by Taylor Ryan
The New Digital Frontier: Making Sense of Crypto and Web3 for the Nordic Fintech Audience
There’s a lot of noise surrounding crypto, blockchain, and Web3.
For many, it’s a parade of jargon that seems to orbit some distant tech universe, unconnected to the grounded realities of Nordic fintech innovation.
I get it. Blockchain and its buzzwords can sound like the stuff of sci-fi—complicated, obscure, and maybe even unnecessary.
But here’s the thing: If we peel back the layers, there are some genuinely fascinating ideas taking shape.
Let’s break it down together, like we’re mapping out the next leg of a challenging but rewarding hike.
The Stories We Tell: A Look at Previous Crypto Cycles
Each phase of blockchain’s evolution has brought its own “narrative”—a story that the industry clings to in an effort to rally interest.
The “interest” in the case of “narratives” took the form of community growth and investment from all sorts of investors (traditional, venture capital, and retail investors).
Think of it as the plotline of a series you’ve reluctantly started but can’t stop watching.
First, there was Bitcoin—a digital gold rush.
People imagined a world where banks would crumble under the weight of this borderless, decentralized currency.
While Bitcoin’s focus remained on being a store of value, its underlying technology—blockchain—paved the way for broader applications.
Then came the Ethereum era, full of talk about smart contracts, which were hailed as the death blow of paperwork (spoiler: we’re still buried in paperwork).
Subtitle: Ethereum Narratives over Time, Source: https://tokeneconomy.co/visions-of-ether-590858bf848e
The Stories We Tell: A Look at Previous Crypto Cycles
As blockchain technology continued to advance, the solutions, and technology took on more distinct shapes.
Entire new ecosystems and new fundamentals emerged.
Without turning this article into “the full history of blockchain technology,” it’s important to cover some highlights of previous cycles.
If blockchain’s journey was a long-running TV show—each season has new storylines with a cast of new and (some) familiar characters. Honestly, some “seasons” are better than others.
Let’s recap a few of the big plotlines that shaped where we are today:
- Decentralized Applications (Dapps): Think of Dapps as apps that don’t need a middleman. Instead of a company running things behind the scenes, they run on blockchain, giving users more control over their data.
- DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations): Imagine running an organization where decisions are made by votes and rules are enforced by code, not managers. That’s a DAO. They had a rocky start (anyone remember the DAO hack in 2016?), but they’ve opened the door to new ways of organizing communities.
- DeFi (Decentralized Finance): Bored of dealing with banks? DeFi lets you lend, borrow, and trade directly with others on blockchain platforms. By 2020, this idea exploded during “DeFi Summer,” proving that finance doesn’t need to look like it always has.
- Staking and Proof of Stake (PoS): Staking is like earning interest by locking up your assets. It’s also a greener way to keep blockchains secure compared to the energy-hungry mining process.
- NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens): Digital collectibles went from niche to mainstream, starting with CryptoPunks in 2017. By 2021, people were spending millions on digital art, music, and even memes.
- The Metaverse: A digital universe where you can own virtual land, attend events, or just hang out. Projects like Decentraland have been testing how blockchain fits into this futuristic vision. This whole narrative was way too overhyped for it’s own good.
- Gaming and Play-to-Earn Models: Blockchain-based games like Axie Infinity let players earn cryptocurrency and NFTs just by playing. It’s fun with financial perks.
- Layer 2 Solutions: Blockchains like Ethereum got crowded and expensive. Layer 2 solutions, like Base, Linear, Scroll, ZKsync, etc.
There’s way more to breakdown than space permits, check out categories below:
Go to any token tracker platform (Coingecko, CoinMarketCap, Defilama, etc).
Each of these ideas started as a big, bold promise.
Some narratives and projects are still figuring out their place.
Others have already changed the game, paving the way for the next wave of innovation.
Looking Ahead: 2025 Blockchain Narratives
Fast forward to 2025, and blockchain is no longer just about hype. It’s moving toward practicality and solving real problems.
2025 feels different. It’s less about buzzwords and more about results.
The next batch of narratives promises to bring blockchain into the everyday—connecting digital financial tools to real-world systems.
It’s not science fiction anymore—it’s happening.
There are very real new opportunities for anyone to take part and get value from systems that previously had high barriers to entry.
It’s no longer just for the crypto-savvy—it’s for anyone ready to explore what’s next.
RWA: Bringing the Real World On-Chain
Let’s talk about something we can all relate to: physical, tangible assets.
Real-world assets (RWAs) might be its most transformative application yet—bridging tangible assets and the digital realm.
What types of RWAs are there? RWAs cover a wide spectrum:
- Tether Gold: Gold, oil, or even agricultural goods can be tokenized, opening new ways to trade and invest in these markets.
- BlackRock’s BUIDL: Fixed-income securities are a hot area, making bond investing more accessible and liquid.
