Late last year, I was at DevCon in Bangkok. During the Base Ignite pitch event, I heard someone deliver one of the most audacious pitches I’ve come across in the crypto world. The guy presenting (no clue who he was, but he had everyone’s attention) made a bold claim: Base wouldn’t be able to handle the scale of what they were building. He spoke about an ecosystem called SKALE.

Here’s what stood out:

• He talked about ending digital sl*very—a big idea, sure, but he backed it up with a vision of giving people control of their data and rewarding them for something as simple as everyday purchases.
• There were whispers about huge commercial deals (he was vague but confident), and he casually mentioned that his co-founder owns a top 100 nightclub in the world. A surprising flex, but it added credibility.
• The guy had investors and judges crowding him after the pitch, so I didn’t get a chance to ask questions, but the buzz was real.

I followed them on X (because why not?) and noticed they’ve been gaining momentum ever since.

Fast forward to now:

• Wal8 just announced their waitlist sign-up today: 👉 https://x.com/wal8io/status/1883415152248373421
• Their X post caught my eye: 💳 Shop how you always do. ♾ Earn crypto effortlessly. 💡 “No new habits. No hassle. Just rewards.”

If you’re tired of crypto projects that promise the moon but fail to connect with the real world, Wal8 might actually have something. It’s all about integrating Web3 rewards into everyday purchases—no learning curve, no complicated UX. You keep shopping like normal and earn rewards in return.

Why I think Wal8 has potential:

1. Real-World Use Case: They’re not just another memecoin or niche blockchain app. Wal8 is solving a real problem—bridging the gap between Web2 habits and Web3 rewards.
2. Early Traction: They’ve already won some big recognitions:
   • OrangeDAO App of DevCon 2024 Contest Winner
   • U2U Top 30 Startup Showcase 2024
3. Massive Vision: If they can truly onboard people just by integrating with everyday spending habits, this could be one of the most scalable projects we’ve seen in Web3.

Potential Partnerships:
The idea of QR codes on packaging or POS systems in stores and nightclubs integrating with Wal8 is genius. Imagine scanning a drink can or a receipt and instantly earning crypto rewards. This isn’t just theoretical—it’s exactly the type of thing they’re hinting at in their announcements.

Risks to Consider

1. Execution Challenge: Bold visions are great, but scaling something like this requires strong partnerships and tech infrastructure.
2. Market Adoption: Even with an easy onboarding process, getting mainstream users to trust and adopt Web3 takes time.

Final Thoughts
I’m keeping an eye on this one. If they can deliver on the promise of “effortless crypto rewards” and nail the Web3 onboarding experience, Wal8 could genuinely be a game-changer.

If you want to be part of it early, here’s their website waitlist link: https://wal8.io

(the success page after signing up is pretty funny)

DYOR, but this feels like one of those projects where the potential outweighs the risk. Curious to hear everyone’s thoughts. Have any of you looked into Wal8 before?