HIVE NEEDS MORE DAPPS

Yesterday, I heard about a Hive Dapp that folded a couple of months ago. It was meant to be an Ecommerce Dapp but never really took off. A week before this news, I saw a Dapp founder on InLeo looking for volunteers to take over his projects. The project wasn't gaining traction and not worth his time anymore. There has been an alarming pattern of Hive Dapps going under, and I want to draw our attention to it.

I have stated in previous posts that Hive Dapps play an important role in the growth of the blockchain. They create unique use cases for the blockchain, which not only attract users but also investment. These are core aspects of blockchain development and should not be left to chance.

Additionally, Dapps drive innovation and create excitement. Hive won't onboard millions of users solely by being a censorship-resistant blockchain that protects free speech. That narrative is currently being driven by Elon and X. Whether it's true or not, it doesn't matter in the short run because there isn't enough reason for people to leave X for Hive just yet. Hive can focus on creating interesting use cases through Dapps.

I experienced the Hive Dapp boom in 2018. This brought about Dapps like SteeGIG, Splinterland, Dtube, Musing, etc. The blockchain saw significant growth during that time. These Dapps created new and exciting ways to use the Hive blockchain. There were a plethora of games, video platforms, and tools that kept more people on-chain. Unfortunately, that is changing rapidly, and for obvious reasons—there are fewer Dapps to interact with on-chain.

WHAT NARRATIVE IS HIVE PUSHING IN 2024?

I understand that every project on Hive has its unique goals, but there is also a collective goal in which Dapps can key into. For instance, the TON blockchain's major goal for the year is onboarding, and they are doing so using airdrops. There is also the case of collaboration among Dapps, which strengthens communities and amplifies their voices and reach. So I would like to see the same for Hive.

It is also worth noting that talent/resource migrate to places where there are more opportunities and attention. Hive has had its fair share of Dapp migration. If the Blockchain does not address some of its lingering issue we might see this problem escalate in the nearest future.

A narrative worth pushing is that of development. We need more developers on the Hive blockchain; we need more projects on the Hive blockchain. Hive is cheap and accessible. There is also HDF (Hive Decentralised Fund) that can be marketed in a way that draws projects into the Hive ecosystem. Why isn't this pushed enough? Is there something about our culture that is repelling developers?

In addition, the decline of active users is also responsible for the drop in the number of Dapps on Hive. What is being done to get more users on Hive? And for those still here, what is being done to keep them active? Who can answer these questions? Who is responsible?

CONCLUSION

The reality is that no one is solely responsible for Hive's development or success. It is something we all collectively own, which has its benefits but can also be problematic. I understand that posts like this can seem pointless because I am addressing everyone and no one at the same time.

It is also disconcerting that most of Hive's future is left to chance. I do not know of any Dapp addressing the issues raised in this post, and I am not in the position to solve them. The only thing I can do is start the conversation and hope something is done (by someone). Hive needs more Dapps (and users). The future of the blockchain can not be in the hands of few Dapps whose own future isn't guaranteed.