The Expanding Crypto Ecosystem

The crypto ecosystem is experiencing exponential growth, with thousands of cryptocurrencies and blockchain projects vying for attention. Each project comes with its unique features, such as consensus mechanisms, tokenomics, use cases, and development teams. To assess the potential of a cryptocurrency, it is crucial to evaluate these aspects and more, making comprehensive research a necessity.

Challenges Faced by Crypto Researchers

Researchers in the crypto space may indeed face difficulties in thoroughly evaluating projects due to the high volume of work and the potential to miss important information. Some of these difficulties include:

  1. Lack of Reliable Information: Crypto startup projects often have limited publicly available information, making it difficult to obtain comprehensive and reliable data. Project documentation, whitepapers, and websites may not provide a complete picture of the project’s technology, team, or progress. This lack of transparency hampers the researcher’s ability to gather accurate information for analysis.
  2. Inconsistent Reporting Practices: Startups in the crypto space may not adhere to standardized reporting practices. There is no universally accepted format or reporting framework for disclosing project details, financial information, or progress updates. This inconsistency makes it tricky to compare and evaluate different projects consistently.
  3. Team Credibility and Background Verification: Assessing the credibility and background of the project team members can be challenging. Due to the pseudonymous nature of the crypto industry, team members may use pseudonyms or have limited public profiles. Verifying the expertise, experience, and track record of team members becomes crucial, but it can be difficult to obtain reliable information.
  4. Limited Track Record and Historical Data: Many crypto startups are in their early stages and may not have a significant track record or historical data to evaluate. Traditional metrics used to assess established companies may not be applicable in this context, making it harder for researchers to gauge the project’s potential success or sustainability.
  5. Regulatory Uncertainty: The regulatory landscape for crypto startups is often unclear and subject to change. Researchers must navigate the evolving regulatory environment to understand the potential legal and compliance risks associated with the project. Lack of clear regulations or conflicting regulatory frameworks can create uncertainty and pose challenges during due diligence.
  6. Tokenomics and Economic Model Complexity: Crypto startups often have complex tokenomics and economic models. Grasping the token distribution, token utility, inflationary mechanisms, and governance structures can be daunting for researchers. Evaluating the long-term viability and value proposition of the project’s tokens requires a deep understanding of these intricacies.
  7. Technology Evaluation: Assessing the technological aspects of a crypto startup can be overwhelming. Researchers need to evaluate the project’s underlying blockchain technology, consensus mechanism, security measures, and scalability solutions. Limited technical expertise or the lack of publicly available code can make it tricky to assess the project’s technical feasibility and potential vulnerabilities.
  8. Market Analysis and Competitive Landscape: Researching the market analysis and competitive landscape for a crypto startup involves understanding the project’s target market, identifying potential competitors, and evaluating the demand for the project’s solutions. However, obtaining reliable market data and conducting accurate market analysis can be challenging in the dynamic and rapidly evolving crypto industry.
  9. Community Sentiment and Perception: Assessing the sentiment and perception of the crypto community towards a startup project can provide valuable insights. However, accurately capturing community sentiment from various online platforms and social media channels can be daunting due to the prevalence of noise, misinformation, or biased opinions.

To address these hurdles, researchers need a comprehensive “map” or a well-designed technique or model to guide them through the evaluation process. This is why we have created ITAGBM, a resource helping researchers and newcomers to the crypto space easily understand the process of researching and achieving their goals in an organized manner.

Different Angles, Different Considerations

Comparing crypto projects requires multiple approaches, considering various angles. Here are some key aspects that need to be considered when conducting research:

A New Model for Project Research: ITAGBM

    • Innovation and Technology: Evaluating the technological bedrock of various crypto projects is paramount. Each project is a unique embodiment of innovation, employing a range of consensus mechanisms (like proof-of-work, proof-of-stake, etc.), scalability solutions, smart contract capabilities, privacy features, and interoperability protocols. Scrutinizing these technological elements is instrumental in discerning a project’s potential for practical implementation and real-world impact.

    • Team and Community: Assessing the development team’s experience, expertise, and past achievements is crucial. Additionally, a vibrant and engaged community often indicates strong support for a project. Researching the community’s size, activity levels, and sentiment can provide insights into a cryptocurrency’s long-term prospects.

    • Adoption and Use Cases: Understanding a cryptocurrency’s real-world use cases and its potential for adoption is vital for its success. Exploring the industries or sectors a project aims to disrupt or enhance, partnerships with established businesses, and user adoption metrics can help gauge its potential value.

    • Governance and Tokenomics: Evaluating a cryptocurrency’s token economics, such as supply dynamics, inflation rate, staking mechanisms, and distribution model, is essential. Moreover, understanding the project’s governance structure and decision-making processes helps assess its sustainability and community-driven nature.

    • Business: Understanding a cryptocurrency’s revenue model is crucial in assessing its long-term viability. Some cryptocurrencies generate revenue through transaction fees, while others offer additional services or products. In addition, analyzing a cryptocurrency’s marketing strategies and tracking relevant KPIs allows for a better understanding of its visibility and reach. Metrics such as website traffic, social media engagement, community growth, and brand sentiment provide insights into the effectiveness of marketing efforts and community building.

    • Money: Partnerships with established businesses or collaborations within the crypto ecosystem can significantly impact a cryptocurrency’s growth potential. Researching the project’s partnerships, strategic alliances, investors, and ecosystem development initiatives provides valuable information about its ability to leverage existing networks and gain wider adoption.

Next Steps

In the following articles, we’ll expand on each section of our ITAGBM model with real-life examples, best practices, and pitfalls to avoid. This will help you better evaluate crypto projects and make informed decisions in the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrencies.