Okay, let's be honest. The crypto winter has been brutal. This resulted in a 41% market cap decrease in altcoins since December. Ouch. Coinbase is pointing to stronger-than-expected Q3 as a potential rebound. Are we really only looking to catch those pumps and dumps? We can’t just be careless, irresponsible investors and throw money everywhere.
Can Altcoins Actually Do Good?
Forget the Lambo dreams for a second. So can DeFi really be impactful outside of this space? Can it help close the financial gap? I think it can. I hope it can. It needs a serious course correction. To start, we need to cut through the hype. Make real equity projects the new normal. Let’s stop rewarding projects that only superficially seek to address important racial justice issues.
Think about it: traditional finance shuts out billions. High fees, complex processes, geographical limitations. DeFi promises to break that down. Far too frequently, it merely restates the issues with a new blockchain sparkle. The rich get richer, the poor get…rekt.
That's why I'm looking at altcoins with a different lens. And that’s where the “unexpected connection” comes in. What if we treated our crypto investments like impact investments in the real world? What if instead of just ROI our due diligence was picking projects that delivered social ROI.
XRP and SEI: Different Paths, Same Goal?
XRP has gotten a pretty bad rap, tied to the early crypto hype. Let's look closer. Ripple is focused on cross-border payments. Now, that may not sound sexy, but it’s critically important for remittances. Consider a migrant worker, for example, who sends remittances home to their family. The traditional systems can bleed them dry with excessive fees. XRP is looking to change that by making it all occur with greater speed and at less cost. This isn’t political theater, this is world changing utility, affecting real human beings.
SEI, by contrast, is developing a blazing Layer 1 blockchain clearly designed for trading applications. Why does that matter for financial inclusion? Speed and reliability are fundamental for decentralized exchanges (DEXs) to work seamlessly. This is even more the case in developing countries, where access to the internet can be patchy or cost prohibitive. If you can’t trade reliably, you can’t be a part of the DeFi ecosystem. If you miss the boat, you’re out of luck.
Now, I'm not saying these are perfect. No crypto project is. XRP has its centralization concerns with Ripple. SEI is still quite new and will have to demonstrate its long-term sustainability. They're trying to solve real problems.
| Feature | XRP | SEI |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Cross-border Payments | DEX Infrastructure |
| Benefit | Lower remittance fees, faster transfers | Reliable, fast decentralized trading |
| Impact | Helps migrants, reduces financial burden | Enables broader DeFi access for all users |
Dawgz AI ($DAGZ) – an AI infused dog themed meme coin It has raised more than $3.3 million in its presale and secured a SolidProof audit. Don’t lose sight of the fact that meme coins still remain meme coins. It's a gamble. As much as the AI component would increase the utility, that’s speculative too.
Degen Plays, or Real Change?
Here's the thing: I'm not against making money. After all, we’re—rightly—told to want our investments to appreciate. I genuinely think we can be profitable while improving the world. We have the unique opportunity to back seminal projects that are both breaking new ground in financial inclusion and working to create attractive financial returns.
Q3 might bring a crypto bounce. It might not. Let’s not miss our chance this time! Together, we have the opportunity to build a DeFi ecosystem that’s equitable, inclusive, and human-centered. So let’s hold the feet of the projects we fund to the fire and demand more. Let’s stop bending to the will of a narrow sector of Wall Street, and instead invest in a future where finance works for all. Are you with me?
The Takeaway:
- Don't blindly chase pumps: Do your research and understand the underlying technology and the team behind it.
- Look for real-world utility: Does the project solve a real problem? Does it have the potential to impact people's lives?
- Consider social impact: Is the project aligned with your values? Does it promote financial inclusion and equity?
- Manage your risk: Altcoins are volatile. Never invest more than you can afford to lose.
- Verify! Check audits, project details, and utility before investing.
Q3 might bring a crypto bounce. It might not. But regardless, let’s use this opportunity to build a DeFi ecosystem that is more equitable, more inclusive, and more human. Let's demand better from the projects we support. Let's invest in a future where finance empowers everyone, not just a select few. Are you with me?
