This article is Part One of a four-part series exploring the world of consumer crypto. Follow All-Access (AAA) to be notified when Part Two is released!

Consumer crypto is on the verge of becoming a game-changer, just like the Internet Revolution once transformed our lives. Remember that?

Back then, only the tech-savvy understood the web. Today, it's the backbone of our everyday lives.

Crypto is at a similar crossroads, raising a question that stirs both curiosity and skepticism: Will it become a part of our daily routines, or will it continue to remain niche?

Should Crypto Go Mainstream or Remain Speculative?

At its core, consumer crypto represents user-friendly apps that integrate blockchain features seamlessly – think of them as the Web3 adaptation of Netflix or Uber: easy, secure, and engaging. But what sets them apart is that, unlike their Web2 predecessors, these apps are enhanced with heightened transaction security and unique rewards.

Yet, if the crypto industry continues to be associated to gambling and financially risky behaviours, it’ll only serve to reinforce negative perceptions and miss a golden opportunity to become the next big technological revolution.

For example, products such as Polymarket, Kalshi, Futuur, and pump.fun.

Polymarket is a top choice among prediction markets for its focus on current events, especially politics.

Bets on the US presidential election on Polymarket alone nearly reached US$1.5 billion, far surpassing its web2 competitors, PredictIt (US$37 million) and Smarkets (US$9 million).

Kalshi and Futuur are similar to Polymarket but are licenced by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and Curacao’s Ministry of Justice, respectively. On the contrary, Polymarket has faced regulatory challenges and has blocked access to US users since 2022.

Pump.fun, meanwhile, allows users to create and trade meme coins on the Solana blockchain. Its growing popularity stems from two key factors: the low cost to create coins (0.02 SOL or approximately US$3.50), and the simplicity of creating coins on the platform, even for users without technical expertise.

The message is clear: In order to thrive, the crypto industry must focus on consumer adoption.

This involves three stages: discretionary spending, necessary spending, and eventually, essential spending.

Discretionary Spending: The Starting Point

First up is discretionary spending, which focuses on fun. Apps built around this concept are the most likely to grab attention. They're easy to create, and solve problems that Web2 apps can't tackle. They're also easier to market.

Take All-Access (AAA) as an example: our platform rewards fans with points for engaging in physical and virtual events. These points are redeemable for unique experiences like meet-and-greets or exclusive content, extending interactions beyond initial events.

Necessary Spending: A Natural Integration

Next comes necessary spending, which involves crypto facilitating daily needs like banking and credit to become autonomous and more efficient (think DeFi). With added rewards, these apps could transform how consumers interact with services and benefits, opening up a world of possibilities.

In fact, retailers, car dealers, and even insurance firms like AXA are already accepting payments in Bitcoin and other digital currencies for various goods and services.

Essential Spending: The Ultimate Goal

Reaching the stage of essential spending is the ultimate goal. Here, crypto apps cover everything that’s already being done on traditional platforms – and more. From internet-of-things to identity management and voting, the aim is to make owning digital assets as normal as owning a smartphone.

It’s imperative for developers to show how consumer crypto shifts the balance of power from big companies back to individuals. Specifically, how getting access to their own data gives consumers unprecedented control the ability to customise their experience.

With AAA, this translates to fan communities being able to collaboratively engage and support projects, enriching cultural and social interactions around live events.

Besides providing users with greater privacy and security, our platform also gives organisers a boon – they can use fan data to create tailored experiences even before the event begins.

So, what gets you excited about the future of consumer crypto?

The potential of new apps, data ownership, or something else entirely? Your opinions matter as this industry turns skeptics into believers.

All-Access (AAA) is on a mission to bring live experiences on-chain, unlocking the power of fans and rewarding them with real-world experiences (RWEs). We tokenise fan loyalty through hyper-engagement campaigns featuring quests, tasks, and RWE rewards, catering to the Global Experience Economy, which is valued at US$12 trillion. With over 53 independent brands and creators in the AAA network, we are the largest network of festival IPs in Asia and Australia. For more information, visit https://www.all-access.io/.