Elevation.
block by block
Stay Updated
Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop! Join our community today!
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Resources
Social Media
Big egos, bigger hair, and nobody ever getting fired for buying IBM. The boardrooms of the '80s might look nothing like today's blockchain hubs, but in 2024, there's a familiar echo: "Nobody gets fired for building on ETH."
The irony? The '80s were defined by their go-big-or-go-home swagger and playing it safe with IBM was actually the antithesis of the era's true spirit. Companies like Apple and Microsoft embodied the decade's real DNA - bold disruption, not corporate CYA.
Today, we're seeing history repeat. Just as IBM was once the safest choice for CIOs who wanted to keep their corner offices, Ethereum has become the default blockchain for decision-makers stepping into Web3. And, much like the original intention of shoulder pads, it’s about protection, not style.
Ethereum’s allure isn’t always anchored in technical prowess; it’s the shield of legitimacy it provides. Choose Ethereum, and if things go south, well that’s just blockchain being blockchain. Choose a lesser-known Layer 1 and fail? Suddenly, you’re the person who thought Google Glass was a great idea.
The corporate psychology hasn't changed much since IBM's heyday - today’s tech leaders face similar pressures; they’re just wearing AllBirds and hoodies instead of brogues & pinstripes. Here's how the Ethereum equation plays out:
· Build on Ethereum and succeed? Great call!
· Build on Ethereum and hit a bump? Same. Our support group meets on Thursdays.
· Take a chance on a new chain and succeed? Visionary! (read lucky).
· Take a chance and fail? Reckless. And possibly fired. But that’s more difficult now than it was in the ‘80s.
Ethereum’s dominance is its own self-fulfilling prophecy. It has:
· The largest army of developers and tools
· Tough, tried-and-true contract templates
· Extensive support networks and documentation
· Proven security practices with continuous auditing
· Bridges to traditional finance that streamline adoption
Just as IBM came with its premium, building on Ethereum brings its own cost in the form of transaction speed, gas fees and expenses. But for many projects, these costs are seen as the price of credibility and peace of mind.
IBM's iron grip on corporate computing didn't last forever, and maybe Ethereum's won't either. But while IBM evolved from "nobody gets fired" to "nobody remembers why we bought it," Ethereum seems to be writing a different story. In the plot twist nobody saw coming, the platform that promised to decentralise everything has become the centralised safe choice.
Ethereum has pulled off the impossible: being simultaneously reliable and revolutionary. Which are my second and third favourite R words (after regulation of course – “rewind” being my fourth).