Tag: Blockchain

AI Agents, AI Tools, Artificial Intelligence, cryptography, Oracles, tokenization, Yoga

Amperity: The AI-Infused Customer Data Cloud Driving Strategic Insight

Yogi Nelson

by Yogi Nelson

Welcome to the BlockchainAIForum

In the Beginning

Today’s blog will be a bit different. Rather than an article of general interest, this post will be company specific–Amperity. It merits special attention, and after you read this article you will understand why. Let’s take it from the top.

Amperity was founded in 2016 in Seattle, Washington by co-founders Kabir Shahani and Derek Slager. Their vision emerged from a persistent enterprise problem: organizations collected vast amounts of customer data, yet struggled to unify it into accurate profiles that could power analytics and personalized engagement. Having worked for gigantic organizations in the past, I can relate to this challenge. Instead of brittle, rules-only approaches, the founders championed a machine-learning, probabilistic method tailored to messy, ever-changing customer data. Perfect, now we turn to what Amperity does.

What is Amperity’s Specialty

Amperity provides an AI-powered Customer Data Platform (CDP)—branded as the Customer Data Cloud—that ingests, cleans, and unifies fragmented data to build reliable Customer 360 profiles and turn them into action. The goal is to move from siloed records to a single, trustworthy view of each customer that is activation-ready across marketing, analytics, and service use cases. Let’s break that down into core capacities.

Core Capabilities

  • AI-Powered Identity Resolution: Uses deterministic and probabilistic matching to merge records into a stable, persistent ID, reconciling online and offline identifiers.
  • Customer 360 Profiles: Produces comprehensive, analysis-ready profiles with governance and quality checks built in.
  • Segmentation & Activation: Business users can explore data, build segments (including with generative-AI assistance), and push audiences to hundreds of downstream tools.
  • Data & API Flexibility: Robust connectors and APIs plus lakehouse integrations (e.g., Snowflake, Databricks) enable seamless fit into enterprise data stacks.
  • Security & Compliance: Enterprise-grade controls and auditing aligned to major standards help teams operate safely at scale.

Amperity Service Offerings

Beyond software, Amperity supports customers with a layered services model. This combination helps teams adopt quickly, reduce dependence on scarce engineering resources, and realize measurable outcomes. The layered services are:

  • Core Enablement: Implementation guidance, training, documentation, and monitoring of data pipelines.
  • Premium / Advisory Services: Strategic solution design, advanced configuration, audience and campaign orchestration assistance, and analytics advisory tailored to industry needs.

Now we turn to what separates Amperity from the competition.

What Makes Amperity Unique

  1. Identity Excellence: Customer identity is notoriously messy. Amperity’s ML-driven matching is engineered to maximize precision and recall, improving the reliability of customer profiles that power analytics and activation.
  2. From Unification to Action: Many tools stop at data consolidation. Amperity adds audience building, activation workflows, and bidirectional integrations so teams can translate data into business results quickly.
  3. Enterprise-Grade Flexibility: The platform fits complex architectures—supporting hybrid cloud, lakehouse, and real-time patterns—without sacrificing governance or performance.
  4. Empathy-Driven Product Design: The company’s roadmap has been shaped with close customer collaboration, prioritizing usability for marketers, analysts, and data teams alike.
  5. Ecosystem Alignment: Native interoperability with popular data and marketing tools reduces integration friction and speeds time-to-value.

Amperity Client Profiles

Amperity primarily serves mid-market and enterprise organizations that need trustworthy customer data across touchpoints. Typical industries include:

  • Retail & eCommerce: Personalization at scale, loyalty growth, churn reduction, LTV optimization.
  • Travel & Hospitality: Unified profiles across channels and brands, loyalty uplift, offer targeting.
  • Financial Services: Accurate householding, cross-sell/upsell, and compliant data activation.
  • Sports, Fitness & Entertainment: Fan data unification, ticketing and merch personalization, omnichannel engagement.
  • Consumer Products & Memberships: Subscription analytics, retention, and lifecycle marketing.

