation is limited.

At the same time, this environment rewards teams that:

• Build for durability rather than attention
• Stay close to real users instead of abstract markets

The goal is not to wait for better conditions, but to be prepared for them.

The Shape of Web3 in 2026

Web3 in 2026 is unlikely to feel revolutionary to most users. That is a sign of maturity. Systems that work well tend to fade into the background.

Many of the companies shaping that future are not highly visible today. They are building quietly, without relying on constant attention. Their impact will be measured in reliability, integration, and usability rather than excitement.

Progress in Web3 is uneven and difficult to measure in real time, but it accumulates. The quiet cycle is where that accumulation happens. Builders who continue developing through uncertainty are not acting out of optimism. They are responding to a practical reality: lasting systems are built when no one is watching.

If you are a Web3 builder, reach out to us, and we can help you achieve your vision. Our team is dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs and supporting you in their journey. Explore our services at what.

The post How Web3 Builders Are Preparing for 2026 Without the Noise appeared first on what. AG.

Web3 and artificial intelligence are entering a phase where experimentation gives way to execution. By 2026, most of the core technologies underpinning decentralised systems and advanced AI models will already exist. The differentiator will no longer be technical novelty, but the ability to deploy these systems within real world economic, regulatory, and governance constraints.

Between 2024 and 2025, global attention has shifted from whether Web3 and AI are viable to how they can be integrated responsibly into existing markets. This shift is especially visible in regions that treat emerging technology as part of long term economic planning rather than isolated innovation. The Gulf Cooperation Council, particularly the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, has emerged as one of the clearest examples of this approach.

For builders and founders, this matters because the operating models being established today will define what is possible by 2026 and beyond. Understanding these models early is becoming a strategic requirement rather than a regional curiosity.

Why the GCC Matters in the Web3 and AI Landscape

The GCC’s relevance to Web3 and AI is not driven by hype cycles or speculative markets. It is driven by coordination. Over the past two years, the UAE and Saudi Arabia have aligned regulation, capital, infrastructure, and talent development around clear digital economy objectives.

In the UAE, hubs such as Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) have moved beyond regulatory experimentation into operational frameworks for digital assets, decentralised systems, and AI enabled services. Saudi Arabia has followed a similar path through national innovation programs tied to Vision 2030, focusing on applied technology at institutional scale.

What distinguishes the region is not speed alone, but intent. Regulation is being designed to enable deployment while maintaining oversight. AI governance is being discussed alongside national data strategies. Tokenisation is approached as infrastructure rather than as a financial trend.

For founders outside the region, the GCC offers insight into how Web3 and AI may operate globally once regulatory ambiguity declines. For founders within the region, it offers an opportunity to build with fewer unknowns and clearer long term assumptions.

It is important to note that policies continue to evolve, and not all frameworks are final. However, the direction of travel is clear enough to influence product and company design decisions today.

Tokenisation of Real World Assets Moves From Concept to Infrastructure

Tokenisation of real world assets has been discussed for several years, but 2024 and 2025 marked a shift from conceptual pilots to infrastructure level thinking. The focus has moved away from whether assets can be tokenised to how tokenised assets can be issued, managed, and governed within existing legal systems.

In the GCC, this shift has been supported by:

• Clearer definitions of digital assets
• Engagement between regulators, custodians, and technology providers
• Demand from institutional and government linked entities

By 2026, tokenisation is likely to function as part of broader market infrastructure rather than as a standalone innovation. This has direct implications for builders:

• Product architecture must assume compliance and reporting requirements
• Partnerships with licensed entities become a core design consideration
• Governance models must account for both on chain and off chain accountability

Tokenisation, in this context, is less about speed or liquidity and more about standardisation, trust, and interoperability. Regions that can provide legal clarity and operational support will shape how these systems scale globally.

Infrastructure Is the Competitive Moat in Web3 by 2026

One of the clearest lessons from Web3 development over the past two years is that infrastructure decisions compound. Choices around networks, data availability, interoperability, and custody are difficult to reverse once systems reach production.

By 2026, infrastructure is expected to be a primary competitive moat rather than an interchangeable layer. This is particularly relevant in environments where enterprise and government adoption is a goal. In such contexts:

• Reliability matters more than experimentation
• Interoperability outweighs maximal decentralisation
• Security and auditability are baseline expectations

In the GCC, enterprise driven adoption has influenced infrastructure standards earlier than in many other regions. Builders targeting these markets must design systems that integrate with existing institutions while preserving decentralised properties where they add real value.

