For years, cryptocurrency investors asked why access remained broken. Jason Dominique, CEO of ONCHAIN Labs, argues the answer is profitable friction.
Currently, asset access is gated by listings and on-ramps. This creates an invisible tax on participation. Users route value through intermediary-controlled assets rather than reaching intended destinations directly.
While execution layers have matured-with decentralized exchange volumes surging-distribution remains fragmented. Builders face a ceiling where permission trumps innovation. Scaling requires capital relationships instead of relevance.
The solution lies in intent-based systems. Transactions will soon dynamically source liquidity at the protocol level. Listings lose leverage. Discovery becomes emergent. Value moves instantly.
This transition moves access closer to execution. The center of gravity shifts from intermediaries back to networks. The change is structural. By the time access feels solved, the old gates will vanish.