1. Devconnect: As the last major web3 event of 2023, we were as bullish on Istanbul as baklava-loving gals could be. There is definitely a collective craving for belonging and connection in the midst of extreme url-ification. Devconnect was a kind of silver bullet for that urge. The thing is, despite the spectrum of summits, side events and conferences going down, it was a consumer crypto desert. KIKI world nails x NFC chips was the key compelling example. Also an indicator that consumer loyalty slaps especially when it comes to things in the beauty and cosmetic realm.
   
   So what else was popping off? Naturally, it was super infra +ZK heavy. Optimism and BASE carved up a lot of mindshare. And together we pounded Turkish pavements with fellow decentralized glucose-hunters to churn through mountains of baklava, turkish delight and pistachios as for something to diffuse the bear market tension.A core value prop of Istanbul was arguably the hammam fun and games. So, what can we learn from sweating together? Evidently quite a lot. See #3 about humanness and showing up beyond your pfp.

2. ZK ZK ZK: This year really saw the web3 world captivated by ZK. ZKPs, a cryptographic breakthrough tackling privacy, security, and scalability. Its growing influence and innovative applications are reshaping web3's approach to data privacy and security. Even leaders outside of web3, like the CEO of Epic Games, are asserting how it’s going to be “the backbone of a large part of the next century in technology”.
   
   Although minimal mentions of ZK usage outside web3 are bubbling up, the creative use cases are cool and span the spectrum from healthcare (ensuring patient data is super secure) to the luxury goods market (where product integrity is crucial, without revealing sensitive supplier intel). Seems like we’re only going to hear more of the ZK waves of cryptographic change.

3. Diffusion of Ethereum communities and the need for ‘vibe glues’ There’s less talk about Ethereum and more about the sub-communities within it. More emphasis on the disaggregated community legos rather than one amorphous ETH blob. Ethereum is no longer a single chain and community, but an ecosystem of many. The narrative is stretching quite rapidly so, to encompass a vibrant plurality.
   
   To cater for the sub-community intimacy we all inherently crave, what have we seen as effective ‘vibe glue’? It sure as heck ain’t twitter spaces. Discord fatigue has been real. TG group chats have faded. The potency of IRL gatherings like FWB Fest have reminded us that we all need this space to feel as human as possible. Enriching experiences and activations are where the mood is at.

What’s heating up for 2024

1. HealthFi or WellFi is on the come-up: HealthFi, blending HealthTech with gamification and financial incentives, is a hot trend to track for 2024. With the wellness industry's massive $5.6 trillion value, consumer appetite for health solutions is skyrocketing. Mix in gamification and financial rewards, and you've got an irresistible recipe for revolutionizing health motivation. Fresh web3 startups in the HealthFi domain such as Receipts.xyz are already emerging. Bridging wearables, digi <>physi, health and, dare we say it, longevity. The tech bro to longevity bro funnel is collapsing in on itself.

2. DeSci: an emerging movement rapidly gaining traction in the realm of legitimate, decentralized funding for scientific research. A movement that continues to be propagated by the likes of Bilaji and his musings on network states, Biotech advances, the discussions going down at Zuzalu and the general fascination around longevity developments. Notable developments include the rise of bio.xyz, VitaDAO and the nurturing of other BioDAOs like AthenaDAO: focused on funding women’s health research. Shockingly, we still don't know how to predict fertility or menopause due to the severe lack of funding in women’s health research. One such key wellbeing issue AthenaDAO is tackling. Honestly, DeSci is Frothy’s favorite use-case for DAOs thus far.

3. The rebranding of web3 with shifts away from tech-heavy crypto jargon to more consumer-forward, cross-generational language. A key factor is the increase in consumer, fashion, culture-forward brands choosing to really commit to the space. From Adidas, to Alo, Lufthansa to Louis Vuitton, we saw the spectrum of global brands plunging headfirst into the somewhat misty, chlorinated pool of NFT forays. Like Shoreditch Soho House rooftop pool on a steamy LDN summers day, that pool got pretty hectic in 2023. With the anticipated bull, our attention will be fixed on those who execute onchain with the best neutral language in culturally-tuned and design-considered ways. And we’re excitedly watching the cowboys over at Slow Rodeo take the lead.

4. Points entered the crypto zeitgeist with a bit of a bang and a dash of ROYGBIV. The classically web2 and offchain usage of loyalty points is making inroads into web3 realms, from Rainbow, to Friend.tech to Blur.
   
   The thing is, points aren’t a silver bullet for saving a community or ecosystem that isn’t authentically activated. 2024 will reveal if any of these points programs prove to be helpful in the arsenal of engagement + retention tools. If executed elegantly with real intrinsic motivation, it could be a tasty tool in the increasingly invisible web3 stack of loyalty, incentive mechanisms and behavior tactics. Throw in some juicy account and chain abstraction, and you might have a formula for success.

5. AI x Crypto: like Bieber + Baldwin, it’s a vibe. More on this soon…

https://x.com/0xgaut/status/1737968854448345235?s=20

Stay Frothy out there y’all and have a happy transition into the nü year ✌🏽

- Blaise + Mahoney Turnbull