For founders making decisions in 2024 and 2025, this means prioritising long term maintainability over short term optimisation. Infrastructure should be treated as a strategic asset, not a technical afterthought.

DAOs and Governance Become Professionalised

Decentralised Autonomous Organisations are evolving. Early DAO models often prioritised ideological purity over operational effectiveness. By 2026, governance structures are expected to look significantly more professional, especially in regulated or enterprise facing contexts.

Key trends already visible include:

• Delegated governance models replacing direct voting for all decisions
• Clear separation between strategic oversight and day to day operations
• Hybrid structures that bridge decentralised governance with legal entities

In the GCC, these developments intersect with corporate and regulatory expectations. Governance is not viewed as an abstract principle, but as a mechanism for accountability. For builders, this reframes governance as a product feature rather than a philosophical stance.

Projects that fail to invest in governance design early often struggle to adapt later. Those that treat governance as infrastructure are better positioned to operate across jurisdictions.

Decentralised Science as a Coordination Layer

Decentralised Science, or DeSci, has matured quietly compared to other Web3 narratives. Between 2024 and 2025, the conversation shifted from alternative funding mechanisms to broader coordination challenges in research and innovation.

DeSci’s relevance lies in its ability to:

• Coordinate contributors across institutions
• Create transparent incentive structures
• Improve data provenance and reproducibility

These capabilities align closely with national research agendas, particularly in regions investing heavily in science and technology capacity. The GCC’s focus on applied research, health, climate, and advanced manufacturing makes it a natural environment for DeSci experimentation.

However, challenges remain. Intellectual property management, data governance, and incentive alignment are complex problems. By 2026, successful DeSci initiatives are likely to be those that integrate with existing institutions rather than attempt to replace them.

Web3 and AI in 2026: One Stack, Shared Constraints

The intersection of Web3 and AI is often discussed in abstract terms. By 2026, this intersection is expected to become more concrete and more constrained.

AI agents are increasingly capable of acting autonomously within defined systems. As these agents participate in economic activity, questions of accountability, alignment, and governance become unavoidable. Web3 infrastructure offers tools for addressing these questions, including:

• Transparent execution environments
• Verifiable data provenance
• Programmable incentives and constraints

At the same time, AI governance and safety frameworks are evolving rapidly. In the GCC, AI policy discussions are tied to national data strategies and economic priorities, reinforcing the need for systems that can be audited and controlled.

Web3 does not solve AI governance on its own, but it provides primitives that help operationalise trust. By 2026, builders will need to design systems where AI and decentralised infrastructure are aligned by design rather than patched together.

Uncertainty remains around standards and global coordination. Builders should plan for change rather than assume stability.

What Builders and Founders Need to Get Right Now

For founders building toward 2026, several strategic questions deserve attention:

• Which jurisdiction assumptions are embedded in the product?
• How does governance scale with adoption?
• What infrastructure choices are difficult to change later?
• Where does decentralisation add real value versus complexity?

Common mistakes observed across Web3 and AI projects include underestimating governance, delaying compliance considerations, and treating infrastructure as modular when it is not.

The most resilient teams are those that treat system design as a strategic discipline. This includes knowing when to build internally, when to partner, and when to wait for standards to mature.

The GCC as a Launchpad, Not a Shortcut

The GCC offers meaningful advantages, but it is not a shortcut to success. Regulatory clarity does not replace product market fit. Capital availability does not remove execution risk.

Builders who succeed in the region tend to:

• Commit long term
• Invest in local understanding
• Align with institutional priorities

Those who approach the GCC opportunistically often struggle to translate early access into durable outcomes.

Designing for the World That Is Emerging

Web3 and AI are converging into systems that will shape how value is created, governed, and distributed. By 2026, the question will not be whether these systems work, but where and how they are deployed responsibly.

The GCC is contributing to this future by designing operating models grounded in real constraints. For builders and founders, understanding these models is becoming part of building globally relevant products.

The opportunity lies not in following trends, but in designing systems that can endure.

As Web3 and AI systems move from experimentation to execution, builders and founders are increasingly faced with structural questions rather than technical ones. These include how to design governance that scales, how to align products with evolving regulation, and how to choose jurisdictions that support long term growth.

For teams exploring these questions, especially in the context of the GCC, it can be useful to engage with practitioners who operate across both regional and global environments. We are operating across the GCC region through our UAE branch in DIFC, Dubai. This work is complemented by what. AG in Switzerland, providing a European perspective on governance, compliance, and market design.

The goal is not acceleration for its own sake, but clarity. Designing systems that can operate responsibly in 2026 and beyond requires informed decisions made early.