Representative brands (publicly referenced by the company over time) include airlines, national retailers, fitness leaders, hospitality groups, and financial institutions—organizations where identity fidelity and multi-channel activation materially impact revenue and customer experience. In other words, most any market segment.

How Teams Use Amperity

  • Loyalty Acceleration: Build look-alike audiences, suppress low-propensity segments, and boost conversions by unifying program and purchase data.
  • Paid Media Efficiency: Reduce wasted ad spend via better seed audiences, suppression lists, and conversion feedback loops.
  • Personalized Campaigns: Trigger messaging based on lifecycle events, predicted value, and real-time behaviors.
  • Analytics & Measurement: Improve attribution, incrementality studies, and forecasting with a reliable customer spine.

Why It Matters Now

Privacy changes, cookie deprecation, and rising expectations for relevance make first-party data strategy mission-critical. A trustworthy identity layer and activation-ready customer 360 unlock personalization while respecting governance and compliance. For data leaders—especially those exploring decentralized or blockchain-adjacent identity models—the Amperity approach offers a practical blueprint: rigorous identity resolution, clear data contracts, and interoperable activation across the stack.

Until next time,

Yogi Nelson

Sources: Amperity, Geekwire, and Business Wire

Banking, Blockchains, content creation, cryptography, Decentralized, Digital Currency, International Finance, sec, tokenization

Should You Be “Bullish” on the Bullish Initial Public Offering (IPO)?

Yogi Nelson

by Yogi Nelson

Welcome to the BlockchainAIForum.

Apparently Summer 2025 is crypto IPO season. Circle’s IPO was a booming success. (Circle issues U.S. backed stable coins.). Will Bullish be bullish or will it fall to the bears. Does it deserve the name Bullish? Or is it too premature to ask or know? As this is not financial or investment advice blog, I suggest you conduct your own independent research. In the mean time, enjoy this article.

Bullish, founded in 2020, is an institutionally focused global digital asset platform that provides trading infrastructure, data services, indices, and media through its core brands: Bullish Exchange and CoinDesk. The company seeks to accelerate adoption of stablecoins, digital assets, and blockchain technology by delivering institutional-grade products backed by compliance, liquidity, and technological innovation. With major acquisitions of CoinDesk (2023) and CCData (2024), Bullish has expanded beyond trading to become a diversified service provider at the intersection of exchanges, financial data, and digital asset media.


Business Overview
Bullish operates two primary divisions:

1. Trading & Liquidity Infrastructure (Bullish Exchange)
– A regulated global exchange for spot, margin, and derivatives trading. 
– Licensed in Germany, Hong Kong, and Gibraltar, with U.S. and other jurisdictional approvals pending. 
– Features a global order book, institutional-grade liquidity, risk management tools, and subscription-based liquidity/stablecoin services. 
– Reported $1.25 trillion+ cumulative trading volume as of March 31, 2025. In 2024, it achieved ~35% and 44% market share in spot trading for Bitcoin and Ethereum respectively among its peer set. 
– Average daily trading volume in Q1 2025 reached $2.55B in spot and $248M in perpetual futures. 

2. Information Services (CoinDesk)
– Indices: Offers proprietary multi-asset benchmarks (e.g., CoinDesk 20 Index) and reference rates like the long-established Bitcoin Price Index (XBX). Collectively, indices support $31.9B AUM and $14.3B in trading volume (March 2025). 
– Data: Provides real-time and historical analytics to over 171,000 professionals, strengthened by CCData’s enhanced market coverage and analytics. 
– Media & Events: Operates CoinDesk.com (55M+ unique visitors in 2024), podcasts, newsletters, and social media channels. The flagship Consensus conference drew 26,000+ attendees in 2025 and expanded globally with events in Hong Kong and Toronto. 

Together, these lines create a synergistic “flywheel” model: data powers indices, indices generate products listed on the exchange, and media amplifies visibility and customer acquisition. Cross-selling and integration remain central to growth.