- Lofty: Platforms let investors buy tokenized shares of properties
- Ondo Finance: Tokenized exposure to short-term U.S. Treasury ETFs brings stability and familiar financial products to blockchain enthusiasts.
RWAs merge the stability of traditional assets with the accessibility of blockchain.
The opportunities are endless with fractional ownership, faster settlements, and lower entry barriers.
Subtitle: Ondo Finance, Source: https://ondo.finance/
DePIN: Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks
Think about all the physical stuff that keeps the internet running—data centers, wireless towers, even smart devices.
DePIN, or Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks, is flipping the script on who builds and owns this infrastructure.
Instead of a few giant companies running the show, it’s about letting regular people contribute and get rewarded.
It’s a shared system where people provide resources like bandwidth, connectivity, or storage. Think peer to peer music sharing from the late 90s but with a modern twist.
What is it exactly?
At its core, DePIN is about creating networks for physical infrastructure using blockchain.
In return, they earn tokens. Simple idea, right? But it has big implications.
Examples of cool DePIN projects:
- Gradient and Dawn: Participants run validator nodes, securing networks and earning rewards along the way..
- Grass: Using a chrome extension, participate in a decentralized network for IoT devices.
- Filecoin and Storj: Decentralized storage solutions allow users to rent out unused space on their hard drives in exchange for tokens.
- Connect.ai: Ai apps and Api marketplace. Revolutionary credit system that allows you to earn, use, and sell credits.
Why should you care?
DePIN shifts the power dynamics of infrastructure.
It’s cheaper, more resilient, and gives communities a stake in how things are run.
Imagine setting up a node at home—you’re not just helping run a wireless network, you’re getting paid for it. That’s DePIN: practical, collaborative, and maybe even the future of how we build the digital world.
Subtitle: Grass Dashboard, Source: https://app.getgrass.io/
DeFi Ai Agents: Your AI Financial Assistant
Imagine you’ve got an expert trader working just for you 24/7.
DeFi agents use artificial intelligence to navigate complex DeFi platforms.
They can find the best lending rates, manage yield farming strategies, rebalance your portfolio, or even execute trades automatically. It’s like putting your finances on autopilot but with the added edge of machine intelligence.
They’re like having an AI-powered money manager that knows all the tricks of decentralized finance (DeFi).
If you’re like me, you’re losing countless hours rebalancing, adjusting your portfolio
Where can I find these?
- Mode: Part of the Mode ecosystem, their DeFi agents are designed to handle tasks like trading and asset management seamlessly.
- Cookie: Cookie simplifies DeFi interactions by automating processes like staking and liquidity provision.
- Creator Bid: Focused on creator economies, this platform uses DeFi agents to optimize earnings and manage creator assets efficiently.
Why is this a massive opportunity?
DeFi is exciting but time consuming.
DeFi agents level the playing field, making it easier for anyone to access the benefits of decentralized finance without spending hours glued to market charts.
They’re smarter, faster, and take the hassle out of managing your money.
Subtitle: Mode Ecosystem Agents, Source: https://app.mode.network/ai/
Prediction Markets: Betting on What Happens Next
Imagine being able to harness the collective wisdom of a crowd to predict the future. That’s what prediction markets do. They’re like a stock market, but instead of trading shares in companies, you’re trading based on the outcomes of events.
What are prediction markets? Prediction markets let participants bet on everything from election results to sports games, or even whether a new movie will flop at the box office. Each market operates like a decentralized betting platform, where people stake cryptocurrency on their predictions. The odds? Determined by the crowd’s collective belief.
Some key players?
- Polymarket: A platform where users can trade on real-world events, like political outcomes or economic trends.
Why does this matter?
Prediction markets are more than just gambling—they’re tools for gathering insights.
Studies have shown that they can outperform traditional polls or expert opinions, thanks to the power of crowd intelligence. For businesses, policymakers, or even curious individuals, they provide a unique way to gauge public sentiment or anticipate trends.
And here’s the kicker: they also bring transparency. By running on blockchain, these markets ensure that outcomes are tamper-proof and participants can verify the fairness of the process. It’s a fascinating blend of psychology, finance, and technology.
Subtitle: Polymarket homepage, Source: https://polymarket.com/
Final Thoughts:
Blockchain and Web3 have come a long way from their early days of experimentation.
What started as an ambitious idea with Bitcoin has grown into a transformative ecosystem.
Over time, new narratives have captured imaginations and pushed boundaries. These weren’t just trends—they were signals of a system evolving, refining itself with each iteration.
Now, in 2025, the conversation has shifted.
It’s less about grand promises and more about delivering real impact.
We’re seeing a real connection between blockchain and everyday life.
The newest batch of narratives are a different breed.
These are the types of projects that offer access, simplification, and fresh ways to tap into collective insight.
It’s not about reinventing the wheel; it’s about making it turn more efficiently.
Blockchain is shedding its reputation as a niche technology. It’s finding its way into the hands of individuals, communities, and businesses that never considered it before.
The future isn’t just being built, it’s being shared.