Explore our Crypto services

The post Web3 and AI in 2026: Why the GCC Is Defining the Operating Model Builders Need to Understand appeared first on what. AG.

Journey from Web1 to Web2 to Web3

The leap from Web1 to Web2 came with many challenges, but the outcome was a totally new way for people to interact with the internet and share content. Web1 offered a read-only model allowing people to receive information through a one-way stream. This model worked great initially, but it was missing a key element of interactions and original content generated by individuals on the internet. A two-way stream had to be created allowing people to read & write introducing new concepts like social media platforms where everyone connects with one another to share and receive information. Now we are on the precipice of a new era of Web3, introducing a way for people to read, write, & own. This is achieved through trustless verifications enabled by blockchain technology.

Web2 companies are entering the Web3 Space

Entreprises, SMEs, and startups are exploring Web3 by creating concepts that would act as a proof-of-concept (POC) to them and their community allowing a seamless transition from Web2 to Web3 without impacting the existing business models and business as usual practices. This is a key point to understand for all the companies that are looking to enter the Web3 space, as most of them are afraid of negatively impacting their business by implementing a new solution that naturally has inherited risks. The common factor between successful Web2 to Web3 stories is how they conceptualize, plan, and execute the project which ultimately acts as an MVP allowing them to iterate, whilst keeping the expectations low.

In this article, we will be highlighting some of the Web2 to Web3 successful stories and understanding more about their offerings and what makes them unique.

Gucci – The Next 100 Years of Gucci

Gucci released an NFT collection that sold for $25,000. They announced a partnership with SuperRare to launch Vault Art Space. Gucci plans on using the Vault Art Space to hold exhibitions by NFT artists called “The Next 100 Years of Gucci,” presenting a selection of NFT artwork, “each a collectible fragment of Gucci’s kaleidoscopic heritage.”

What did they do right?

• Gucci focused on creating an NFT that doesn’t impact their day-to-day business but allows them to enter the Web3 space with minimal risk

• The story behind the NFTs is attractive and holds intrinsic value to loyal customers

• Partnering with SuperRare is an excellent way for Gucci to enter the NFT space and tap into NFT communities

FC Barcelona – In a Way, Immortal

FC Barcelona created ‘In a Way, Immortal’ unique 1/1 NFT, which is the first NFT in the club’s history. It celebrates Johan Cruyff and sold for $693,000 at an auction. The animated digital art NFT aesthetically recreates a goal scored by Cruyff, who later became the club’s coach in 1973. The future owner of this NFT will be labeled Barça Digital Ambassador and enjoy unique Club-based benefits and experiences such as access to training sessions among other utilities.

What did they do right?

• FC Barcelona focused on an iconic moment that is engraved in the minds of the loyal fans and created a piece of history into an NFT

• By focusing on a unique 1/1 NFT they created scarcity and tapped into the mindset of die-hard fans that would love to be part of the journey

• Adding utility to the NFT was a key factor enabling the holder to own a ticket to a lifetime membership as Barça Digital Ambassador granting them access to real-life use cases such as access to training sessions and meeting the players

Charles & Keith – Cryptocurrency Payment 

Charles & Keith is one of the first retailers to add a cryptocurrency payment mode on their e-commerce website. They accept both Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). They have also dived into the metaverse as they participated in Decentraland’s Metaverse Fashion Week with an exhibition meant for brand storytelling.

What did they do right?

• By adding a new way for people to pay through their e-commerce platform doesn’t affect their day-to-day business and allows them to generate large PR and marketing campaigns

• Adding a use case for crypto holders to spend their Bitcoin & Ethereum and purchase goods open up opportunities for growth and showcasing real-life use cases of crypto and blockchain

• Entering the Metaverse in partnership with Decentraland is an effective way to tap into an existing community while creating a positive buzz around the brand showcasing progressive and innovative thinking

NIVEA – The Value of Touch

Skincare brand NIVEA’s ‘The Value of Touch’ campaign features Clarissa Baldassarri, an artist who experienced a temporary loss of sight at the very start of her career. The project includes 15,000 NFTs for free to mint with a landing page that helps onboard users with a branded Web3 wallet. NIVEA aims to spread awareness and educate people about the Web3 space using the NFT drops. By keeping the NFTs free of cost, they allow any users to experience Web3 and learn about the ecosystem without the risk of losing money, this also acts as a proof-of-concept (POC) for NIVEA to understand their customer base and takes them through this journey.

What did they do right?

