In an astonishing revelation, Coinbase protocols lead, Jesse Pollak, made a bold prediction that as many as 8 billion people will join the crypto and blockchain revolution within the next decade. Pollak shared his optimistic outlook during an interview with Decrypt at the EthCC conference held in Paris on Wednesday. While crypto adoption has already witnessed significant growth in recent years, Pollak firmly believes that the industry is only scratching the surface of its potential.
The current number of individuals actively participating in the blockchain is less than 10 million, but according to Pollak, this is set to explode exponentially in the coming years. “There’s going to be 8 billion people on-chain over the next decade,” he confidently asserted, a figure that approximates the entire world’s population today. This projection is particularly remarkable as it includes individuals without current access to the internet, highlighting the vast scope of the crypto and blockchain’s potential global impact.
Coinbase, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges, has its own ambitious goals as well. The exchange has been developing Base, an Ethereum-based layer 2 platform without its own token, aiming to attract “the next million developers and the next billion users on-chain.” While this objective is already ambitious for an exchange-funded blockchain project, Pollak’s prediction surpasses even these grand aspirations.
Pollak emphasized that he sees the ongoing crypto adoption as an evident reality, unfolding before our very eyes. He firmly believes that the technological advancements witnessed in the crypto industry will profoundly change the lives of billions of people around the globe. “Everyone’s going to finally be put on a level playing field, where they get access to the same products and services, regardless of where they were born or where they live,” he said during the interview.
The potential for crypto and blockchain to drive financial inclusion and democratize access to opportunities across the world has been a driving force behind the industry’s rapid growth. As more individuals and businesses recognize the advantages of decentralized technologies, the widespread adoption of cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based systems is becoming increasingly plausible.
However, while Pollak’s prediction is undoubtedly hopeful and inspiring, it is essential to recognize the challenges that come with such an ambitious vision. Scaling blockchain technology to accommodate billions of users and ensuring regulatory compliance and cybersecurity will be key concerns for the industry.
As the world progresses into the digital age, the transformative power of crypto and blockchain is becoming evident. Whether Pollak’s prediction will fully materialize remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the potential for this technology to change the lives of billions is undeniable, and its impact will be felt across all corners of the globe.
