Friends,
As you might already know, The Messina Group (TMG) and Greenbrier, a division of the company, have been working in the blockchain space since 2014. We believe blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, and decentralized applications will play a leading role in the future of finance, data, and privacy. To that end, we are formally announcing the launch of a specialized blockchain practice!
It has been 13 years since the Bitcoin whitepaper was first published. In a decade, one bitcoin went from being worth less than a penny to being exchanged for tens of thousands of dollars in every corner of the world. But the underlying technology has done much more than benefit early investors: it enabled an entire ecosystem to develop and is offering unprecedented opportunities in other sectors.
At TMG and Greenbrier, we believe blockchain technology’s permissionless and decentralized nature is essential to building a genuinely inclusive global economy that can keep up with the digital transformation occurring worldwide. For example, the recent geopolitical events in Ukraine have clearly demonstrated how crypto can constitute people’s last resort when banks and money transfer services are no longer operational.
And the future of the internet is not only about cryptocurrencies. Non-Fungible Tokens, Decentralized Autonomous Organizations, and Decentralized Finance (“DeFi”) have shown great promise. With all these applications of blockchain technology, our hope is that society will become less reliant on highly centralized forces, which in turn has the potential to give individuals more control over their digital life and enhance their privacy.
But it’s not all sunshine and roses. Those who have been through the infamous dot-com bubble will understand that innovation happens in cycles and that true societal disruption can be a bumpy ride. The recent market crash, increased regulatory scrutiny, and the global macroeconomic outlook are just some of the challenges that Web3 companies need to face these days.
Nevertheless, we believe this is one of the best times to work in this space. Bull markets are about keeping up with demand, while bear markets are for innovation. A bear market means less noise, fewer buzzwords, measured hype, and the opportunity for meaningful storytelling. As a result, new winners will emerge, and the truly innovative projects will become stronger than ever.
We would love to discuss any collaboration opportunities that you can think about in this sense. So get in touch with us here.
And whether you are already active in the blockchain space or are just curious to learn more about it, we are launching a free quarterly newsletter to cover the major updates in the industry.
Best,
Jim, Adrian (Managing Partner, Greenbrier), and Abram (Vice President, Head of Blockchain, Greenbrier)