• Create an interesting story around the NFT drop that everyone can connect with

• Make the NFT drop free to mint allowing anyone to be part of this journey spreading education and awareness about Web3 and onboarding their users to Web3 for future projects

• Keep the NFT collection limited making it scarce and potentially opening up a secondary market trade as they add utilities to the NFTs

What makes a successful Web3 brand transformation

To gauge the success of a Web3 brand transformation we have to look at different aspects of the business and understand the impact of Web3 on the core business. As we have seen in the previous example of successful Web2 to Web3 stories we find a common factor between all of the companies, which is that all of the use cases implemented have a low risk for the brand and do not meddle with the core business, in contrary the activations supplement the brand, whilst working in parallel to enhance the user experience. This tells us that going from Web2 to Web3 doesn’t necessarily mean a drastic change in the business model, taking baby steps has been the preferred method of larger brands.

Furthermore, we are seeing a strong culture built around Web3 with communities growing and catering to different industries. For brands to be successful it’s mandatory to talk the same language as the communities and be part of the whole ecosystem, this required specific Web3 and NFT marketing which works completely differently than the traditional marketing that is usually executed by these brands.

Conclusion

Majority of Fortune 500 executives see a massive future in the Web3 space and are looking to enter the space one way or another. This directly reflects the fact that big conglomerates and enterprises see potential in Web3, but they are cautious about the steps they are taking to experience Web3 and take their users on a new journey. 

Most of the successful Web2 to Web3 brand stories all have a single thing in common, they never interfere with their day-to-day business model that would disrupt their business and income streams. Companies are creating sub-projects that go in parallel with their business adding value to the brand and most importantly the customers.

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Why is Web3 important?

Web3 introduced a layer of ownership that enables value sharing. New models of monetization appeared that take advantage of existing platforms, websites, and applications and connecting them to blockchains. This makes it easer to incentivise people to create and share content by enabling a way for users to support the content creators by funding them and donating to them using cryptocurrency.

Web3 doesn’t stop there, with the innovations in the crypto industry and the creation of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) along with different use-cases for the Metaverse, Web3 has expanded to also allow companies, individuals, and enterprises to use innovative ways to reward their customer base using these tools. Part of the Web3 transformation when it comes to the usage of NFTs is marketing NFTs through influencers opening up cross-partnerships and more visibility to the brand.

Case studies of Web3 Enterprises Ventures

Adidas

Web3 has no limits, thus proving to be an open field that enterprises can explore in all directions. Adidas activated their brand in the Web3 space through NFTs and Metaverse, introducing their collection of “Into the Metaverse (Phase 1 & 2)”. Their NFT collection of 30,000 NFTs represents the brand’s willingness to explore innovation and reward holders of the NFT’s unique custom-made physical outfits, shoes, and accessories. Moreover, Adidas efforts didn’t stop here, with the recent success of the first NFT collection “Into the Metaverse”, Adidas is now looking to drop a new collection “Adidas Originals: Capsule Collection” exploring more utilities provided by the NFTs & Metaverse.

Adidas managed to raise over $22 million from the initial NFT drop, they also added a 10% royalty on all the secondary market sales making this NFT drop a sustainable revenue model that is added to Adidas balance sheet. With the 10% royalty they have made over 4k+ ETH which is equivalent to $6+ million as per the price of ETH today. Granted this amount of money is small for a company at this scale, however, it is a successful proof-of-concept that others can learn from and implement onto their brands.

Nike

Being the closest competitor to Adidas in the sports attire industry, Nike also took their shoot and entered the Metaverse. However, Nike did it in a different way starting with the acquisition of one of the biggest NFT creation labs – RTFKT Studios the company behind creating augmented reality digital shoes. With this acquisition, Nike managed to create multiple successful collections and pave its way into the Web3 space. Nike is also looking to create a sports Metaverse that will act as the hub for all sports around the world.

Nike’s decision to acquire RTFT Studios in December 2021 was a jackpot as they managed to generate over $185.3 million in revenue this is ahead of all the other brands that entered the Web3 space. However, they are yet to breakeven, as the acquisition cost was $1 billion which is the highest amount to be spent in the crypto space.

Twitter

Jack Dorsey former CEO of Twitter has been a leading voice in the Web3 community enabling users on Twitter to monetize their content and integrate blockchain solutions onto the platform to empower individuals. Twitter integrated Hexagon profile icons that are enabled by using your NFT as a profile picture and verifying it through the blockchain, while also adding a mechanism for people to pay their favorite influencers through direct donations. These simple use-cases, yet powerful ones use the large reach and impact of social media to also have a positive impact on the livelihoods of millions of users on the platform. Twitter is now positioned as the main marketing channel for Crypto, NFTs, and Web3 projects and continues to focus on acquiring more market share through new innovations.