Management and Governance
The company is led by CEO Thomas W. Farley, former President of the NYSE, who has extensive experience scaling exchanges and integrating acquisitions at Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). The management team combines expertise across traditional finance, digital assets, and technology.

Bullish is incorporated in the Cayman Islands (2021) and qualifies as a foreign private issuer under U.S. securities law, giving it exemptions from certain SEC reporting, disclosure, and NYSE governance requirements. For example, it is not bound by U.S. proxy rules or insider reporting standards. However, this could mean less transparency compared to U.S.-based peers.


Financial Overview
– 2024 Net Income: $80 million. 
– Q1 2025 Net Loss: $349 million, reflecting market volatility and strategic investments. 
– Adjusted EBITDA: $52M (FY 2024); $13M (Q1 2025). 
– Liquid Assets (March 2025): $1.96B, consisting of $1.73B Bitcoin, $144M stablecoins, $28M cash, $22M ETH, and $33M other tokens. Borrowings totaled $551M. 

Bullish emphasizes a conservative treasury strategy to ensure resilience across digital asset price cycles while maintaining flexibility for acquisitions and growth initiatives.

Preliminary Q2 2025 estimates were included, showing continued volatility. Adjusted transaction revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and net income figures were disclosed as non-IFRS guidance but subject to revisions upon final audit.


Market Context and Growth Opportunity
Bullish sees digital assets at an early adoption stage, akin to the internet in the 1990s. Bullish argues it is well positioned to capture value across this multi-trillion-dollar addressable market through its integrated services. By mid-2025, the global digital asset market reached $3.4 trillion in capitalization with 17,000+ cryptocurrencies in circulation. Positive industry trends include: 

– Rising Market Activity: Bitcoin and Ethereum trading volumes surged in late 2024, and wallet adoption doubled between 2022 and 2024. 
– Institutional Adoption: Firms such as BlackRock, Fidelity, and Goldman Sachs have entered the sector, with Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded products attracting $44B+ inflows by mid-2025. 
– Regulatory Clarity: Frameworks such as the EU’s MiCA, U.S. approval of spot BTC and ETH ETFs, and the U.S. GENIUS Act for stablecoins provide legitimacy and growth opportunities. 
– Technological Advancements: Rapid adoption of stablecoins (>$250B market cap), tokenization, DeFi, and blockchain-based collateral are expanding applications, with projections of $1.6T–$3.7T stablecoin supply by 2030. 


Competitive Advantages
Bullish highlights several differentiators in its IPO filing: 
1. Comprehensive Product Suite: Unified cross-collateralized margin accounts, deep liquidity, and seamless trading infrastructure. 
2. Diversified Business Lines: Exchange, data, indices, and media provide multiple revenue streams and reduce volatility. 
3. Trust and Compliance: Operates regulated platforms and maintains transparent governance. 
4. Technology Leadership: High-performance central limit order book and automated market-making; continuous upgrades to security, scalability, and user experience. 
5. Global Reach: Strong institutional presence with 36% YoY client growth in 2024; CoinDesk’s global audience bolsters customer acquisition. 
6. Capital Strength: $1.9B+ in digital assets available to support liquidity and expansion. 
7. Experienced Leadership: Proven track record in scaling and integrating exchanges. 


Growth Strategy
Bullish plans to drive expansion through five main levers: 
– Licensing Footprint Expansion: Actively pursuing U.S., UK, Canadian, and EU approvals, with multiple state money transmitter licenses already secured. 
– Product Innovation: Continuously launching new trading products (e.g., perpetual futures, indices) and cross-selling into existing customers. 
– Vertical Integration & Collaboration: Cross-leveraging exchange, data, and media businesses to maximize synergies.  
– Customer Base Expansion: Moving beyond institutional clients to target active traders (“prosumers”), using CoinDesk’s reach for cost-effective customer acquisition. 
– Strategic M&A: Future acquisitions will focus on scaling exchange operations, new product development, and geographic expansion, building on the successful integration of CoinDesk and CCData. 


