Why the Crypto Industry Needs Authentic Thought Leadership Now More Than Ever Before, with Catie Romero-Finger @ BABs (Video)
🎯 Summary
Comprehensive Summary: Why the Crypto Industry Needs Authentic Thought Leadership Now More Than Ever Before, with Catie Romero-Finger @ BABs
This podcast episode, featuring Catie Romero-Finger, founder of the data-driven Web3 marketing agency Babs Labs, centers on the critical need for authentic thought leadership to drive genuine adoption and credibility in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space. The discussion weaves through Romero-Finger’s unconventional background, the strategic importance of data in marketing, and the necessity of collaboration over maximalism.
Main Narrative Arc and Key Discussion Points:
The conversation begins with Romero-Finger detailing her background—a philosophy major followed by an MBA and strategic consulting—noting that philosophy majors often thrive in crypto due to their inherent inclination to question established institutions and logic. She then introduces Babs Labs, positioning it as a data-driven growth marketing agency focused on leveraging on-chain analytics to create effective campaigns. A significant portion of the dialogue shifts to the challenges of achieving reach in a world where crypto understanding is low. This leads directly into the core theme: the necessity of thought leadership to build trust, especially among mainstream investors who are wary of the industry’s reputation for scams and volatility. The discussion contrasts genuine thought leaders with anonymous, paid “KOLs” (Key Opinion Leaders) who merely shill projects. Finally, they touch upon the evolving event landscape, noting the shift towards curated, work-focused side events, and the current “vibe” in the market, which favors infrastructure and innovative DeFi over stablecoins.
Key Technical Insights:
- Data-Driven Web3 Marketing: Babs Labs’ core philosophy is that all growth initiatives must be fueled by data, specifically utilizing on-chain analytics to understand user behavior and create better-targeted campaigns.
- Emerging Tech Focus: The agency prioritizes projects focused on tangible innovation, such as decentralized cloud storage (challenging Big Tech monopolies) and improving payment rails, especially for emerging markets.
- Education Obsolescence: The rapid pace of blockchain development means traditional four-year university degrees are often obsolete upon graduation, necessitating agile, certification-based, or modular educational approaches (e.g., partnering with wallets for financial literacy courses).
Market/Investment Angle:
- Collaboration Over Silos: The crypto market cap is currently smaller than that of a single Web2 giant (like Apple), making collaboration between projects essential for scaling and moving the entire ecosystem forward, directly countering maximalist mentalities.
- Credibility for Mass Adoption: For wealth generation and retirement investing, mainstream adoption hinges on credible figures (doxxed experts appearing on Bloomberg) vouching for the trustworthiness and long-term utility of blockchain, moving beyond simple investment advice.
- Risk Awareness: The conversation highlights the pitfalls of high-yield promises, referencing personal negative experiences with Celsius and insecure wallets, underscoring the need for security alongside innovation.
Notable Companies/People:
- Babs Labs: Catie Romero-Finger’s data-driven marketing and growth agency for Web3.
- Corda: Mentioned as the permissioned blockchain Romero-Finger first worked with.
- Open Campus (Anna Mocha Brands): Mentioned in the context of educational initiatives.
- Or (Decentralized AI Product): Referenced via a professor client at Columbia University who teaches a highly sought-after blockchain course.
- Vitalik Buterin: Cited as an example of a leader whose vision emphasizes collaboration, which has proven highly effective for ecosystem growth.
Regulatory/Policy Discussion:
While not a deep dive, the discussion implies a need for more sophisticated engagement with regulators. Thought leaders are needed to frame crypto not just as a call for “less regulation,” but as a necessary tool for diversifying economic systems and securing futures, which is a more palatable narrative for mainstream policymakers.
Future Implications:
The industry is moving toward a phase where substance and verifiable utility will outweigh hype. The focus must shift from internal tribalism (maximalism) to external education and collaboration to onboard the next wave of users who require trust and clear value propositions. The future success of Web3 depends on its ability to produce credible, transparent voices who can bridge the gap between the technology and traditional finance/society.
Target Audience:
This episode is highly valuable for Web3 marketing professionals, founders, investors, and strategic consultants who are focused on driving genuine, sustainable growth and building industry credibility beyond speculative trading.
🏢 Companies Mentioned
đź’¬ Key Insights
"my suggestion from an agency and from a project perspective is to definitely invest more in micro-KOLs than in these big ones that are 100,000 followers or more, and they're charging a grand or 5 to 20 grand for a post because I think it's going to be the micro-influencers that are going to push projects forward for sure."
"What's great about micro-influencers is that they've done a really good job of curating their communities, and people really trust them because they're doing what they love, and they're doing due diligence on projects, and they're doing—they're kind of keeping the crypto projects afloat."
"we found one guy that had like 5,000 followers, and I think he had something like 19 million in wealth value of the—so, I mean, he had, like, a lot of people who are like—like, he had a ridiculous amount of people that were following him who were really good, influential people in Twitter and crypto."
"Thought leaders are super important because they give credibility to the space. So, someone that's coming probably from, like, a TradFi background that's gone into crypto in the last five, 10 years and can explain and give credibility to this not being a grifter's space... is going to be so important for mass adoption."
"I was a Celsius customer. So, you know—oh, there you go. Okay. So, at the time, I love making 13% until the one bankrupt, you know."
"The entire crypto ecosystem is smaller than one Web2 product. So if we don't collaborate, we won't move anywhere."