With the recent talks of Elon Musk acquiring Twitter there has been a strong debate about the future of the platform. Elon Musk is known as a forward-thinking and innovative entrepreneur with a positive opinion on the future of blockchain technologies. He previously founded PayPal which was a financial innovation introducing digital banking and transactions which explains his passion towards blockchain technologies and their ability to decentralise the financial industry.

Conclusion 

Companies don’t need to change their existing business model and risk losing customers to activate their brands in the Web3 space. Their activation program can work alongside the existing business. Please read the fundamental guide to brand activation with NFTs.

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With all of these projects emerging and companies entering the crypto industry, it is hard to cut through the noise especially if the products offered already exist. This is why it is important to use the right marketing channels to deliver the message and build a healthy community with an aligned vision. If you are a newcomer to the brand activation with NFT we recommend reading this guide first.

Exploring the most important marketing channels for Web3, Crypto, & NFT projects

Twitter

Arguably the most important social media network in the Web3, Crypto, and NFT space. Twitter allows new projects and existing companies to easily reach anyone that is interested in emerging technologies. By using proper hashtags and generating useful content, it is possible to start a community of people that share the same interests. It is important to understand that Twitter offers a way to communicate with the community as a whole, offering them updates, educational content, awareness about certain topics, and insight into all the upcoming developments. Twitter also offers multiple ways of collaborating with influencers in the space allowing you to put forward your project to many that might be interested. The main advantage on Twitter is the ability to directly message projects, influencers, and thought leaders without the need for them to follow you (assuming they have the option enabled). The ability to reach out to people directly is effective and opens up opportunities for collaborations. Twitter is also a great tool to network and build relationships with likeminded people. Curating a community and enabling people to network and share ideas is a great asset that Twitter provides for projects and it has proven its effectiveness among upcoming Web3, NFT, and Crypto projects.

Useful Tip – Use Twitter hashtags to their full potential by targeting 3-4 hashtags and spreading useful content in them. Explore ways of using Twitter Spaces, which acts as a podcast for listeners to join and learn about important topics in discussion. Twitter Spaces can also be a useful tool to connect with different people with aligned interests and invite them as speakers to let them share their insights and experiences.

Example – DeSci Collective started with no followers in a niche market. By using proper hashtags such as #DeSci and #Web3 we managed to reach out to people that are aligned with our vision. This in combination with reaching out to community members and engaging them in a bi-monthly Twitter Spaces allowed us to curate a community of over 600+ people over the duration of 4 month to date.

Discord

Communication is key in marketing Web3, Crypto, and NFT projects. Although Twitter is an excellent social media network for communication, it has it’s limitations when it comes to two-way communication between the project’s team and the community. Discord solves this problem by allowing projects to have their own server that acts as a hub for everyone in the closer community to join and discuss different topics related to the project. By using Discord, projects can be creative and push the community to work together to achieve the vision of the project. Discord is completely customizable allowing projects to create specific channels for the community to use, for example, some project implement a hybrid model, where they keep some channels open to the public allowing everyone to discuss topics related to the project. While keeping other channels private and add specific people to discuss topics that are more sensitive. Projects can also create custom roles allowing the different people in the community to achieve higher roles and rewarding them for their involvement and activity level.

Useful Tip – When creating a Discord server for the project, make sure to switch the server to a “Community Server” which will allow you to customize it in multiple ways. Organizing, customizing, and adjusting the parameters of the server will allow you to create a space for everyone in the community to feel welcomed and impactful in one way or another.

Example – Nouns DAO is a very successful NFT project that managed to focus on quality over quantity, unlike Discord servers with thousands of people and no activity, Nouns DAO managed to curate a community of 900+ members that are active, collaborative, and share a common vision. This allowed Nouns DAO to grow as a community project and enabled their DAO governance to flourish, you can refer back to our article about DAOs to understand more about the important of quality community to drive the project forward.

Podcasts & Twitter Spaces

A key marketing channel and one that is growing rapidly with every project aiming to be placed on different podcasts that range in the size of audience and formats. Podcasts hosted on external websites like Apple Podcast, Spotify, etc. or even YouTube are quite prominent and usually curate to a specific community in the market. These podcasts allow projects to talk about their work, vision, mission, and what they are trying to solve. Some podcasts tend to highlight the people behind the project, while others focus on the project itself and what the benefits in getting involved. New type of podcast that is growing rapidly are Twitter Spaces for their ease to set up and the way that projects can create their own space to discuss different topics related to their industry. This has been very successful for new projects helping them grow their community if they share original content that is interesting and appealing.

