**Crypto's Evolution: From Cypherpunk Roots to Mainstream Adoption**

Jesse Walden, managing partner of Variant Fund, predicts a shift in blockchain values over the next decade. In a recent blog post, Walden explained that the early days of blockchain were driven by cypherpunk ideals like censorship resistance and permissionlessness. However, as institutional adoption grows, the focus is shifting towards performance, cost, and legal compliance.

Key Points:

- Early blockchain inspired by Bitcoin's cypherpunk values.

- Current trends prioritize speed, cost-efficiency, and compliance.

- Popular use cases like stablecoins and asset tokenization no longer need full decentralization.

- Walden sees this as the "end of the beginning" for cypherpunk blockchains.

- Commercialization may dilute original values but opens doors for broader impact.

Walden encourages seeing this shift positively, likening it to how mainstream music evolves while still making significant cultural impacts. The commercialization of crypto could mean the real opportunities are just beginning.