For over a decade, the crypto industry has championed decentralization, transparency and self-reinforcement. These principles are noble and essential in many ways.
But honestly, they have not yet been translated into a wide range of mainstream adoptions. The dream of billions of people who use blockchain every day is still mainly that and a dream. To make that a reality, we need to rethink how we build and deliver a blockchain-powered experience.
One of the biggest hurdles is ease of use. The current dominant interface to blockchain (non-curative wallet) is too complicated for the average person. Manage private keys, write down 24 word seed phrases, buy native tokens just to perform transactions, navigate multiple chains, fill assets, kick each app repeatedly, figure out how to convert Crypto to Fiat and Back. This is not a user experience built for the mainstream.
We often ask ourselves why web3 “didn’t cross the groove.” The answer may be simple: most people don’t want to know They use blockchain. And frankly, they shouldn’t have to.
This is where the “gate community” appears.
Using the term gated community, we simply mean “urban planning.” A great setup that is easy to navigate and easy to provide comfort, security and a curated experience. And in the neighborhood, yes, behind some kind of protective layer. In crypto, gated communities are platforms that abstract the complexity of blockchains while retaining their advantages.
These environments provide a seamless, Web2-style interface for users, while the blockchain provides heavy lifting on the background. The storage wallet, centralized interface, and trustworthy intermediaries are gatekeepers. It’s about reducing friction for everyone, not just accessing a special small number of people.
Critics argue that this betrays the spirit of decentralization (“not a key, not a coin”). However, this overlooks a wider opportunity. Users are users through an intuitive experience that builds real value to millions, and even billions of users, through which users solve real problems. Not everyone manages a cold wallet and begins their crypto journey. Many start out in a safe, guided, and user-friendly “gate” experience. That’s fine.
This can be seen in non-crypto-native successful Dapps.
In the US, lofty.ai is quietly transforming real estate investments by using behind the scenes blockchain, providing a simple and intuitive experience for traditional investors. Users can purchase fractional ownership of income-generating real estate for just $50, automatically receive rental income, and resell the stock at any time.
What’s noteworthy is that noble person will attract the typical code crowd. It appeals to mainstream real estate investors seeking passive income without legal documents, title transfers, or tax headaches. Renters can gradually invest in the real estate they live in and reduce their monthly rent as stocks increase. Blockchain allows for flexibility and trust. However, the user experience is pure Web2 simplicity.
On the other side of the world, in Kabul, HESABPAY allows women to purchase groceries and supplies at local stores using simple plastic cards and SMS verification. These transactions instantly settle in the chain, providing transparency and traceability to NGOs and donors. But for women who use women, it’s just a card, not a crypto wallet. They didn’t have a bank account and probably wouldn’t need it. It looks like success: real-world utility with no steep learning curves.
In Italy, home renters can purchase “tokenized” solar panels via Enel’s blockchain-enabled app. This app tracks the energy generated by panels elsewhere and deducts it from the user’s electricity bill. Blockchain guarantees automated accounting and real-time payments. The user experience is intuitive, app-based and familiar.
Online chess allows players to earn rewards to participate in games, tournaments, or contributions to a community. WorldChess, the official organizer of Fide Grand Prix, has launched a blockchain-based rewards program that allows players to simply play and accumulate and redeem points in an attractive way. The underlying infrastructure ensures transparency and portability, but to users it feels like other modern loyalty programs. Technology is invisible. The experience is seamless.
These examples show that blockchain is not a product. It’s the infrastructure layer.
And like all great infrastructure, the job is to disappear.
Over time, we believe that these gated communities will act as ramps. Users are gradually embellished with a more decentralized, self-powerful experience. But to get there, you need a new generation of tools to marry easy-to-use user controls.
Independence evolves. Social recovery mechanisms (as developed by the Derec Alliance) allow you to recover wallets that do not remember seed phrases. Verifiable credentials allow users to safely carry their identity across apps and services, allowing for one-time KYCs that last across the platform. And the full fee abstraction means that you don’t need to touch native gas tokens unless the user wants it. Sign in with fingerprints to approve transactions and access the app without realizing you are interacting with the blockchain.
That’s the path to advance. It’s a world where blockchain disappears into the background, bringing fun, secure, user-centric experiences to the forefront.
If you are serious about mainstream adoption, you must stop building only for crypto users. The future belongs to a builder that can combine the best design of Web2 design with the power of Web3 infrastructure without having to select users. Gated communities are not end goals. But they are the best way to bring millions of people to the door.
And once they come in, they can invite them to explore everything else the open world of blockchain has to offer.