Useful Tip – For new projects it is mandatory to set up a Twitter account and explore possibilities of using Twitter Spaces, you can also download the Twitter Spaces audio and host them on YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and etc. because Twitter Spaces expire every 30 days. You can read our article on the benefits of using hosting and setting up Twitter Spaces a long with a deep dive on how to utilize this tool to it’s best uses.

Example – Podcasts & Twitter Spaces are a great tool for projects to grow, especially in a niche market. DeSci Collective is a successful example where bi-monthly Twitter Spaces acted as a catalyst to increase the number of followers and curate a quality community. This is due to the importance of the topics discussed along with the guests that were invited to different episodes. We have seen this model work with other projects as well, and it shows that people are always on the lookout for original content that is useful for them and the growth of the space.

Conclusion 

Regardless of the medium of communication and marketing channels that you use, a project needs to have a strong fundamental offering and stand out amongst all the noise in the market. It is mandatory to create original content and market to specific audiences that understand and align with your vision, goals, and objectives. Community is key and it’s the only way a project can succeed. In this article we touched upon the fundamental marketing channels, however, we will also be exploring different tools and options in the future like TikTok, Instagram, Email Newsletter, and other channels!

The post Web3, Crypto, & NFT Marketing Channels appeared first on what. AG.

Prominent Web3 influencers are on the rise, they are focusing on empowering people through building on the blockchain and sharing their knowledge and experiences. We want to highlight some of the Web3 figures that have a big impact on the space and contribute to building the decentralised ecosystem.

Web3 Influencers & Learning Opportunities

• Vitalk Buterin

A young genius from Russia who managed to change the world by introducing smart contracts to blockchain technology propelling it to the next level. Co-Founding Ethereum has enabled individuals, projects, and companies to implement solutions that are complex in a completely decentralized and autonomous way.

Learning opportunities – Vitalk is the mind behind Ethereum and the creation of smart contracts, you can learn from him the essence of building & coding decentralised systems.

• Changpeng Zhao

Better known as CZ is the Founder of Binance the world’s largest and leading crypto exchange. Binance has grown significantly over the past few years with a strong team and a great leadership that has a vision to create an interlinked ecosystem enabling Web3 solutions to be accessible by everyone.

Learning opportunities – CZ created Binance the world’s largest crypto exchange, he always seeks new opportunities and works hard to create products that make crypto available for everyone in the world.

• Chris Dixon

Since early 1990s Chris has been a prominent figure in anything related to technology and advancements. He is very well respected and helps spread awareness and guidance on Web3, Crypto, NFTs, and Blockchain technologies. Chris is also a partner at a16z and has over 800k+ followers on Twitter.

Learning opportunities – Chris is a wealth of knowledge, he shares important information that helps you explore different possibilities that the blockchain and Web3 have to offer.

• Gary Vaynerchuck

Throughout his career Gary has always been the voice of promoting content creation on social media as he believes in personal marketing and information sharing. With the era of Web3, Gary entered the space by creating VeeFriends a project that played a key role in showcasing the endless possibilities of NFTs and collectibles. Gary remains to be a key voice in the Web3 community.

Learning opportunities – Gary created VeeFriends from scratch after learning about NFTs for only 90 days, he is an inspiration for entrepreneurs and has helped people enter the Web3 & NFT space. VeeFriends generated over $500+ million in all-time sales as of September 2022.

• Brian Armstrong

By being the Founder of Coinbase a well-established cryptocurrency exchange based in the US, Brain managed to penetrate the industry and become a voice for Web3, Blockchain, and Crypto technologies. He is a strong believer in the capabilities of blockchain technology to revolutionize the world.

Learning opportunities – Brian always seeks to build blockchain solutions to empower people and help them enter the crypto space. Coinbase went IPO on April 14 with the approval of the SEC which is the regulatory authority in the USA.

• Anthony Pompliano

Also known as Pomp, he is a prominent figure that has been a strong crypto advocate since the start with a lot of focus on Bitcoin and the potential of it being the next safe-heaven through coining the term Gold 2.0 that is completely digital and decentralized with a scarce number of coins available.

