14 Most Interesting Blockchain Projects to Watch in 2023

by Arthur · December 27, 2022

Interest in Blockchain technology has grown steadily over the past few years as NFT technology, Metaverse and tokenizing digital assets became part of mainstream product development strategies for major brands. World-renowned brands such as Nike, Gucci and Adidas began to explore the potential of this technology to create new loyalty within niche communities and offer existing shopping experiences.

Although the crypto industry has been plagued with turbulence in 2022, the use cases for blockchain technology have proliferated as more organizations see the potential to reform existing processes. From transparently tracking supply chains to transforming healthcare, the supply chain capabilities of this nascent industry are infiltrating every part of society.

Are you interested in learning more about the most promising blockchain projects next year? The startups and companies developing the blockchain world are creating some of the most innovative new products and services that are disrupting almost all traditional business models.

Table of Contents

Ethereum

Ethereum is one of the most widely used blockchain ecosystems that enables developers to build dApps. It started as a proof-of-work network and migrated to a proof-of-stake which enabled a more scalable system. Many of the leading projects in the blockchain world have been developed using the Ethereum Network. Furthermore, it is particularly popular for creating NFT collections and communities. Uniswap, the original decentralized exchange, Aave, a decentralized lending protocol, and some of the biggest players in the metaverse, including The Sandbox and Decentraland, are developed on the Ethereum Network.

Polygon

Polygon is a layer 2 blockchain with a native token. It was designed to tackle Ethereum’s scalability issues. The teams working with Polygon have created several tools to improve the speed of transactions and reduce the cost of transactions in the world’s most used network, Ethereum. Popular projects using Polygon solutions include Quickswap, Mai Finance and Decentral Games.

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Close to protocol

NEAR is a dynamic blockchain with a focus on user experience and speed. The Near protocol is known for its speed of transactions using sharded technology called nightshade which can handle over 100,000 simultaneously. It also offers a simple entry point to Web3 for developers who want to discover blockchain technology and NFTs. NEAR has become a starting point for interesting projects, including: Mintbase, Paras, Ref Finance and Decentral Bank.

Polka dot

This decentralized blockchain is built to connect multiple blockchains, facilitating the transfer of data between parachains under the one ecosystem. Over 66 blockchains are now live on Polkadot, and it is proud to have reached an all-time high in developer activity this year. It not only has the largest developer ecosystem outside of Ethereum, but also has the lowest carbon emissions of all the proof of blockchains. The Polkadot team is working hard to maintain the software status. Leading projects being built under this ecosystem include Moonbeam, Acala, Phala, Unique Network and Polkastarter.

Flare Network

To date, there has been a lot of talk about multi-chain and the future of interoperability. However, Flare Network puts the technology where the mouth is. It aims to use the State Connector technology to solve decentralized interoperability. Using cross-chain interoperability with the security and speed of multi-chains, it will enable the transfer of information across the entire blockchain ecosystem. Launching in early 2023 with a highly anticipated airdrop to all xrp holders from 2020, the number of users receiving the initial token is expected to reach over 10 million.

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Algorand

Algorand has carefully positioned itself as the leading enterprise blockchain, and many projects have chosen to build on Algorand for its scalable pure proof of stake technology. Their two-day in-person conference, Decipher, attracted over 2,000 attendees. They have recently introduced Algorand Ventures. Y9, an emerging market-focused digital microfinance service, will integrate Algorand blockchain technology with the aim of driving meaningful financial and digital inclusion. Yieldly is the world’s first borderless and interconnected DeFi platform, Tinyman and Glitter with its bridge technology are just four of many projects that choose to develop on or with Algorand.

Cardano

Founded in 2015 by Ethereum co-founder Charles Hoskinson, Cardano is consistently ranked in the top 20 cryptocurrencies. Although it has not reached a level of fame seen by other blockchain networks, it has constantly released details about its technology, added more projects, and developed a vibrant ecosystem suitable for all kinds of Web3 startups. Built from an academic standpoint with published scientific papers and a founder who understands the long-term vision of blockchain technology, Cardano is a solid blockchain that consistently expands its ecosystem. There are now over 2,000 projects sprouting and flourishing on the Cardano network. Minswap DEX, SundaeSwap, Meld, Empowa and Argus NFT are just a handful of the innovative projects in the ecosystem.

