Anndy Lian
Building a Blockchain Ecosystem: Insights from Crypto Expo 2025
At the Crypto Expo 2025 held in Dubai, a dynamic panel discussion titled Building a Blockchain Ecosystem: Partnerships, Innovation, and Growth brought together industry leaders to explore the pivotal role of partnerships in advancing blockchain technology. Moderated by Anndy Lian, an intergovernmental blockchain advisor, the panel featured Hakim Bousba (Surge Group), Jehanzeb Awan (J. Awan & Partners), Mete AI (ICB Network), and Pratik Gauri (5ire). Their insights illuminated strategies for fostering collaboration, driving mass adoption, and addressing gaps in the blockchain ecosystem. This article synthesizes their perspectives, highlighting actionable strategies and visionary ideas for the future of blockchain.
The Power of Partnerships in Blockchain
The panel unanimously emphasized that partnerships are the backbone of a thriving blockchain ecosystem. Anndy Lian set the tone by sharing his experience as a former partnership chief at Bybit, where collaborations with global brands like Formula 1’s Red Bull and German soccer club Borussia Dortmund (BVB) yielded significant results. “Partnerships always stay very true to us,” Lian remarked, underscoring their enduring value despite market fluctuations.
Hakim Bousba highlighted partnerships as a gateway to mass adoption, particularly through sports and entertainment. He cited examples like Tezos’ collaboration with Red Bull and Chiliz’s partnerships with football clubs such as FC Barcelona and PSG, which leveraged fan bases to introduce crypto through NFTs and tokenized voting rights. Bousba also pointed to Binance’s efforts to integrate stablecoin trading with stock markets, predicting that such moves could attract traditional traders to crypto. “By attracting stock traders to the crypto markets, we can bring a lot of volume and users,” he noted.
Jehanzeb Awan offered a pragmatic perspective, stressing the need for partnerships to deliver mutual economic value. “Behind any strategic initiative, you have to understand why you’re trying to do that,” Awan cautioned, noting that many partnerships fail due to a lack of clear value propositions. He used a vivid analogy: “If I have 50 mangoes and you have 200 apples, I can either plant an apple tree or partner with you to get the apples.” Awan warned against superficial PR-driven partnerships, referencing a $900 million stadium naming deal that fizzled out, and urged a focus on sustainable, value-driven collaborations.
Mete AI emphasized ICB Network’s collaborative approach, particularly with educational institutions. “We are making so many collaborations with universities and ministries of education worldwide,” he said, detailing initiatives to tokenize certificates and KYC processes via NFTs. These partnerships aim to integrate blockchain into e-learning and identity verification, bridging Web2 and Web3 ecosystems. Mete’s vision underscores the potential for blockchain to transform traditional sectors through strategic alliances.
Pratik Gauri, whose 5ire platform champions sustainability, highlighted partnerships as critical for credibility and adoption. He shared 5ire’s collaborations with the World Economic Forum, the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, and the government of India, which trained over a million students in blockchain for free. “Partnerships play a massive role for adoption, credibility, and brand building,” Gauri stated, emphasizing their role in onboarding Web2 users to Web3.
Bridging Web2 and Web3: Strategies for Adoption
A recurring theme was the challenge of transitioning Web2 users to Web3, with panelists offering diverse strategies. Gauri argued that education is key to making Web3 accessible, particularly for retail investors intimidated by crypto’s volatility. “There needs to be an educational toolkit to bring legitimacy and credibility,” he said, advocating for partnerships with banks and governments to normalize crypto. He also noted the growing acceptance of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and crypto trading on major exchanges as catalysts for adoption.
Mete AI proposed practical solutions like using NFTs as event tickets to familiarize users with blockchain. “If we can use an NFT as a ticket, it changes a lot of minds,” he said, suggesting that such initiatives could spark curiosity and drive crypto usage. He also envisioned AI-driven education within metaverse platforms to teach blockchain concepts globally, targeting younger generations to build long-term adoption.
Awan took a contrarian view, arguing that expecting mass understanding of blockchain’s technicalities is unrealistic. “How many of you know how the internet works technically?” he asked the audience, drawing parallels to Web3 adoption. “Web3 has to get to a place where nobody thinks about it—you just use it.” Awan identified user interface (UI) simplicity as a critical factor, advocating for platforms that reduce interactions to “three clicks” to buy crypto. He also distinguished between retail and institutional investors, noting that the latter require robust hedging strategies absent in current crypto markets.
