At #DuneCon2024, Brandon Kumar (Layer3), Edwin Aoki (PayPal), and Amanda Cassatt (Serotonin) tackle the strategies, challenges, and opportunities for achieving mass blockchain adoption in this engaging panel discussion.

The panel begins by addressing the evolving role of institutions in blockchain adoption. Edwin highlights PayPal's role in bridging traditional finance and decentralized systems, emphasizing the importance of user choice between self-custody and institutional solutions. Brandon adds that the next decade will likely prioritize profit-driven applications, with less emphasis on asset ownership compared to earlier cycles.

Key topics explored include:

• Adoption Drivers: From trading and speculation to stablecoins and financial inclusion, the panel outlines the diverse entry points for different user segments. They highlight how stablecoins address global payment inefficiencies, offering compelling use cases for businesses and unbanked populations.
• Barriers to Growth: Regulatory ambiguity, compliance complexities, and entrenched habits in post-industrial markets are identified as significant hurdles. The panel underscores the need for better onboarding experiences and legal clarity to unlock institutional and retail adoption.
• Infrastructure Readiness: While the consumer-facing blockchain infrastructure is deemed mature, institutional-scale solutions still require significant improvements. The panel notes the growing abstraction of blockchain interactions, with chat interfaces and simplified onboarding flows as pivotal trends.
• Future Opportunities: The dominance of dollar-denominated assets and stablecoins as gateways to DeFi and broader blockchain usage is expected to persist. Emerging economies, motivated by the need for better financial tools, are identified as key growth regions.

The session concludes with a discussion on bridging decentralized and centralized systems, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and user-friendly designs to onboard the next billion users. With practical insights from leading experts, this panel provides a clear blueprint for driving blockchain adoption globally.