Tammy Paola

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To successfully scale, crypto and blockchain companies need to know as much about business development as they do about their technology. Founders of crypto and blockchain companies launch with a vision of bringing an innovative and impactful service to the business or consumer marketplace. And as with entrepreneurs in any industry, they have the goal of growing. With expertise in the technology and its potential, leaders of crypto and blockchain firms may be clear on the "nuts and bolts" aspects of scaling — infrastructure upgrades, interoperability, compliance and so on — but less knowledgeable about the business development side of growing a company. Crypto and blockchain companies seeking to expand will need to make multiple decisions — but first, they need to know all the questions that have to be answered. Below, 16 members of Cointelegraph Innovation Circle share some of the factors growing companies will need to examine and offer their tips for confidently moving forward. 

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Blockchain companies aren’t just selling themselves; they’re also selling the industry’s technology and principles as a whole.  Word about blockchain technology’s benefits has penetrated the global marketplace, so now’s the time for blockchain businesses to begin deliberately refining and sharing their marketing messages. Like other service businesses, blockchain companies have to find effective ways to explain why their service in particular is the right choice for a potential client’s unique needs. However, unlike service companies in other industries, in many cases, blockchain leaders will be marketing a service that B2B clients may be intrigued by but don’t understand well. Marketing a business always takes a lot of hustle, and blockchain technologies will likely need to blend traditional marketing methods focused on their own unique benefits with new strategies to make B2B clients outside the industry excited about what blockchain can do. Below, 16 members of Cointelegraph Innovation Circle share tips to help blockchain companies improve their marketing strategies to attract and land potential clients.

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Blockchain protocols can’t (and shouldn’t) ignore AI’s potential, but it’s important to implement it with caution and care. Across industries, it seems all anyone is talking about is artificial intelligence. Even companies that aren’t tech-forward are scrambling to discover how AI works and what it could do for them. Given the impact AI is predicted to make, it’s hardly surprising that blockchain protocols — part of an industry that is decidedly tech-forward — are exploring what role(s) AI could play for them. From data analysis to improving scalability to fostering interoperability, AI could prove to be a powerful tool in the arsenal of blockchain protocols. Still, it’s essential to carefully review not only all the potential benefits, but also the possible complications. Below, 12 members of Cointelegraph Innovation Circle discuss some of the things blockchain protocols should consider as they begin exploring AI.

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The Shanghai upgrade allows validators to withdraw the staked ether (ETH) that has been locked in the network.

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While DeFi may be the wave of the future, the industry can still learn smart practices from leading CeFi companies. Pioneers and insiders of the decentralized finance industry strongly believe they are the vanguard of a new and better way to handle financial transactions. Still, it doesn’t mean they have nothing to learn from centralized finance companies. While CeFi has the advantage of more familiarity and a long history, those aren’t the only reasons it can still outperform DeFi when it comes to attracting new users. It’s not a disservice (or disloyalty) to DeFi for its leaders to look closely at what users rely on and value in CeFi services. Below, nine members of Cointelegraph Innovation Circle discuss lessons DeFi companies would be wise to learn from CeFi companies, and how doing so could boost their chances of success.

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Non-experts are much more likely to grasp the value of a scaling solution if it’s related to something they already understand.   Blockchain technology can be difficult for the average layperson to understand, and when “layers” are added to the concept — as with blockchain scaling — it can be even more confusing. Companies working on blockchain scaling solutions are led and staffed by experts who fully understand the underlying technology and why scaling is essential to the long-term success of blockchain, but relaying that knowledge to those outside the industry can take thoughtfulness, patience and creativity. Learning what to emphasize and how best to relay that important information is essential for companies seeking to promote their scaling solutions. Here, eight members of Cointelegraph Innovation Circle share smart strategies for effectively explaining a blockchain scaling solution.