Bousba contextualized adoption within market cycles, observing that bull markets drive hype but often lack substance. “During a bear market, everybody is building; during a bull market, everybody is scared,” he said, stressing the need for education to sustain interest beyond market peaks. He also championed technical innovations like account abstraction (ERC-4337), which simplifies blockchain interactions by allowing key recovery and conditional phrases, making Web3 more user-friendly for non-technical users.
Lian reinforced the integration of Web3 into Web2 startup ecosystems. Drawing from his experience in Mongolia, where he advised policymakers, he noted surprise among officials at Web3’s potential. “Merge yourself with startup communities,” he advised, suggesting that demo days and startup events are fertile ground for preaching Web3’s benefits and fostering organic partnerships.
Gaps in the Ecosystem: Education, Regulation, and Trust
The panel identified critical gaps in the blockchain ecosystem, with education and regulation emerging as top priorities. Gauri lamented the lack of university partnerships, particularly in Southeast Asia, where young populations could drive adoption. “The awareness level of younger kids would go higher with university partnerships,” he said, criticizing reliance on influencers as misleading entry points.
Mete AI echoed the education gap, proposing AI as a solution to democratize blockchain knowledge. “With AI, we can educate everyone on blockchain,” he said, envisioning a future where AI-powered platforms teach NFT and crypto applications to kids, fostering a blockchain-literate generation.
Awan highlighted regulatory challenges, noting that regulators face a “lose-lose” scenario: strict rules stifle innovation, while lax ones risk scams. He advocated for balanced regulations that protect investors without stifling growth, citing the high costs of compliance as a barrier for startups. “If you’re not funded, you shouldn’t be in it,” he said, emphasizing the need for robust infrastructure to handle investor funds.
Bousba stressed the need for intra-industry partnerships among layer-1 (L1) and layer-2 (L2) blockchains to standardize technologies like account abstraction. “We need partnerships inside the blockchain industry,” he said, arguing that technical collaboration could streamline user experiences and accelerate adoption.
The Role of Influencers: Opportunity or Obstacle?
The panel debated the role of key opinion leaders (KOLs) and influencers in blockchain adoption. Bousba was skeptical, noting that many KOLs promote multiple projects daily, eroding credibility. “The audience is losing trust because influencers are just trying to make money,” he said, though he acknowledged that celebrities with reputational stakes could drive meaningful adoption.
Awan took a hardline stance, drawing from traditional finance. “If you promote coins that don’t do well or are rug pulls, you should end up in jail,” he asserted, advocating for regulatory oversight of influencer promotions. He distinguished memecoins, often driven by speculation, from utility-driven projects, warning against the “get-rich-quick” mentality.
Mete AI was critical of KOLs, accusing many of exploiting investors. “Mostly, KOLs get money to rob your money,” he said, though he acknowledged their role in memecoin and NFT markets, particularly in Asia. Gauri predicted a diminishing role for KOLs as adoption matures, comparing crypto to stock markets where informed investing reduces reliance on influencers. “Ten years down the line, the role would considerably decrease,” he said.
Lian offered a balanced view, recognizing both “good and bad” influencers. He noted the evolving regulatory landscape, referencing former President Trump’s framing of NFTs as collectibles, which could reshape influencer accountability.
Closing Thoughts: Community and Real-World Impact
In their final remarks, the panelists crystallized their visions for the blockchain ecosystem. Gauri emphasized scale, predicting a $10 trillion industry driven by large-scale partnerships. Mete AI urged startups to prioritize venture capital and blockchain collaborations over wasteful PR spending. Awan advocated for real-world use cases, citing stablecoin-enabled trade finance in Africa as a model for creating tangible value. Bousba saw crypto’s chaos as an opportunity, urging a safe yet innovative approach.
Lian concluded with a powerful reminder: “Community is the best partnership. Without people to use the tech, there will be no future.” His call to treasure communities resonated as a unifying theme, underscoring that partnerships—whether with governments, universities, or startups—must ultimately serve users to drive blockchain’s growth.
Conclusion
The Crypto Expo 2025 panel offered a roadmap for building a robust blockchain ecosystem through strategic partnerships, education, and user-centric innovation. From sports-driven mass adoption to AI-powered education and regulatory balance, the panelists’ insights provide a blueprint for bridging Web2 and Web3. As the industry evolves, their emphasis on community, credibility, and real-world impact will guide blockchain’s journey toward mainstream adoption.
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