Crypto needs to rethink incentive structures before the mainstream arrives

Tokenomics favor speed over conviction, using genuine supporters as exit liquidity. Crypto’s mainstream future requires replacing extraction with participation incentives.

Opinion by: Jake Antifaev, CEO of Thrust

Every token launch is a story about belief. Crypto narratives often romanticize early buyers as visionaries who saw potential when others didn’t. The reality is far less noble.

The bonding curve, currently the dominant mechanism for price discovery in crypto, sets the stage: Price increases with each purchase, rewarding those who arrive early with the best entry point. On the surface, this seems fair.

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