[Recap] What Will Bring Crypto to the Next Billion Users?

On April 15th, 2025, The Tie hosted the Innovator webinar "What Will Bring Crypto to the Next Billion Users?" featuring Tim Chen, Global Head of Strategy at Mantle; Rob Viglione, Founder of zkVerify; and Ryo Matsubara, Representative Director at Oasys. Moderated by Heidi Pickett, SVP of Strategic Initiatives at The Tie, the panel discussed the primary challenges and opportunities for achieving mainstream crypto adoption, particularly focusing on retail users alongside institutional interest.

The discussion opened with an overview of current adoption trends. Panelists agreed institutional adoption has surged, driven by high-profile developments like Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, while retail engagement has temporarily waned due to macroeconomic factors. Tim Chen suggested that despite the current lull, retail adoption cycles naturally fluctuate, creating room for renewed engagement as infrastructure matures and new products emerge.

Tim Chen introduced Mantle's vision of creating a crypto neobank to seamlessly integrate traditional finance (TraFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi). He highlighted the challenges users face navigating fragmented financial experiences and Mantle’s goal to offer an integrated, user-friendly solution. Chen described a future where salaries can be deposited directly into crypto accounts, automatically allocated based on risk preferences into yield-bearing DeFi products—simplifying user interactions and significantly enhancing retail adoption.

Rob Viglione explained zkVerify's innovative approach to trust and privacy as a universal verification layer leveraging zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs). Viglione emphasized that robust privacy and secure infrastructure are essential to attract institutional players onto blockchain platforms. He underscored the importance of verifiable, secure cryptographic proof infrastructure, facilitating trustworthy financial transactions and regulatory compliance, thus bridging the gap between traditional financial institutions and DeFi ecosystems.

Ryo Matsubara provided insights into Oasys' strategic focus on blockchain gaming to attract retail users. Oasys has partnered with major gaming entities, such as Sega and Ubisoft, introducing blockchain elements into traditional gaming formats. Matsubara stressed the importance of innovative, engaging blockchain-native games—akin to the mobile revolution led by titles like "Angry Birds"—as a critical pathway for mass retail adoption. He also noted the decision to introduce zero gas fees, significantly enhanced user accessibility and experience.

When asked about critical milestones signaling successful mainstream adoption, the panelists offered distinct visions. Tim Chen set an ambitious target for Mantle's crypto neobank to become a top-three financial app. Rob Viglione highlighted achieving significant cryptographic proof volumes as essential validation of zkVerify’s infrastructure role. Ryo Matsubara envisioned blockbuster blockchain-native games emerging as critical indicators of retail engagement.

The panelists all agreed that improving user experience and simplifying access to blockchain applications are paramount. zkVerify is pioneering interoperability, providing a single integration point for developers, thereby simplifying the complexity traditionally associated with deploying applications across multiple blockchain ecosystems.

The webinar concluded with a shared optimism about the potential for substantial retail and institutional adoption facilitated by improved infrastructure, seamless integration between traditional and decentralized finance, and compelling consumer-facing applications such as gaming. As the crypto ecosystem continues to evolve, these strategic advancements will be crucial for onboarding the next billion users into crypto.