Aptos’ head of ecosystem, Ash Pampati, believes that true mass adoption in crypto will stem from fresh innovations rather than simply recycling concepts like memecoins or NFTs. While many crypto projects emphasize decentralization as the core of Web3, Pampati highlighted that Aptos is thriving with hybrid platforms—commonly called “Web2.5”—that blend Web2 and Web3 technologies.
Speaking with Cointelegraph during the Token2049 conference in Dubai, Pampati revealed that Web2.5 platforms are generating significant revenue within the Aptos ecosystem, particularly consumer-facing apps.
Web2.5 refers to apps that merge traditional, centralized Web2 features with decentralized Web3 components. While these platforms often face criticism for not fully embracing decentralization, they have found notable success.
Pampati emphasized that a key trend in the Aptos ecosystem is founders prioritizing excellent user experiences. He noted that Aptos, designed to support Web2-scale applications, leverages its Meta heritage to create a developer-friendly environment that minimizes the typical friction of Web3.
Describing the approach as offering a Web2-like user experience without compromising core Web3 values, Pampati said:
“We’re seeing strong growth in consumer-focused Web2.5 platforms. Apps centered on fan engagement and broad distribution are pulling in substantial revenue because they’ve built compelling products.”
He attributed much of this momentum to the developer tools and infrastructure Aptos provides, which make it easier to build consumer-grade applications.
However, Pampati acknowledged that onboarding the next wave of users remains a major hurdle.
“The biggest challenge is identifying the next catalyst that will bring in the next million or 10 million users,” he explained, adding that too many builders fall back on older concepts like memecoins and NFTs rather than pushing boundaries.
He stressed that breakthrough adoption will require entirely new ideas, and urged founders to think beyond rehashing existing trends: “We need to inspire founders to look ahead and innovate rather than simply recreate what’s already been done.”
