I’ve been procrastinating on writing this for a while. At first, I told myself I needed to gather more information. Then it turned into observing, overthinking, and stepping back after what was an incredibly intense year. That distance gave me a different perspective and an uncomfortable realization. Maybe Hive will always remain a niche blockchain, a place where we reassure each other that everything is fine, even when it isn’t - but we all know it can be powerful we just need to cut-out "Pre-Mine" mentality
The reason I finally forced myself to write this is simple. We are about to mark ten years since the beginning of this chain’s journey. Some of us are approaching our own ten year anniversaries on the platform. Some of the whales may not realize what else could be done, but maybe this post will at least offer a different perspective.
I remember the excitement around bringing @youngartfair into Hive. The potential, the events, the exposure. It created real interest. People were reaching out, asking questions, wanting to collaborate. But this year feels different. Quiet. There is no rally car success story (sic!), no wave of visible activity, and perhaps some parts of the ecosystem, after long support from the DHF, have faded away. There is no sense of momentum like before, at least from my perspective. But maybe this is just the natural cycle for me on Hive. Run, slow down, stop and take care of my own life, then run again with a new perspective.
Last year was, without question, the most active year I’ve ever had on Hive. The amount of work I put in was unmatched. I’ve always wanted to contribute, but this time the focus was stronger than ever. It was about real use cases. Not speculation, not hype, but actual application. I am not someone who sits in a basement hoping people will come. There were real actions taken to make things happen. Ironically, while my Hive stack grew, I felt poorer. Half of my Hive Power a year ago was worth almost ten times more. But maybe that is the cost of conviction. You put your money where your mouth is.
From releasing Water Direct, to traveling to HiveFest in Malaysia, attending BeeCon in Kraków, being part of @krolestwo, bridging communities, touring major cities with @youngartfair, and setting up festival stands at Slot Art Festival. None of this was planned. It was momentum, driven by a belief that blockchain is more than speculation. While others stepped back, I stepped in. And no, I do not regret it. The results may not look spectacular on paper, but they exist. Real projects, real people, and at least some awareness built around Hive.
Still, let’s be honest. Nothing here is glamorous. There were no luxury trips to pitch imaginary investors. And maybe that is the point. If the product works, why should price define everything?
Water Direct was the highlight. Getting it out into the world, even a small one, was not easy. Film festivals rejected it. Not because it lacked quality, but because the topic is complex and the Hive branding made it difficult to fit into their frameworks. Still, screenings happened. And something became clear. When people hear about blockchain used for real humanitarian impact, they listen. There are people working in large corporations, earning well, who are open to meaningful ways of using their resources. When they hear about Hive and the story in Ghana, they become genuinely interested. It is a shame that some still see humanitarian use of Hive as pointless. From my perspective, this is the entry point. Not crypto, not speculation. Real world solutions. Hive should not be a charity, but it can be a powerful tool for charities.
The story is out - unlike some other ones
One of the most powerful moments was screening the film at @krolestwo, with @mcsamm visiting Kraków. People could taste chocolate made from cacao grown in the very community we supported. That is not theory. That is connection. Real stories, real outcomes. People do not need complex explanations about blockchain when they can see, feel, and taste the impact.
@krolestwo itself became a big part of my year. It is a rare place. Somewhere you can walk in, spend HBD, and have real conversations about blockchain. It was not always open or welcoming, but seeing it evolve into something more inclusive feels aligned with what Hive should be. It should not rely only on funding. It should be supported by the community that believes in it. It is a shame that a place like this, which could serve as a testing ground for MVP apps and ideas, does not receive more engagement from developers. Instead of building and experimenting in real environments, many choose safer, isolated approaches.
https://x.com/biskupia18/status/1994178095792693320
Slot Art Festival was another key moment. We did not just show up. We built relationships through workshops, panels, and presence. A festival with decades of history and thousands of visitors recognizing value in Hive is not a small thing. But it also highlighted a problem. Without people actively introducing and guiding others into Hive, none of this scales. Blockchain is not simple. It requires effort, patience, and often guiding someone step by step, supported by proper tools. I have tried, but I am getting tired. Especially when I see long funded projects delivering little more than cosmetic changes instead of focusing on real onboarding. Still, the fact that Slot Art invited Hive again gives hope that this relationship can grow. I just wish more support was directed in that direction.
Young Art Fair was probably the most demanding project. It started as frustration and turned into action. Why not redirect effort into something that actually builds value? The work was intense, sometimes overwhelming, and came with real risks to my reputation. But it worked, at least to some extent. Artists began associating Hive with something legitimate and meaningful. However, without better tools and development support, there is a limit to how far this can go.
Spending time in that space also made one thing clear. Artists want stability. They want to create without bureaucratic pressure. Initiatives like UBI for artists in Europe, such as the trial in Ireland, show that this need is real. Hive has the potential to offer something similar. Not as a replacement, but as a tool for independence and ownership. The vision is there, but the tools are still missing. And adoption takes time. Maybe one day I will expand more on these ideas, because they come from real conversations and real needs.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/liLJqt16VIo
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/sJvqJcmcvyA
Finally, HiveFest. As always, it was great to reconnect with people who are still here. Not for profit, but for belief in what Hive represents. It was also noticeable who is no longer around. Those who extracted value and left. That contrast says a lot.
I could go deeper into concerns, and the bigger picture. But at its core, last year showed me two things.
First, real world impact is possible. Second, it comes at a cost. Time, energy, and often personal sacrifice.
The question is whether enough of us are willing to keep paying that cost. And whether Hive, as a whole, is ready to move beyond being just a niche echo chamber.
Because if we do not, all the effort, all the momentum, and all the belief might not be enough.
Are we ready for a new decade? Let’s step into a better one, and let’s keep our human dignity and identity on the blockchain without politics, without prejudice, and without stealing data.