Risks and Challenges
Bullish identifies multiple risks that investors should weigh: 
– Regulatory Uncertainty: Digital assets remain under evolving global regulatory scrutiny, which may limit innovation or expansion. 
– Intense Competition: Competes with both regulated and unregulated platforms, including DeFi, DEXs, and DAOs that may innovate faster. 
– Volatility in Results: Dependent on adoption rates and price swings of digital assets, which drive trading activity and revenues. 
– Operational & Security Risks: Potential loss or mismanagement of private keys, cyberattacks, or system disruptions could harm reputation and operations. 
– Conflicts of Interest: Ownership of CoinDesk as both a news source and business line presents reputational risks. 
– Dependence on Third Parties: Reliance on external banking, insurance, and service providers introduces vulnerabilities. 
– Jurisdictional Complexity: Operating in multiple countries creates compliance risks. 
– Foreign Private Issuer Risks: Exemption from U.S. governance standards may mean less disclosure and oversight than domestic peers. 
– Geopolitical Factors: PRC oversight of Hong Kong, U.S. HFCAA rules, and other geopolitical risks could negatively affect operations or share value. 


Conclusion
Bullish positions itself as a next-generation, diversified digital asset leader at the intersection of trading, data, and media. The company has grown rapidly, securing a top-10 position in Bitcoin and Ethereum spot trading, while also building out indices, analytics, and globally recognized events like Consensus. With strong leadership, $1.9B in liquid assets, and a synergistic operating model, Bullish believes it is uniquely positioned to capture growth in the expanding digital assets sector.

However, the IPO also comes with significant risks: regulatory uncertainty, industry volatility, fierce competition, and governance exemptions tied to its foreign private issuer status. Investors are cautioned that while Bullish’s strategy shows promise, its results may remain volatile as the digital asset industry continues to evolve.

Until Next Time,

Yogi Nelson

Banking, Digital Currency, finance, International Finance, sec, tokenization, Yogi Nelson

The SEC and CFTC Joint Statement: Impact on Crypto Trading

Yogi Nelson

by Yogi Nelson

Welcome to the BlockchainAIForum

The trend is clear–the crypto market exchanges and traditional market exchanges are engaged and eventually heading towards marriage! Why this bold declaration–the news coming from Washington.

In a landmark move on September 2, 2025, staff from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued a joint statement declaring that exchanges registered with either agency are not prohibited from facilitating trading in certain spot crypto asset products. This declaration, emerging from the coordination between the SEC’s Division of Trading and Markets and the CFTC’s Divisions of Market Oversight and Clearing & Risk, marks a clear regulatory pivot in the landscape of U.S. digital asset markets.

Riding the Wave of “Project Crypto” and “Crypto Sprint”

This initiative forms part of broader frameworks known as Project Crypto (by the SEC) and Crypto Sprint (by the CFTC), both born from recommendations of the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets aimed at fostering U.S. leadership in digital finance innovation. The working group’s report consistently called for regulatory clarity to ensure blockchain experimentation thrives on American soil.

Under these programs, the agencies are collaborating to provide a coordinated path forward: emboldening registered venues to offer leveraged, margined, or financed spot retail commodity transactions — including crypto assets — under existing legal authorities.

What’s Allowed, and How It’s Framed

Importantly, the agencies stress that current law already allows certain registered exchanges—namely SEC-registered national securities exchanges (NSEs) and CFTC-registered designated contract markets (DCMs) or foreign boards of trade (FBOTs)—to facilitate trading in select spot crypto commodity products, even with leverage and margin, without needing new legislation.

This is not, however, a new rule or legal exemption. The statement represents staff views only—it carries no binding force and does not change existing statutes. Exchanges must still proceed through the usual regulatory processes, such as filing rule amendments or requesting relief. Nevertheless, its unlikely “staff” would be permitted to take this action without “approval” from the agencies directors. I make this claim as someone who held senior staff positions in the federal government.

