Workshop - 15th April 2025 - Remote

Data Points

Key Learnings

  • Quantum computing expected to rapidly advance — critical threat and opportunity.

  • AI-driven societal change:

    • Major workforce displacement expected → urgent need for new economic opportunities.

    • Transition period will be turbulent before AI creates net value.

  • Increased demand for self-sovereign data and identity → privacy and data control vital.

  • Decrease in trust in existing governance structures and between countries → opening space for blockchain-based trust systems.

  • Cultural norms and implicit institutions will remain slow to change, despite rapid tech shifts.


🌱 Opportunities for Blockchain / Cardano

  • Incentive systems: develop more granular systems for incentivizing work, contributions, and decentralized value creation.

  • Localised economies:

    • Support peer-to-peer (P2P) commerce to help displaced workers and create new global income streams.

    • Enable community-based loyalty programs and point systems that can scale globally.

  • Transparent voting & elections:

    • Huge opportunity for blockchain to enable transparent, trusted elections — strong citizen demand, but political resistance likely.

  • Education & upskilling:

    • Support mass education efforts to help people reskill for AI-driven and blockchain-driven economies.

    • Blockchain can provide verifiable credentials for new skill pathways.

  • Gaming:

    • Early successful adoption in blockchain-based games where users are unaware they are using blockchain — valuable model for broader adoption.

    • Potential for asset ownership and cross-game economies.

  • Supply chain & authenticity tracking:

    • Strong fit for blockchain in tracking provenance and ensuring verifiable authenticity of goods.


⚠ Barriers to Mass Adoption

  • Poor UX → blockchain apps still too difficult to use for mainstream audiences.

  • Onboarding to Web3 → entry points are unclear and fragmented.

  • Government resistance:

    • Governments and large companies will actively resist blockchain systems that reduce their power.

    • Expect regulatory pushback, especially as blockchain starts touching money and governance.

  • Trust building is essential:

    • Public trust in blockchain is fragile — must overcome history of scams and poor projects.

    • Cardano should differentiate as a trustworthy, sustainable, long-term player.

  • Too many blockchain options:

    • Users are overwhelmed by choices → Cardano must position as a clear, reliable, reputable option.

  • Legal & compliance hurdles:

    • In regions like Nigeria, legal blockers and unclear compliance standards hinder adoption.

  • L1 scalability still a blocker for future transaction volumes.


🏛 Governance & Ecosystem Insights

  • Reputation systems & sybil resistance:

    • Current reputation systems not sufficient to prevent plutocracy or centralization by large stakers.

    • Need more nuanced governance tooling to balance power and incentivize participation.

  • L2 + L1 balance:

    • Layer 2 solutions are essential to achieving product-market fit and transaction volume growth.

    • L1 must be prepared to scale in parallel and support growing L2 ecosystems.

    • Clear need for a roadmap to decide what belongs on L1 vs L2.

  • Cardano should focus its messaging:

    • Cardano L1 should be promoted as enterprise-grade infrastructure — secure, reliable, immutable.

    • Consumers don't need to know they're using blockchain — good abstraction improves UX.

    • Builders and developers should be a key target audience.


🗳 Community & Cultural Signals

  • Participants appreciate collaborative, small-group discussions — they foster deeper insights.

  • Recognition that governance transparency is a double-edged sword — politicians and institutions may resist open systems.

  • A key goal is to make Cardano governance accessible and trusted, with a focus on long-term institutional engagement.


Summary Narrative

  • AI and quantum computing will reshape economies and governance in the next 5–10 years → blockchain has a vital role to play in providing trust, transparency, and new economic pathways.

  • Cardano should focus on:

    • Local and global P2P commerce,

    • Transparent voting,

    • Supply chain tracking,

    • Gaming adoption,

    • Identity & data self-sovereignty,

    • and education for an AI-driven future.

  • Mass adoption barriers must be addressed urgently:

    • UX, onboarding, legal clarity, trust building, and scalability.

  • Cardano’s messaging must evolve to focus on its enterprise-grade trustworthiness and ecosystem value — not just L1 branding.

Last updated