During my recent fireside chat at Hong Kong Consensus 2025, I emphasized a truth that many in our industry need to hear: Building communities is far more challenging than it appears.
In 2018, when blockchain technology was still relatively unknown to the mainstream, basic incentives like airdrops were enough to attract attention. Today’s landscape has fundamentally changed. You can’t just throw airdrops at people and expect them to stay. Communities need to be built on trust, value and a long-term vision.
What our industry needs isn’t communities that come for the incentives and leave the next day. We need communities that stay because they believe in what we’re building. This shift requires a complete rethinking of how we approach community engagement.
The role of exchanges in this ecosystem cannot be overstated. As gatekeepers to the crypto economy, exchanges must prioritize supporting projects that build loyal communities rather than chasing short-term gains. This means carefully vetting projects and ensuring they have sustainable roadmaps.
The future of Web3 demands unity. Exchanges, established projects and smaller initiatives must work together, especially in emerging markets like Russia, Kenya and Brazil that offer immense potential. Collaboration, not competition, will unlock new opportunities for growth.
Transparency is non-negotiable in this new era. Users are asking tough questions about how exchanges operate, particularly regarding listing fees and selection criteria. This scrutiny is healthy and necessary. Transparency builds trust, and trust is the foundation of any successful community.
Security and accessibility represent the two critical pillars for exchanges moving forward. Users rightfully demand platforms that offer robust protection for their assets and seamless solutions to move their funds safely and efficiently. Exchanges that fail to deliver on these fronts will find themselves increasingly irrelevant.
The phenomenon of meme coins presents a fascinating case study in community building. While often dismissed by traditionalists, these projects serve as valuable “door openers” that attract new users to the space. However, their success depends entirely on strong community backing and a clear evolution path.
A sustainable meme project typically begins with community engagement around a shared interest or joke, gradually introduces utility and eventually evolves into something more substantial, potentially including merchandise or broader business applications. Without this progression, most will fail.
Too many Web3 projects suffer from poor leadership and no clear plans for sustainability. They focus on boosting short-term sentiment without delivering meaningful results. This approach is unsustainable and damages the credibility of our entire industry.
Your community should work for their own collective success. When users are genuinely invested in a project’s future, they become advocates, not just participants. This organic growth creates resilience against market volatility and competitor challenges.
I call on exchanges to prioritize quality over quantity when listing projects. Instead of allocating resources to influencers who drive temporary traffic, invest in projects building something meaningful and sustainable. This shift in focus will benefit the entire ecosystem.
As Web3 continues to mature, those who prioritize value and trust will emerge as leaders. The future belongs not to those who can create the most hype, but to those who can build communities based on shared values and genuine utility.
The challenges ahead are significant, but so are the opportunities. By focusing on transparency, collaboration and long-term value creation, we can realize the transformative potential of Web3 technology and build a more inclusive digital economy.
Source: https://yellow.com/news/building-trust-the-foundation-of-web3s-future
Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.
Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.
An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.