Learning opportunities – Pomp hosts one of the biggest podcasts focusing on different topics related to mostly to Bitcoin, but also broader topics surrounding crypto, decentralisation & Web3. Pomp interviewed prominent figures inside and outside the crypto space in an effort to spread awareness about Bitcoin and the importance of decentralisation.

• Michael Saylor

Biggest Bitcoin (BTC) holder in the world, currently is the Chairman & Founder of MicroStrategy an investment firm that owns over 129,699 BTC. Michael has always been an advocate of Bitcoin speaking highly about the capabilities that can be achieved using decentralized means of payment and wealth storage.

Learning opportunities – Michael is fearless, he put his reputation behind the bet that Bitcoin is the new global reserve and he built the largest BTC holding. Michael talks about the future of banking and the importance of decentralised currency globally.

• Kevin Rose

A prominent & well-respected NFT & Web3 figure in the community. Kevin is the Co-Founder of PROOF Collective one of the biggest NFT projects in the market. Kevin is well known for his marketing skills and the way he curated loyal members of the community. He also created a number of successful projects including Moon Birds, showcasing the power of Web3 and the results that can be achieved through collaborative work with the community.

Learning opportunities – Kevin created multiple NFT projects that are leading the charts in sales with a solid community behind them. You can learn marketing and building a community from Kevin by following his work on PROOF Collective & MoonBirds.

• Balaji Srinivasan

The former CTO of Coinbase and General Partner at VC firm Andreessen Horowitz, Balaji Srinivasan, has nearly 632k followers on Twitter. Balaji speaks highly about the potential gain that can be achieved from investing and developing blockchain solutions. Balaji has also recently taken interest in Decentralized Science (DeSci) where he is helping fund projects through a16z to grow and build unique solutions to advance the scientific industry.

Learning opportunities – Balaji is an active voice promoting Web3 projects and actively seeking opportunities to invest in different projects. He focuses on the people behind the project and explores new possibilities that are trending.

• Justin Sun

Arguably the most known crypto and blockchain advocate Justin Sun has worked on multiple Web3 projects, including Ripple Labs and Tron. He has over 3 million Twitter followers. Justin always shares ideas that challenge thought leaders and presents solutions for problems that exist in our society.

Learning opportunities – Justin has over 3m+ Twitter followers with a wealth of knowledge and real-world experience by creating Tron and other crypto and blockchain projects that helped create the Web3 space and bring it to fruition.

• Ryan Sean Adams

Founder of Bankless, a project that aims to spread awareness, news, and updates on everything related to crypto, blockchain, and Web3. Bankless runs one of the biggest podcasts in the space featuring important guest speakers and thought-leaders spreading the importance of Web3 and its impact on the future.

Learning opportunities – Ryan runs a large Web3 & Crypto podcast Bankless which became the go-to place for everything related to the latest news & updates in the Web3 space.

• Andreas Antonopoulos

A well-known speaker and author in the blockchain space, Antonopoulos is a Bitcoin advocate and is known for his ability to explain complex technical concepts in a clear and easy-to-understand manner. Andreas has been a true advocate of Bitcoin and blockchain since 2013, teaching rooms of very few people when no one really knew about Bitcoin.

Learning opportunities – Andreas is a great teacher, he has been teaching about Bitcoin and blockchain for over 10 years now. Andreas also teaches in Universities and has been a professor of many prominent people in the blockchain and crypto space. Read his book about “Mastering Bitcoin” and “The Internet of Money” he covers a lot of different and important topics about the world that we are moving towards.

• Nick Szabo

A computer scientist and legal scholar, Szabo is known for his contributions to the field of digital contracts and smart contracts. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of the blockchain and cryptocurrency space. Nick’s work on smart contracts is considerably the biggest propeller to the technology, he developed the concept of smart contracts in 1996. He was among the first developers to welcome the Bitcoin project by writing and reviewing it.

Learning opportunities – Nick has been labeled as potentially being “Satoshi Nakamoto” the founder of Bitcoin by many, however, this still remains a theory he has done a lot of work in the industry and managed to take it over and beyond. If you are a Web3 programmer, you must read some of Nick’s work as it is considered the foundation for all of the Web3 innovative technologies.

• Joseph Lubin

Co-founder of Ethereum and the founder of ConsenSys, a blockchain software development company. Lubin is known for his work in the blockchain and decentralized technology space, and is considered to be one of the most influential figures in the industry.

Learning opportunities – Working closely with Vitalk there are a lot of cross-overs and lessons to be learned from Joe, he managed to disrupt the industry and utilise blockchain technology in a unique way creating Ethereum and putting Smart Contracts to use. Joe is a leader, creative thinker, and most importantly a problem solver.