What’s Next, and What Market Participants Should Consider

The joint staff statement serves not just as a signal, but as an invitation to market participants. Agencies have pledged to:

  • Promptly review filings and proposals, encouraging engagement from exchanges seeking to list spot crypto products.
  • Address operational and structural questions, including around custody, clearing, margin, and settlement.
  • Support market surveillance and data transparency, encouraging shared price feeds and real-time dissemination of trade data.
  • Balance innovation with investor protection, remaining open to technological advances while ensuring rigorous oversight.

Legal and compliance professionals advise that any firm planning to launch such offerings should prepare thoroughly by addressing these operational points—effectively a checklist for submission—and engage early with regulators.

Views from the Trenches: Optimism vs. Skepticism

The regulatory move has been widely hailed in the industry as a game-changer—a regulatory green light for mainstream U.S. exchanges to consider crypto listings, potentially including Bitcoin and Ether.

But not everyone sees it that way. Some legal analysts have labeled the statement a “nothingburger”, criticizing its non-binding nature and lack of clarity around how “commodity” versus “security” status will be adjudicated—an unresolved core issue in crypto regulation. I do not agree with those legal analysts–but I’m not an attorney nor is this article legal or financial advice.

Harmonizing Frameworks—Next Up: A Joint Roundtable

This statement represents only the first step. On September 5, 2025, the agencies released a strategic follow-up: a joint statement on regulatory harmonization, announcing a public roundtable on September 29, 2025, to align their frameworks further—spanning product definitions, reporting standards, capital requirements, and coordinated innovation exemptions.

SEC Chair Paul Atkins and CFTC Acting Chair Caroline Pham described the session as a pivotal moment to transform U.S. regulatory coordination into a competitive advantage, enhancing clarity and opening the door to financial innovation. Their remarks signal a shared commitment among regulators to make the U.S. marketplace more efficient, innovative, and investor-friendly.

Implications and Forward Outlook

For the crypto industry, this coordinated stance paves a legal path that could bring regulated exchanges into the fold. Institutional venues like Nasdaq, NYSE, CME Group, and Cboe could consider introducing crypto product offerings—once thought off-limits—if they navigate the filing and operational requirements successfully. That is not a “nothing” burger!

Yet, without binding rules or clarified legal definitions, the shape of this new pathway remains uncertain. Regulatory arbitrage and legal ambiguity could persist unless the agencies deliver clear, binding regulations or frameworks.

Conclusion: Cautious Optimism in a Regulatory Renaissance

The joint statement by SEC and CFTC staff marks a meaningful departure from past reluctance—an encouraging signal that the U.S. is repositioning itself as a hub for blockchain-driven innovation. Market participants now have formal permission to explore spot crypto product offerings—if they comply with existing regulatory expectations.

The upcoming September 29th roundtable offers a critical opportunity to transform this gesture into substantive regulatory reality. For firms, token projects, and exchanges, the message is clear: engage early, act boldly, and help shape the evolving regulatory blueprint for the next era of digital asset markets in the U.S.

Until next time,

Yogi Nelson

Artificial Intelligence, Banking, content creation, Credit Cards, Digital Currency, International Finance, Yogi Nelson

The Genius Act and Stablecoins: A Game-Changer for Visa and Mastercard?

Yogi Nelson

by Yogi Nelson

Welcome to the BlockchainAIForum

Introduction

Hollywood and Washington, D.C. share a common trait–they both exaggerate! Recently stable coin legislation was passed into law in Washington–our politicians labeled it genius. Is it? Let’s ask that question from the perspective of Visa and Mastercard–the global duopoly of credit cards.

What Is the Genius Act of 2025?

We begin by understanding the Genius Act. The Genius Act, formally known as the Stablecoin Oversight and Innovation Act, establishes a federal regulatory framework for stablecoins—digital currencies pegged to fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar. What does the Genius Act say:

Key provisions include:
– Stablecoin issuers must be licensed by the Federal Reserve or OCC
– Stablecoins must be 100% backed by cash or equivalent assets
– Monthly audits and public disclosures are required
– Consumer protections are explicitly outlined
– Banks and fintech firms can both issue stablecoins under federal supervision

The Genius Act is designed to provide legal certainty, encouraging both institutional adoption and consumer trust in U.S.-based stablecoins. If it succeeds, it might be worthy of its name.

