It's time for a ‘flight to quality’, Crypto funding platform Thrive Protocol founder says
Quick Take
- Thrive Protocol founder Daniel Jacobs explains how crypto funding is being transformed through AI review systems that reward real builders over those looking to extract value.
Episode 27 of The Crypto Beat was recorded with The Block's Head of Growth Tim Copeland and Thrive Protocol Founder Daniel Jacobs.
Listen below, and subscribe to The Crypto Beat on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, Twitch or wherever you listen to podcasts. Please send feedback and revision requests to [email protected]
The Block’s head of growth, Tim Copeland, is joined by Thrive Protocol Founder Daniel Jacobs.
In this episode, Jacobs explains how Thrive combines expert and AI agent reviewers to validate contributions, making funding faster, fairer, and focused on real value creation. He also critiques crypto’s value-extraction mindset and advocates for a shift toward long-term value and ecosystem sustainability.
OUTLINE
00:00 – Introduction
01:03 – The Origin of Thrive
04:23 – Reviewer Incentives
05:35 – AI Agent Adoption
08:52 – Confirming AI Accuracy
12:36 – Comparisons to Kaito
13:58 – Growth Metrics
16:26 – Challenges in Crypto Grant Funding
20:50 – Extracting vs. Creating Value
25:07 – Are VCs good for the space?
28:37 – Moving into “Fundamental Season”
30:07 – Interesting projects
31:17 – Daniel’s Predictions for 2025
31:42 – Closing Thoughts
The Block Newsletters
The Block's newsletters bring you the latest news and analysis of the fast-moving crypto and DeFi markets. To subscribe, visit theblock.co/newsletters
Guest links:
Daniel Jacobs - https://x.com/thrivegiraffe
Thrive Protocol - https://x.com/thriveprotocol
Are you hiring in crypto?
Use Campus to quickly find your best candidates with our challenging Crypto Assessment Test.
Faster hiring, stronger teams.
Sign up for a trial today: theblock.co/campus
Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.
© 2025 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