• Roger Ver

Also known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” Ver is a prominent figure in the Bitcoin community and an early investor in the cryptocurrency. He is known for his strong support of Bitcoin and his efforts to promote its adoption. An early adopter of the first digital currency, he integrated Bitcoin payments into Memorydealers.com, allowing customers to make payments in Bitcoin. By moving to collect Bitcoin in its earliest days, when each coin was valued at under $1, Ver amassed a total collection of more than 400,000 bitcoins by some estimates.

Learning opportunities – Roger has been the voice of Bitcoin for a long time, he has been advocating for Bitcoin and guiding people about the importance of decentalised finances “DeFi”, Roger hosted a great podcast interviewing thought-leaders from the community to continue promoting Bitcoin and sharing awareness about the underlying technology.

• Beeple

Mike Winkelmann, better known as Beeple, is an American digital artist, graphic designer and music video director. He is well-known for his digital art and in particular for his NFTs which sold for a record-breaking $69 million in March 2021.

Learning opportunities – If you are an NFT artist, you must know about Beeple, he is arguably the most influential NFT artist in the space showcasing dedication and discipline to his craft. Beeple has been creating digital art long before NFTs for over 20+ years, however, with the NFT boom Beeple has become a multi-millionaire through his edgy artwork and creativity.

• Tim Ferriss

An angel investor and author, Tim Ferriss is well-known for his support of blockchain and cryptocurrency projects. He is considered to be one of the most influential figures in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space, and has been instrumental in promoting the adoption of these technologies.

Learning opportunities – Tim has been an advocate for cryptocurrency and blockchain since a long time, he has done some amazing investments and through his journey you can learn about investing in companies with strong visions and aspirations. Tim showcased to the world the power of innovation and being in the right place at the right time.

• Alex Tapscott

Co-founder of the Blockchain Research Institute, Tapscott is a well-known figure in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space. He has worked a lot on different aspects of the blockchain and continues to explore ways to integrate the technology of blockchain into artificial intelligence “AI” especially in the wake of Chat-GPT and other AI algorithms.

Learning opportunities – Alex published a number of researchers on the blockchain and cryptocurrency technology along with his work in the artificial intelligence space. His work is defiantly worth reading and exploring.

• Brian Armstrong

CEO of Coinbase, Armstrong is a well-known figure in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space. He is known for his efforts to promote the adoption of these technologies and is considered to be one of the most influential figures in the industry. With the leadership of Brian, Coinbase managed to reach the majority of U.S citizens and allow them to enter and explore the crypto space.

Learning opportunities – Brian always manages to show discipline and consistency regardless of the challenges he has faced. Brian is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to risk-taking and exploring innovative technologies.

• Elizabeth Stark

Co-founder of Lightning Labs, a leading blockchain infrastructure provider, and is a well-known figure cryptocurrency space. She is an advocate for the use of blockchain technology for decentralized finance and is known for her contributions to the development of the Lightning Network.

Learning opportunities – Bitcoin’s upgrade the Lightening Network has the potential to take Bitcoin to the next level. Elizabeth’s work is integral for the growth of Bitcoin and the Web3 industry as a whole. She has been a long advocate of Bitcoin and is very open to sharing knowledge about the space with everyone who seeks it.

• Brendan Blumer

CEO of Block.one, a blockchain software company that is behind the EOS blockchain. Blumer is known for his leadership in the blockchain space and is considered to be one of the most influential figures in the industry.

Learning opportunities – Dedication, problem-solving, and leadership are some of the many traits that Brendan has, you can learn a lot from Brenden by following his work and learning about his journey in Block.one.

• Eric Voorhees

Founder of ShapeShift, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, and an early Bitcoin advocate. Eric’s work focuses on Decentralised Finance “DeFi” by finding ways to create blockchain-based decentralised solutions in the finance industry. Eric has become a prominent name in the industry and continues to explore more ways to expand the space.

Learning opportunities – Exploring Eric’s work in the blockchain space allows you to learn about utilising innovative solutions across different industries, we are seeing the rise of different innovations through integrating blockchain across many other spaces. This is an opportunity to learn and grow your knowledge and contribute to the overall industry.

Conclusion 

Web3 influencers come in different levels and ideologies, some of them enable people, while others enable projects and industries. Nevertheless, you can learn a lot from each and every single one of them, the most important part is to explore Web3 influencers that share your interest and align with your requirements. Influencers can also be integral part of your Web3 project and NFT marketing, networking is key in any emerging industry, especially crypto.

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