This linked article is paywalled.

So we used our intern's credit card to unlock and summarize it for you.

(Thanks Kevin!)

1. Web3 Funding will slow down in the first half of 2023.

Wow, really? Starting the article off with a statement as obvious as that? Aren't you glad you didn't have to pay for this??

Good news is: the weather forecast shows crypto winter ending in the later half of the year, and VC money will start flowing back in.

2. The 'big dogs' will start embracing Web3.

Big dogs = any company with a lot of money and users. Think Wall Street firms, banks, social platforms, e-commerce giants etc.

E.g. In the social space - Twitter, Instagram and Reddit have paved the way with their NFT integrations (and others will want to follow).

3. No one will care about new coins/tokens.

Thank christ! There's too many as it is (19k+). According to Wu, from Ava Labs:

"About 80% of all coins in circulation will go out of business.
​
However, this will be good for the industry as far too many projects have been speculative at best."

Preach Wu, preach!

4. NFTs will have a renaissance (likely under a different name).

Now we're talking! NFT technology can be applied to so many things: real estate, gaming, art, collectibles, ticketing, e-commerce...

But outside of the crypto world (and sometimes even in it) 'NFT' can be a bit of a dirty word.

Why? Because, let's be honest - the vast majority of projects either suck, are money grabs, or are both. But we shouldn't throw the baby out with the bath water.

To get around the stigma, companies will most likely start adopting the technology, without calling it by its name (like Reddit did with their 'Collectible Avatars').

5. No more un-regulated centralized crypto exchanges.

Folks will either trade crypto between themselves (via decentralized exchanges) or through centralized exchanges that are properly regulated by government bodies.

Makes sense after exchange/lending platforms like FTX, Voyager, BlockFi, and Celsius all went under this year (and were all largely unregulated).

6. Web3 social media will start to take market share from Web2 social media (FB, Insta, Twitter etc.)

The theory is this: Web2 social media will continue to attract scrutiny → folks will want more control over their data → Web3 tech will provide that solution.

We can see that happening...but first, Web3 needs to fix its confusing user experience.

7. Climate-tech and Web3 gaming will thrive.

Weird combo, but ok.

The climate tech thing seems like a weird fit. But sure, blockchain technology can be power hungry from time to time, so it makes sense that carbon offset tools will start to pop up.

Web3 gaming feels like a no brainer to us - it'll absolutely happen at some point. But just like NFTs, it needs a rebrand before users will embrace it.

Alright, that's it!

Thanks again to Kevin, for footing the bill.