Crypto markets are maturing, it remains to be seen how many companies that have raised money by issuing tokens will be alive in the next two years.
For anyone serious about blockchain technology and ICOs, Blockchain Expo Global is a must event to attend and this year, the event has attracted even more visitors than before. Held in London, UK, the event itself is a 2-day exhibition and an opportunity for companies to pitch and reach the fast-growing blockchain community. Over the course of two days, the event is expected to attract over 6,000 delegates. Apart from numerous booths and displays, there are a series of top-level keynote speakers, interactive panel discussions, and solution-based case studies with a focus on learning and building partnerships in the emerging Blockchain space.
The world's largest blockchain exposition was grandly held in London, attracted hundreds of world's top companies and more than 10,000 visitors! This unprecedented expo will bring good news to the blockchain industry and we will see whether any music projects will be developed ~ pic.twitter.com/MVRUujO7ZE
— EMTChain (@EMTChain) April 19, 2018
We Don’t Need No Education
There is no arguing that the Blockchain Expo is a great event and even without conducting a thorough due diligence on the ICO projects that have attended the event, it is very clear that the market is entering a much-needed maturity stage. Project leaders are aware of the regulatory thresholds and challenges, marketing activities are synchronized between various departments with a clear message and finally, the majority have a minimum viable product (MVP).
The same cannot be said for past events, where some project leaders claimed that they would simply hire a bunch of developers after the ICO and develop a product and then hire a market agency to devise a marketing plan. There is also a distinct lack of bikini babes at the Blockchain Expo, which is a good indicator that the participating crowd has more on its mind than the recent news relating to Verge currency.
The problem is not that the market is maturing, but that the market maturing at a faster rate relative to market participants. For one, there is usually an influx of self-proclaimed experts in marketing, trading and the most popular category – advisory. On the other hand, companies are now able to solicit family offices, VCs, crypto and even non-crypto trading funds. This requires a much deeper level of due diligence and therefore encourages ICO teams to spend more time planning how they will be running the business, as opposed to choosing what color scheme to utilize in their brand new offices.
‘Hype’ vs ‘Value’ Coins
This is not intended to discourage someone from exploring crypto products as an alternative asset class for investments. On the contrary, it simply means there is an immense opportunity to make very good returns on your investment, without being subjected to Telegram based ‘pump and dump’ groups, simply by doing thorough research on the token in which one invests. In particular, one needs to understand the risks associated with the project, existing competitor base, and entry barrier thresholds.
Additionally, potential investors need to be convinced that the team can deliver the promised – or even better – version of the product. It also helps if the team has experience working together, as opposed to outsourced IT or blockchain developers. Social media presence is not the most accurate metric, partly because “likes” and “clicks” can be bought – experience is usually acquired through blood, sweat, and tears.
Are you attending Blockchain Expo Global in London? What has been your takeaway so far? Let us know in the comments below.
Images courtesy of iStockPhoto, Twitter, Shutterstock
