In 2009, Bitcoin emerged as a radical solution to a broken financial system—one plagued by inefficiency, lack of transparency, and centralized control. Over a decade later, amid scandals, market crashes, and eroding public trust, the original ethos of cryptocurrency risks being lost. But a new wave of blockchain projects is reigniting that foundational vision: using decentralized technology to solve real-world problems.
According to a 2023 Pew Research Center poll, only 6% of Americans express strong confidence in the reliability or safety of cryptocurrencies. This widespread skepticism follows a turbulent 2022 marked by high-profile collapses like FTX and a growing perception that crypto primarily enriches fraudsters rather than empowering users. Yet beneath the headlines, innovators are building solutions that align with crypto’s original promise.
The CoinDesk editorial team identified 19 standout blockchain, crypto, and Web3 initiatives that exemplify this return to purpose. These projects tackle challenges ranging from financial inclusion and disaster relief to climate change and digital censorship. What unites them is a commitment to meaningful impact—not speculation.
Making Financial Services Accessible
Despite global advances in digital banking, 1.4 billion adults remain unbanked—mostly rural women in developing regions, according to the World Bank. Traditional financial systems often exclude them due to lack of infrastructure, documentation, or trust.
Blockchain technology lowers these barriers by enabling peer-to-peer transactions without intermediaries. Three projects leading this charge include:
- Bitcoin Beach: A grassroots initiative in El Salvador that created a self-sustaining Bitcoin economy in a small coastal community, proving that cryptocurrency can function as everyday money.
- Machankura: A Bitcoin wallet designed for feature phones—no smartphone or internet required—bringing crypto access to off-grid populations across Africa.
- Send Globally: A low-cost remittance service leveraging crypto to bypass traditional wire systems, reducing fees and settlement times for migrant workers sending money home.
👉 Discover how decentralized finance is expanding global access to financial tools.
These efforts reflect a shift from crypto as an investment vehicle to crypto as infrastructure for economic empowerment.
Onboarding the Next Billion Users
Mass adoption remains the ultimate goal for Web3. But for blockchain to go mainstream, it must be intuitive, useful, and seamless.
Projects focused on user experience and interoperability are paving the way:
- Fedi: A community-based custody model that combines security with simplicity, reducing reliance on centralized exchanges.
- Immutable Passport: A unified login for Web3 gaming and metaverse platforms, eliminating the need for multiple wallets and accounts.
- Lamina1: Co-founded by innovator Neal Stephenson, this project aims to build an open, scalable foundation for the next-generation metaverse.
- Rainbow: A mobile-first Ethereum wallet with clean design and easy onboarding, tailored for non-technical users.
These tools prioritize usability without sacrificing decentralization—a critical balance for attracting new users.
Ensuring Blockchain Security
As crypto grows, so do its threats. From quantum computing risks to phishing scams, security remains a top concern for individuals and networks alike.
Two projects addressing these challenges:
- BTQ: Developing post-quantum cryptographic solutions to future-proof blockchains against next-gen computing threats.
- StarkNet: Implementing account abstraction and zero-knowledge proofs to enhance user security and streamline transaction verification.
By reinforcing trust at the protocol level, these initiatives help safeguard the entire ecosystem.
Making Blockchains Transparent
While all blockchain transactions are public, interpreting them requires technical expertise. This lack of transparency enables illicit activity and hinders regulatory clarity.
Enter analytics platforms:
- Arkham Intelligence: Uses on-chain intelligence to tag and track entity behavior, making crypto flows more understandable.
- Nansen: Combines wallet labeling with real-time data dashboards to provide insights into market movements and smart contract activity.
These tools empower regulators, investors, and developers with actionable intelligence—turning raw data into clarity.
Making Blockchains Scalable
Scalability issues—high fees, slow confirmations—have long hindered Ethereum and other networks. As demand grows, so does the need for efficient scaling solutions.
Promising projects:
- =nil; Foundation: Leverages zero-knowledge proofs and advanced cryptography to enable scalable, private blockchains.
- Scroll: An Ethereum zkEVM rollup that maintains compatibility while drastically improving speed and cost-efficiency.
Scalability isn’t just technical—it’s essential for accessibility. Faster, cheaper networks invite broader participation.
Mitigating Climate Change
Critics often cite crypto’s energy consumption as a major drawback. But blockchain can also be part of the climate solution.
Innovative environmental applications:
- Regen Network: A Layer 1 blockchain that tokenizes ecological restoration efforts, allowing landowners to earn credits for carbon sequestration.
- Shamba Network: An ecological data oracle that verifies sustainable farming practices using satellite imagery and IoT sensors.
By creating transparent markets for environmental goods, these projects align economic incentives with planetary health.
👉 Explore how blockchain is being used to support sustainable development.
Aiding Disaster Victims
During humanitarian crises, aid distribution is often slow and inefficient. Middlemen, bureaucracy, and weak infrastructure delay life-saving funds.
Crypto streamlines this process:
- Sempo: Partners with NGOs to disburse aid via stablecoins, enabling instant cross-border transfers with minimal fees.
- Stellar Aid Assist: Uses the Stellar network to deliver emergency funding directly to affected populations in real time.
These systems prove that decentralized finance can respond faster than traditional aid channels—when speed matters most.
Expanding Infrastructure
In many parts of the world, reliable electricity is still a luxury. Yet paradoxically, crypto mining operations can support energy access.
One example:
- Gridless: Deploys mobile Bitcoin mining units in off-grid African communities, using excess solar power to generate income while stabilizing local energy infrastructure.
This model turns mining into a tool for rural development—not just profit.
Resisting Centralized Control of Social Media
After Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, concerns over content moderation and platform centralization surged. The crypto community responded with decentralized alternatives.
Leading the movement:
- Nostr: A censorship-resistant social protocol that allows users to own their data and connect across independent clients.
Unlike corporate-owned platforms, Nostr gives users full control—proving that free expression can thrive without central gatekeepers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Why are these projects considered “to watch” in 2023?
A: These initiatives stand out for their real-world utility, strong teams, and alignment with crypto’s original mission—solving systemic problems through decentralization.
Q: Are these projects focused only on finance?
A: No. While financial inclusion is a major theme, these projects also address climate change, disaster relief, digital rights, and infrastructure development.
Q: How does blockchain improve humanitarian aid delivery?
A: By using stablecoins and public ledgers, aid can be sent directly to recipients instantly and transparently—reducing delays and corruption.
Q: Can crypto really help fight climate change?
A: Yes. Through tokenized carbon markets, verifiable sustainability data, and incentive-aligned ecosystems, blockchain enables measurable environmental impact.
Q: Is decentralization practical for everyday users?
A: Increasingly so. Projects like Rainbow and Immutable Passport are simplifying access, making Web3 more user-friendly without compromising security.
Q: What role does scalability play in crypto adoption?
A: Scalability ensures low fees and fast transactions—critical factors for mainstream use in payments, gaming, and identity systems.
The narrative around cryptocurrency doesn’t have to be defined by scams and speculation. As these 19 projects demonstrate, blockchain technology retains immense potential to drive positive change.
From empowering the unbanked to rebuilding trust in digital systems, the focus is shifting back to purpose. The future of crypto isn’t just about price charts—it’s about people, problems, and progress.
👉 See how you can get involved in the next wave of impactful blockchain innovation.