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While the rise of ETFs and Real World Asset (RWA) tokenization seems to indicate a bull market filled with institutional investments, any seasoned blockchain professional would feel a twinge of anxiety, and rightfully so. After all, it's easy to remember how companies withdrew from cryptocurrency and blockchain altogether during the last bear market.
This concern extends to the realms of corporate equity and venture capital, with venture capital firms restricting large-scale blockchain investments and cash flow stagnating. Recently, there have been some slight shifts in sentiment as institutional investors appear more resolute. However, the feeling of potentially plummeting to the valley floor remains ever-present.
Although external investments in the blockchain ecosystem may appear unstable, they aren't the only means for valuable projects to seek support and backing for their development. In fact, the blockchain industry has a long history of internal support that can help provide a platform for talented developers and innovative projects.
In most cases, this internal support is achieved through modest investments, sponsorship programs, or projects built by influential figures in the cryptocurrency space acting as catalyst investors within their networks. In some instances, a simple repost can have an impact on the progress of a project.
Due to the inherent community aspect of this industry, internal investments (whether through capital injection or non-monetary support such as accelerator programs or mentorship programs) have been successful in the blockchain field. When slogans like "we all succeed" and open-source development are deeply ingrained in blockchain and Web3 culture, they translate into tangible support uncommon in traditional industries.
Similarly, emphasizing internal growth opportunities can shield the development and progress of blockchain from fluctuations in external capital and interests. If progress can occur independently of whether venture capitalists are pessimistic about cryptocurrencies, it demonstrates just how resilient the industry can be when operating on its own terms.
However, beyond investment accelerators, larger projects are also conducting grassroots work to establish cooperation, knowledge, and interdisciplinary collaboration throughout the entire blockchain ecosystem.
For example, the Coreum Development Fund recently bolstered its workshop programs at major universities across North America, encouraging students from various disciplines to learn blockchain technology and foster a collaborative environment. This initiative coincides with the enterprise-centric Layer-1 concluding its third edition funding program, aimed at building new solutions and tools on its Coreum blockchain network.
Through its funding programs (including eight projects based on Coreum covering various domains and applications) and higher education initiatives bridging departments, this network is just one example of how industry giants foster collaboration and early-stage development – support for other projects in their phases.
If successful blockchain networks continue to embody this mindset of knowledge sharing, incubation, and development, innovative projects have tremendous untapped potential.
It also demonstrates to developers that there are alternative avenues to increase support without relying on external donors to keep the industry moving forward. Therefore, while institutional interest in blockchain is undoubtedly encouraging, projects should understand that this is not their only growth opportunity. |
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