Visa and Mastercard: The Legacy Model

Visa and Mastercard operate on an intermediated model. In essence, they are transaction toll booths, charging a small fee on every swipe, tap, or click.Their core revenues come from:
– Interchange fees charged to merchants for processing credit and debit card payments
– Network fees for facilitating cross-border transactions
– Fraud protection and authentication services

Why Stablecoins Are a Threat

Stablecoins offer a radically different value proposition:
– Instant settlement without intermediaries
– Lower fees—especially for cross-border payments
– 24/7 functionality with no dependence on banking hours
– Programmable money that can enforce rules, automate transactions, or manage subscriptions

With the Genius Act providing legal legitimacy, peer-to-peer payments, retail purchases, and international remittances using stablecoins could bypass traditional credit card rails altogether. This is akin to hotels v Airbnb, taxis to Uber, etc.

Business Model Disruption: The Risk to Visa and Mastercard

1. Revenue Erosion. If merchants and consumers adopt stablecoins for direct payments, interchange and processing fees could decline. Stablecoin transactions—especially over public blockchains—cut out the middleman.

2. Loss of Control Over Settlement. Credit card networks currently manage the full lifecycle of a transaction: authorization, clearing, settlement. Stablecoins shift settlement to blockchain, reducing the value-add of the traditional networks.

3. Emerging Competitors. Startups offering stablecoin wallets, Layer-2 scaling solutions, and DeFi integrations are becoming new challengers. In this environment, Visa and Mastercard may no longer be gatekeepers.

Strategic Response from the Giants

🔗 Integration with Blockchain Rails. Visa has piloted stablecoin settlement on Ethereum using USDC (Circle’s dollar-backed stablecoin). Mastercard has launched its Multi-Token Network to support digital assets.

🤝 Partnering with Crypto Firms. Both have entered partnerships with crypto companies like Coinbase, Binance, and Crypto.com to issue crypto-backed cards and offer fiat-to-stablecoin bridges.

🧾 Tokenized Settlements. Mastercard has explored tokenized bank deposits and blockchain-based remittances, hoping to stay relevant as money goes digital.

💼 Stablecoin Custody and Consulting
Visa and Mastercard could pivot to providing custodial services, stablecoin security layers, or consulting to central banks and financial institutions looking to adopt blockchain

The Cross-Border Payment Revolution

One of the most immediate impacts may be in international payments. Traditional card-based cross-border transactions are slow and expensive. Visa and Mastercard may be forced to rebuild their international payment models around blockchain rails or risk becoming obsolete in this niche. Stablecoins offer instant settlement with minimal fees. Not only do Visa and Mastercard face stablecoin challenges in this area, they must also deal with Ripple XRP and Stellar Lumens XLM.

Expect disruption in:
– Global e-commerce
– Freelancer payments
– Remittance corridors to developing countries

Privacy, Security, and Trust: A Remaining Edge?

Visa and Mastercard still have strong brand trust and robust fraud protection mechanisms. These features matter for both merchants and consumers. Stablecoins must match or exceed these protections to gain widespread adoption. However, if the Genius Act succeeds in establishing a secure and compliant ecosystem for stablecoins, that edge may erode over time.

What the Future May Hold

The Genius Act creates a legal bridge between traditional finance and blockchain-based payments. This opens the door for:
– Direct merchant payments in stablecoins
– Payroll disbursements via crypto wallets
– Loyalty programs powered by tokens
– “Tap to Pay” using stablecoin-enabled apps

If the Genius Act does create that bridge, Visa and Mastercard may need to reinvent themselves as digital infrastructure companies, offering value-added services such as fraud detection, identity verification, and compliance tools for stablecoin-based systems.