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Sandbox

If 2021 was all about NFTs, then 2022 was focused on the amazing virtual environments created in the metaverse. Brands, brands and more brands. Sandbox has carefully positioned itself as the leading metaverse for brands to experiment with virtual environments and gamification. Founder of Sandbox, Sebastian Borget became a leading figure in the promotion of a future for the metaverse, taking the stage at many of the world’s top technology conferences and providing insight into how our immersive online future will evolve over time. To date, Sandbox has partnered with over 400 brands, including giants such as Warner Music Group, Atari and Adidas. Their pixelated NFT collections are notorious for selling out as players jump in to get a piece of all the action.

Upland

This innovative metaverse project built based on the real world are masters at giving users what they want. Co-founder Dirk Leuth has creatively positioned the project as a simple entry point for all users interested in real ownership of digital assets. It is often described as the monopoly of the metaverse where you can buy land, build homes, race cars and add new features to all your digital assets. Upland provides users with a safe way to expand their virtual lives. 2022 was all about fandom and supporting Upland charities as they partnered with leading sports organizations and worthy causes. For 2023 they have already promised big announcements with Buenas Aires rumored to be the next major city to be mapped in this unique virtual environment.

Alien Worlds

Decentralized autonomous organizations have not had their time in the spotlight to date, but next year we will see the development of creative use cases that allow users to imagine endless possibilities with this innovative technology. Leading blockchain gaming metaverse, Alien Worlds, has been ahead of the crowd in this regard. Working with onchain DAO mechanics to turn its six planets into DAOs and put increasing amounts of creative control in the hands of users. Their vision has paid off and they are seeing record numbers of users.

Climate DAO

With forest fires raging out of control across Europe and the US and smog causing a permanent cloud over some Asian cities, it is clear that climate change is having a significant impact on our physical environments. KlimaDAO is the center of a new green economy. Built on the energy-efficient Polygon network, KlimaDAO uses a stack of technologies to reduce market fragmentation and accelerate the delivery of climate finance to sustainability projects globally. The DAO sells bonds and distributes rewards to KLIMA holders. Every bond we sell adds to an ever-growing green treasury, or improves liquidity for important environmental assets. A win-win for people and the planet.

Manufacturer DAO

Lending and borrowing are two crucial financial services that ensure access to financing when a business or individual requires it. MakerDAO is a decentralized autonomous organization built on the Ethereum blockchain network and managed using smart contracts. It gives companies breathing room to operate and paves the way for an expansion of services in Web3 markets that drive the development of important decentralized financial protocols. Large organizations such as Wirex and Unicef are using Maker DAO to explore the potential of blockchain. The project’s stablecoin known as Dai offers a level of stability in the highly volatile crypto markets.

Sweat economy

Sweat is a ride to earn application that is a global health phenomenon for Web3 as it continues to attract a huge user base from around the world. The application is like other fitness applications as it allows you to track your physical movements with GPS. However, the main difference is that it pays you for these moves in Sweatcoins. Move to earn has only just begun to infiltrate the world of blockchain. However, it could be a key part of future use as more users of these types of passive income apps see them as an alternative to existing attention-based models. The token acts as an in-app reward generator and can be redeemed for things like gift cards, donations to charities and other services.

LiveTree

Interest in our online social engagements peaked this year when Elon Musk turned his focus to Twitter and the world began to realize the enormous amounts of control that a handful of social platforms have over our online lives. The non-profit organization, Livetree, aims to address these issues and take the social media giants head-on by offering a user-friendly platform with Web3 monetization and user-first control. SoFi will be a hot topic for 2023 as more protocols begin to use the technology to build out tangible solutions for end users.

When compiling a list of blockchain projects, it is important to note that not all projects with mass adoption potential are included. This will take the form of a book that someone can one day write about. However, the interesting projects outlined above provide thought for discussion, provide new ways to use blockchain technology, and provide easy access to new experiences using blockchain technology as a basis for that user engagement.

Blockchain technology has infiltrated many industries, offering scalability, transparency and a deeper sense of community within online ecosystems. It allows organizations to assess their current infrastructure and introduce a new level of efficiency, often removing the need for intermediaries that have traditionally slowed business processes. I

In 2023, it will be interesting to see how these promising blockchain projects use their use cases, technology and community to offer long-term solutions to real-world problems and help identify opportunities that encourage a decentralized future for the internet.