One of the most engaging moments at the Hive Summit in Aachen was our open panel on trends in blockchain. Instead of formal presentations, we asked our speakers to share quick and honest thoughts, and the discussion quickly became lively.
Andre pointed to the rise of stablecoins and CBDCs as a key direction for the coming years, especially with governments and financial institutions showing more interest. Michael highlighted the ongoing hype around meme coins but also the growing opportunity for Web2 users to discover Hive as a fairer and more open platform. Damian added a critical view, noting the cynicism in the market where short-term gains often overshadow true use cases, while also stressing the importance of cross-chain solutions and usability.
The discussion then turned toward regulation. Some saw governments pushing harder with laws and compliance, while others believed blockchain would remain a space of freedom that is not easily absorbed by traditional systems. The panel agreed that usability is still a challenge. For blockchain to reach the mainstream, it needs to be as simple as using Instagram or Facebook. The idea of a “killer application” came up as the turning point that could bring massive growth.
This panel showed exactly what makes Hive Summit special. We do not just listen to polished speeches but create space for honest opinions, questions from the audience, and even some disagreement. The conversation ended on a light note with the distribution of handmade Hive Summit t-shirts, a reminder that community is always at the heart of what we do.
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