[optimalquiet]

Did blockchain startups ever provide any real value to end-users? Like, at all? Speaking from my technical but not SWE perspective, the only things I'm familiar with using the blockchain are cryptocurrency (obviously) and NFTs, which as far as I'm concerned are a scam.

AI does seem different in that regard, I think it is providing tremendous value to people. Just probably not in the random places where people are throwing it in where it doesn't actually fit.

[dvfjsdhgfv]

I agree with you but we're not talking about providing any value for end users but about venture investments and raising capital. You don't need to actually provide any value, you just need to convince someone with money to spend it, promising more money in the end. This money may never actually materialize (see Uber) but you can still receive a lot of money year by year, based on someone else's expectations.