Final Thoughts

Visa and Mastercard have spent decades building the infrastructure of global payments. Perhaps they felt secure and comfortable in their duopoly positions. The Genius Act and the stablecoin revolution challenge the very foundation of their model. However, disruption does not necessarily mean extinction. Both Visa and Mastercard have deep pockets and talented staff and are embedded in the financial system. The real test is whether they evolve fast enough to embrace the blockchain-powered future, or whether they will be relegated to legacy status as the world transacts in tokens.

Until next time,

Yogi Nelson

AI Agents, AI Tools, Artificial Intelligence, Banking, Blockchains, content creation, cryptography, Decentralized, Digital Currency, Euro, International Finance, Productivity, Switzerland, tokenization, Yogi Nelson

 🏛️ Why Do Crypto Companies Set Up Foundations?

Yogi Nelson

by Yogi Nelson

Welcome to the BlockchainAIForum

In the world of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, many of the most successful projects are not run entirely by corporations in the traditional sense. Instead, they are supported by non-profit foundations. Ethereum, Cardano, Polkadot, and Tezos all operate under this model. But why? What purpose do these foundations serve, and why are so many of them headquartered in Switzerland?

🌱 What Is a Crypto Foundation?

A crypto foundation is a non-profit organization established to oversee, support, and promote a blockchain project. These foundations are legally registered entities that act as stewards of the project’s codebase, branding, and community. Unlike a traditional company that prioritizes shareholder returns, a foundation is guided by a mission, such as enabling decentralized finance or supporting smart contract development. Think of it as the moral compass and operations hub behind the scenes.

🧰 What Do Crypto Foundations Actually Do?

Foundations wear many hats, and their responsibilities often include:

👨‍💻 Funding Developers – They allocate grants or directly hire developers to maintain and upgrade the protocol.

📣 Marketing & Community Growth – Foundations run educational campaigns, organize conferences, and promote adoption of the blockchain.

⚖️ Legal and Regulatory Advocacy – They advocate for favorable regulations and help navigate legal challenges.

📖 Governance and Roadmaps – They help shape and coordinate the roadmap of the project, though governance can also be decentralized.

📊 Ecosystem Grants – They fund startups, research groups, and hackathons that build on or support the core protocol.

🔒 Safeguarding Intellectual Property – In many cases, they hold the trademarks and copyrights associated with the project.

🚀 How Do Foundations Help a Crypto Project Grow?

Foundations provide a stable and legal structure that helps a project mature and attract broader participation. Here’s how they contribute to growth:

• Attracting Talent

• Building Trust

• Creating Ecosystems

• Fostering Community

• Serving as Legal Entities

💸 How Are Foundations Funded?

Funding typically comes from two main sources:

🪙 Initial Token Allocations – When the cryptocurrency is launched (through an ICO or other means), a percentage of the total supply—often 5% to 20%—is allocated to the foundation.

🧾 Donations and Grants – Some foundations accept voluntary donations from the community, philanthropists, or crypto-focused VCs.

📈 Strategic Investments – In some cases, foundations hold and invest part of their treasury to ensure long-term financial sustainability.

🇨🇭 Why Are So Many Crypto Foundations Based in Switzerland?

Switzerland, particularly the canton of Zug (aka “Crypto Valley”), has become a hotspot for crypto foundations. I visited and the valley is stunning, but beyond the natural beauty, here’s why:

⚖️ Favorable Legal Framework. Until very recently the USA was hostile to crypto projects.

🔐 Privacy and Financial Stability

🌍 Global Neutrality

🧠 Pro-Blockchain Culture

🧭 Examples: Ethereum Foundation, Cardano Foundation, Web3 Foundation, Tezos Foundation

🧾 Final Thoughts

Crypto foundations serve a vital role in the blockchain ecosystem. They’re not just legal wrappers for projects—they are engines for long-term growth, adoption, and legitimacy.

Until next time,

Yogi Nelson

📚 Sources

1. Ethereum Foundation: https://ethereum.foundation/

2. Cardano Foundation: https://cardanofoundation.org/

3. SwissInfo: Why Crypto Projects Choose Switzerland: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/cryptovalley