Many people believe that all cryptocurrencies and related content are scams because most projects fail to deliver on their promises to solve problems. It is easy for creators of these projects to fall into failure modes, leading them down the path towards becoming a Ponzi scheme or manipulated by interested parties. But no one likes being taken for the fool.
It's happened even with the big boys in the crypto space:
- Ethereum has failed at being “the world computer” due to increasing transaction costs tied to demand. Despite recent scaling efforts, that may not solve this issue long-term even if sharding is implemented effectively.
- Bitcoin has also failed as an actual currency because of issues such as slow transactions, block size limitations and the push for users to HODL rather than transact on it regularly which will only become worse due to factors like miner centralization or high transaction costs making securing the network too expensive in terms of dollars. It is instead now heralded as a store of value. There is a strong argument that it is not even that.
To survive, Hive needs to be seen as a project that has kept it promises. More importantly, needs to be seen as the project that has solutions already in place.
It's important to remember not to:
- Say we're different from all the other projects.
- Because that is what all the other projects that turned out to be scams have said.
- Use jargon or buzzwords. Web 3.0, HODL, NFT, etc.
- These immediately sour or turn off minds that have been exposed to news of scams out there.
- Make forward-looking statements.
- These can be viewed as promises, and we don't want to look like every scam out there. Only talk about what already have working when talking with people outside the community.
It's important to talk about what we already have working:
- Layer 1 data and currency
- Layer 2 smart contracts
- Tokens that can be rented
- Off chain data storage
- HBD a stable-ish coin
- Circular economies in some locations
- Borehole project
- Value for Value
- Digital Identities
- Account recovery
The Pitches
Here are a few pitches that attempt to lives by these rules.
For Creators
Hive is a collection of systems that support creators by giving them tools to support themselves and the freedom to say whatever they need to say without the risk of being demonetized.
For Free Speech Advocates
Hive is a collection of systems that enables you to live in a world where what you say matters and will stay on the record, even if some portion of the internet might disagree with you and wants you deplatformed.
For the Altruistic
Hive is a collection of systems that helps people in need. From giving stable currency in locations that are not stable, building needed services in the community, allowing a voice where they would previously have none.
For the Decentralization Nerd
Hive is a collection of systems that actually does the things that everyone in the decentralization sphere says we need. You can think of it as Web 1.1 with all the decentralized greatness of Web 1.0 but supercharged with all the good things from the latest HTML/JS and free micropayments.
For the Laymen
Hive is a collection of systems that free you from having to give up your personal information just to have a presence on social media. That is just the start of what it can do for you. Feel free to explore and find that thing that delights you.
End
These are just a starting point. I would love to see other pitch ideas that follow these rules. We have to work hard to prevent Hive from looking like just another scam in the cesspool of crypto. Remember, don't talk about future developments. Don't use jargon and buzzwords. Lastly, how we talk about Hive will separate us from the pack. So, speak clearly and loudly about the amazing things we are already doing.