We have all encountered them. The maximalist. Crypto's favorite groups who are always espousing how their network (coin) is the best.
While many laugh these people off, there is something that we have to realize. Maximalism is the future. This might sound odd considering all the discussion around cross-chain development. In my mind, this comes from a rather myopic view of the industry and how things are forming.
My theory starts with the concept of the network-state. This is something we discussed at length. It is akin to what we see in the geographic world. That is why it is so powerful; it aligns with human tendency.
There is no doubt tribalism is a part of humanity. We form groups based upon a variety of ways we identify. The digital world is no different. Here is where the maximalism we see in effect comes from. In reality, it is perfectly nature for humans to assemble in this manner.
From this perspective, let us dig into why tribalism is our future and the maximalists are actually correct.
Before getting to that, keep in mind this has nothing to do with market activity or coin pricing. Unfortunately, that is where much of the maximalists focus is. We are discussing something that is larger in scope.
One of the key components of the network-state is the idea of a digital economy. This is a major premise since we still reside in a monetary world. Hence, people need to earn a living in some fashion.
With labor income appearing to be under attack, we are likely to see digital networks tied with cryptocurrency becoming a bigger part of people's lives. My view is that labor income will be replace with the money people receive from staking. This will be a new income stream for many.
If we approach things from the economic angle, we can see how network maximalism fits in. In a world where networks are abundant, what is the scarce? As we stated in the past, it is loyalty. Those networks that can ngineer the greatest loyalty from its userbase are going to find success.
When dealing with the economic implications, this means providing the goods and services people require. This is key for a network. As they expand, entrepreneurs and business leaders will need to offer what the market is lacking. This is what will ultimately separate the networks.
Services are an essential component of these economies. If people are provided with what they require, the desire it leave is minimized. As long as the governance is in alignment with what they want, all is well.
Therefore, the successful networks of tomorrow are the ones that are building today. Concentrating efforts on providing services which people utilize is something that will completely change the industry. So far, there does not seem to be a great deal of attention on this. Perhaps, that is an opportunity.
Like usual, it comes down to the strength, resiliency, and robustness of the economy. By filling in the gaps, a network can start to foster the loyalty that breeds maximalism.
The system we are dealing with is rather novel. It is only in the last 80 years or so that the concept of globalism entered into the lives of humanity. Before that, we were a localized species.
Technology, especially in communication and transportation, was a major driver in that. However, we could be seeing the end to this concept.
Here again, we enter a realm that might seem counterintuitive. Nevertheless, if we break it down, this is what we see unfolding.
The Internet is the epitome of globalization. This medium, as soon as anyone logs on, is across the world. We can instantly interact with people from anywhere. The same holds true for commerce. Part of the appeal for this was the ability to sell to customers outside one's local area.
This is not going to change. In a world of abundant networks, we will still deal with people from all parts of the globe.
What will be different is how they are divided. Here is where we see tribalism still in play. If a network is akin to a nation (or city), with its own economy, people are going to identify in that manner. It might be difficult to see how yet this is how business opportunities are going to shape up.
Hence, a global medium like the Internet will be fractionalized based upon the network people identify with. While it is true that switching networks will be easy, the loyalty will keep them there. It is voluntary yet people will have their own reasons for making that choice.
The networks that do the best job of catering to this mindset will succeed. This is not going to come from Wall Street or VC backed platforms. Instead, it will be the grass roots movements that foster the dedication from the users.
We can think of it as the 1750s meeting the digital age. People will have near-unlimited choices with networks yet will gravitate towards one.
The final piece to cover here is the integration with other networks. Again, we can operate with our geographic concept to explain this.
A town with no roads in or out is rather isolated. This might be good for the unity of the community but does not offer the opportunity for growth. We see this with some tribes that are basically isolated from the rest of the world.
What are their societies like in terms of advancement and economics? They are rather limited. For this reason, integration is necessary to some degree.
In other words, "roads" are required to enter and exit the different networks. Tribalism does not mean a network is cut off from the rest. Actually, it is the exact opposite. People are free to leave and it is easy to do. The reverse is also true. Individuals can easily join the network if it offers what they desire.
So what are some of the things they desire? The answer to this is where networks should focus their attention.
Some ideas are:
These are commonplace in thriving economies. Some would be inclined to bring up the idea of laws (and justice). However, when dealing with networks, we are going to see most of that included in the coding. For the base network, this will be clear from the start. Secondary layers can take up different mechanisms which will attract (or repel) users to those services. But the base governance will be known when people join the network.
In conclusion, people will not be isolated. Instead, they will find someplace that offers most of what they need and that is where their attention will go. This is going to become a more important concept as the digital world consumes more of the "real world". The line between on and offline is becoming blurred as more is being digitized.
While we are building, keep an eye on this concept and see if it starts to unfold more in the future. Pay attention to how the new economies form and whether networks are entering the area I described above. If so, that might be a network to watch.
