You're aiming to stand out in the Web3 industry. How can you carve your own specialized niche?

Pursuing a niche in Web3 is not a question of just rushing after the latest trends; it is about being able to do something that actually sparks your interest. While this can be considered a motivating factor in Web3, it is also a criteria for selecting projects to pursue. Whether it is in DeFi or NFTs or even new forms of identities, there should be more reasons to make those choices aside from the profit. That enthusiasm will be expressed when interacting with the community, investors, or partners, and it helps in establishing one’s credibility much quicker than superficial interest. Passion is what holds people together and helps them keep concentration in Web3 since it is a very dynamic and fast paced industry.

Your passion for a field forms the foundation of your niche. By viewing yourself as a brand, you develop clear brand fundamentals just as you would for a business. Concisely define your values and the problems you aim to solve and position yourself as a leading expert in your niche. This approach distinctively shapes how you’re perceived within the industry. It’s crucial to carve out a mental niche rather than focusing on a physical one.

People that come into the web 3 industry do so because they are fascinated by the concept of decentralization and passionate about bringing change to the world by disrupting the centralized system that currently exists in the world. You as an entrepreneur should be no different. With the way the industry is moving there is no point being a jack of all trades but master of none. Identify your passion and pursue it with absolute dedication. You have to enjoy doing what you’re doing. If not than it becomes a chore and that leads to unfavorable outcomes.

Find a niche where your personal passion meets market demand in Web3. Focus on areas like tokenomics design, decentralized governance, or smart contract auditing if these align with your interests. Your passion will drive deep expertise, setting you apart in the industry. Moreover, working in an area you love fuels innovation and commitment, which is essential in a fast-evolving space like Web3.

As they say, achievements are not the ultimate end. Becoming an expert in the Solidity programming language or learning technicalities of blockchain networks is not sufficient. It entails looking for the new models of governance, exploring the effects of decentralization on industries and businesses, and keeping an eye on the changing jurisdictions. It makes sense to organize hackathons and activities within the community, in order to gain such skills and experience that will then directly apply to one’s practice. Gaining that status of a thought leader or innovator in ever progressing environments such as Web3 calls for a lot of learning, that is why learning as the main focus becomes a big plus.

El aprendizaje continuo es crucial en la era de Web3, donde la tecnología evoluciona rápidamente. Para aprovechar su potencial, es vital mantenerse al día con los avances en blockchain, NFTs y contratos inteligentes. Quienes se adaptan a estas innovaciones están mejor posicionados para liderar en un ecosistema descentralizado que promueve la transparencia y la autonomía. Aprender constantemente permite entender nuevas formas de interactuar y crear valor en el entorno digital, abriendo oportunidades para innovar y participar activamente en la construcción de un futuro impulsado por la tecnología Web3.

Go beyond traditional Web3 learning. Dive into open-source blockchain projects to get hands-on experience, and explore the latest in Layer 2 scaling solutions, cross-chain bridges, and Zero-Knowledge Rollups. Stay active in research communities, participate in hackathons, and subscribe to niche academic journals to stay ahead of the learning curve. Building deep, specialized knowledge allows you to stay relevant and pivot quickly when trends shift.

Networking in Web3 is more than just virtual networking, more than just connecting at online events. It is about building ‘need’ based long term relationships with others, where knowledge and resources can be shared. When you engage with such subset-communities, be it DAOs or Twitter or self-forums – you do not only meet people but you target the markets where you know they would require your strength. It makes sense to say that networking in this milieu is bi-directional, meaning it is better not only to show yourself but to understand what certain watchers see in the growth of the market. These interactions would assist you in determining the focus of your activity, maintaining your relevance, and predicting the growth of the market.

Your network is your net worth! Attend conferences, meetups, and even small gatherings; anything in the realm of Web 3 can be beneficial. Talk to anyone and everyone. Get their telegram and make sure you take a selfie with them. This helps them remember who you are and the conversation you had. This is especially helpful when the space is flooded with NFT profile pictures. If at a large conference; look at the speaker lineup beforehand and make note of who you want to speak to and when they are speaking. Going up to them right before or right after their panel is the best way to get their attention. Lastly create a genuine relationship with your contacts. Doesn’t have to be only transactional relationships.

Engage in Web3 DAOs and specialized blockchain forums that align with your niche. Avoid surface-level networking—contribute to open-source projects and participate in technical discussions or protocol upgrades. Attend highly focused, less-publicized events like developer-only blockchain conferences or DeFi governance meetups. Building real relationships in niche communities will help you stand out more than generalized networking ever could.

Don’t just consume content—publish original insights on specialized topics like decentralized finance (DeFi) regulations, NFT royalties, or protocol upgrades. Create mini-dApps or smart contract templates that solve niche problems, like optimizing gas fees or integrating multi-chain solutions. Regularly share your work with the community to position yourself as a thought leader and innovator within your chosen niche.

To build a reputation in Web3, contribute to open-source projects, engage in DAOs, and participate in governance. Share knowledge through blogs, videos, or Web3-native platforms like Mirror.xyz. Use Web3 social platforms like Lens Protocol, and earn credentials through POAP or similar systems. Transparency in dealings is key, as Web3 emphasizes trustlessness. Build relationships by networking, attending conferences, and collaborating in hackathons. A consistent and visible presence is crucial for long-term reputation building in the web3 ecosystem.

Head down and build something great. Simple. Not easy. Make mistakes and build it again. Then you’ll be an expert. Of course being a good person is not a bad idea.

Make the most out of web2 learnings to find the right web3 niche. The upcoming changes are quite obvious when you look at "web2" niches. Parallel thinking is obvious. Nothing is the same in web2 and in web3 but there are lots of similarities.

Work on what you cannot let go of. Keep a notebook with you at all times. No phone in the bedroom. Exercise and meditate. It will come to you.