Execs Predict the ‘Year of the Consumer,’ with Killer Apps on the Way

2025 will be the Year of the Consumer, according to web3 leaders who shared predictions and intentions for expansive growth next year in the annual 2025 CoinFund Founders’ Forecast survey released today.

In October 2024, CoinFund surveyed the Founders and C-Suite executives of 44 Pre-Seed, Seed and Series A-stage portfolio companies regarding their outlook for web3 in 2025. Voluntary respondents to the survey represent a cross-section of CoinFund’s 120+ portfolio companies from DeAI and DeFi to DePIN and onchain IP. Highlights below; download the full report here.

“With more than a third of the CoinFund portfolio speaking as representatives of the leaders of the new internet, this year’s Founders’ Forecast reflects an ambitious, determined class of builders doubling down on talent and positioning themselves as close to the customer as possible to drive their roadmap,” said Alex Felix, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer, CoinFund.

LETS BUILD

Today’s maturing blockchain companies are in go-to-market mode. As they budget and prepare for changing market conditions, they are even more bullish on the opportunity to grow their businesses than self-reported in last year’s survey. Nearly 80% (79.5) plan to hire in 2025 compared to 70% one year ago, and 40% of those hiring expect to grow the team by at least half.

Companies are seeking talent throughout their organizations, with Product and Sales functions highest in demand. In ranked order, 1) Product / Engineering; 2) Sales / BD; 3) Marketing / PR / Community; and 4) HR / Legal / Recruiting / Operations.

To fuel their objectives, 70.5% of respondents plan to fundraise, evenly spread across all stages

• 25% will seek to raise less than $10M
• 25% will seek to raise $10–25M
• 20.5% will seek to raise $25M+

…an increase from half of founders from the 2023 survey who planned to fundraise one year ago.

2025 PREDICTIONS — THE YEAR OF THE CONSUMER

Interestingly, the executives’ predictions shifted dramatically from 2023 when asked which sectors were best poised to grow next year, perhaps signaling an evolution beyond infrastructure and a sense of readiness to build for an everyday user.

2023 Execs Predict 2024

1. 1. AI
   2. ZK
   3. DeFI, Consumer Apps (tied)

2024 Execs Predict 2025

1. 1. Consumer Apps
   2. DeFi
   3. Web 2.0 to web3 Conversion

 

Respondents gave an overwhelming YES at 77.2% when asked if 2025 would yield the ‘killer app’ achieving mainstream traction. Gaming, global payments and DeFi led the list of use cases predicted to break through and garner attention from the masses. From the builders:

 

“Crypto is for speculation. Social speculation dApps will be the first wave of consumer dApps; PvP gaming will be the other.” Arjun Kalsy, Chief of Growth, Fuel Network

“It will be a consumer app with access to RWAs and DeFi yield.” Dmitry Tolok, Co-Founder, PrimexLabs
“It will be related to AI agents interacting/coordinating with each other onchain leveraging different financial primitives.” Nick Emmons, CEO, Allora

Those who do not envision one killer app remain bullish on ubiquitous growth, albeit in the background:
Web3 equals ‘emerging technologies.’ We’ll see a consumer application that is mostly cloud+ai, but with blockchain features.” James Borque, CEO, INTU

I believe that blockchain technology is only or mostly more valuable than alternative technologies when it comes to coordinating high value transactions. In my opinion, financial use cases in the broad sense, not just on-chain DeFi, will forever be the largest crypto market, expanding into new segments like personal and trade finance over time.” Avril Dutheil, Co-Founder, Neutron

For even more founder insight, download the report.

 

WHAT’S ON BUILDERS’ MINDS?

The ability to execute, to find product market fit in their time horizon, and ability to fundraise are among blockchain executives’ biggest concerns for 2025.
Organizations are laser-focused on execution — with almost half (48%) naming “themselves” as their biggest determinant or threat to their own success in 2025, followed by 23% concerned about “finding product market fit within my funding runway.” Founders are founders in any industry; while there is common market sentiment that founders have a more challenging path in blockchain with nascent category problems unique to the crypto space like “lack of clarity from regulators” or “market fragmentation,” both roadblocks ranked last on the list of perceived threats to today’s startups.
Interestingly, CoinFund founders shared that they are less concerned now compared to one year ago about the U.S. regulatory landscape as it relates to their business. In November 2023, every respondent to the Founders’ Forecast stated that the U.S. regulatory landscape had at least informed their strategy from “a little” to “greatly.” At the time of this year’s October survey (pre- Presidential election,) 14% shared that they were not considering the impact of the U.S. election or regulatory climate in their company’s strategy at all.

“Disruptive technology requires serious founders,” commented Felix. “These leaders aren’t distracted by the noise of the narrative or deterred by what ‘can’t’ be done. 2025 is going to be an inspiring and pivotal time to get involved in the category as a builder, an operator or an advocate.”

 

 

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