Cosmos: The Linux of Blockchains?

Sebastian Cuchillo hosts a discussion with guests Michael (Cryptocito) and Magnus (Magmar) about the evolution of the Cosmos ecosystem and its need to adapt to industry changes. They reflect on their experiences at Cosmoverse 5, noting a shift towards a more corporate focus, which they see as both a challenge and a necessary evolution for growth. The conversation emphasizes the importance of presenting Cosmos professionally to attract businesses and integrate into broader societal structures, transitioning from a grassroots model to a more integrated environment.

They compare Cosmos to Linux, suggesting that while early developers may not have profited, the technology has become influential. Concerns about losing the grassroots essence of Cosmos are discussed, but the speakers agree that change is essential for growth. They highlight Cosmos's reputation within the blockchain community, particularly its respect from Ethereum developers for its innovation and app chain thesis.

The need for a structured business development approach within the ICF is emphasized to engage consulting firms and promote Cosmos in enterprise settings. The speakers recognize the importance of targeting institutions to increase Cosmos's usage and attract liquidity, users, and capital. They note the competitive landscape among crypto ecosystems vying for institutional clients and emphasize foundational values of app chains, sovereignty, and interoperability for the future Web3 economy.

The sentiment in the Cosmos community reflects ongoing challenges since the Terra collapse in May 2022, with a collective agreement on the necessity for institutions to build on Cosmos. The past year has been transformative, with significant changes and uncertainty about future outcomes. The speakers stress the importance of ensuring that Adam benefits from the value created through these efforts, aiming to foster conversations around the core values of the ecosystem.

Concerns are raised about the relationship between Cosmos Labs' initiatives and the value of the Adam cryptocurrency, questioning what needs to occur for Adam to benefit. The necessity for Cosmos to innovate and carve out a unique position is emphasized, addressing past grievances within the community and fostering goodwill. They highlight the importance of a committed community, quality projects, and cohesive development for future growth.

The conversation also highlights the AppChain thesis's validation within Cosmos, recognizing successful models from Solana and Ethereum. A unified approach within the Cosmos ecosystem is called for, focusing on collaboration over competition. Recent announcements include winning contracts for Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) for two Latin American governments and partnerships with Fortune 500 companies to build Cosmos Chains.

Future plans include Cosmverse Medellin and Cosmos 2026 in Hong Kong, emphasizing the vibrant fintech ecosystem there. The strong presence of the Cosmos community in Korea is acknowledged, highlighting the need for professional presentation and relationships in various sectors for sustainable growth. Concerns regarding the inclusion of long-time community members in the ecosystem's new direction are raised, emphasizing the need for inclusivity.

The challenge of defining the Cosmos community is discussed, likening it to the UN due to the diverse interests of various sovereign chains. The necessity of a clear vision for the future is stressed, encouraging community members to embrace new opportunities, particularly with enterprises and gaming companies. Key initiatives include an expanded delegation program to support validators, a tokenomics revamp to align Atom's value with the updated roadmap, and efforts to enhance Atom's appeal as an investable asset.

The conversation delves into the execution of a new roadmap for the Cosmos SDK, focusing on productionalizing the SDK, Comet BFT, and IBC for institutional use. Enhancements aim to expand transactions per second (TPS) for Cosmos chains, with innovations like BlockSTM targeting over 50,000 TPS within a year. Privacy features are highlighted as significant for institutional clients, with various approaches being considered.

Innovations within Cosmos, particularly the establishment of a track system designed to cater to specific verticals, are discussed. Concerns about the potential threat of quantum computing to blockchain security are raised, with insights from quantum physicist John Lilich. The conversation touches on the impact of quantum-resistant blockchains on performance and speculates on the capability of quantum computers to run blockchains.

The Sovereign Day event in Argentina is announced, aimed at promoting the concept of sovereignty in relation to blockchain technology, expected to attract participation from CBDCs, central banks, and governmental leaders from Latin America. There is hope for the second Sovereign Day event to replicate the success of the first, alongside appreciation for the achievements of Cosmoverse and its participants.