In an era of rapid technological evolution, AI and blockchain are advancing at an unprecedented pace, driven by billions of dollars in startup investment and shifting global capital. The speed of change has left many struggling to keep up. At the forefront of the blockchain movement is Bitcoin, which stands apart as an established asset class. Yaroslav Ivanov, Chief Visionary Officer of ALTA Blockchain Labs, believes that 2025 is still too early to view the crypto market as mature. With a strategic focus on adoption and tokenization, he says that the next phase of the industry is only just beginning, and that the real opportunities lie ahead as blockchain technology continues to evolve and gain mainstream traction.
Bitcoin’s Adoption Path
Yaroslav Ivanov believes we are still in the early stages of Bitcoin and global blockchain adoption, despite ongoing improvements in infrastructure and regulatory frameworks. He compares Bitcoin’s current level of adoption to the internet in the 1990s or social media in 2005 — at just around 3% of its potential.
Most people still do not fully understand Bitcoin, and many U.S. investors haven’t yet seen a compelling reason to use it. However, the value of Bitcoin becomes much clearer to people in countries facing high inflation, unstable banking systems, or capital controls.
A Morgan Stanley survey, published in August 2025, found that just 18% of U.S. and European summer interns owned or used crypto — despite 96% reporting regular use of artificial intelligence tools.
He also notes that U.S. investment advisors currently hold a net Bitcoin allocation of only 0.006%, while Bitcoin’s market cap accounts for just 0.2% of global wealth.
The total value of Bitcoin is around $2 trillion — still a small drop in a $1,000 trillion ocean of global assets. Bitcoin’s journey, from a cypherpunk experiment to a recognized asset class, is just beginning.
Role in Early-Stage Adoption
Yaroslav Ivanov has been the Co-Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of ALTA Blockchain Labs since 2015. He guides early-growth and expansion-stage clients through high-priority strategic challenges while shaping their long-term positioning. Under his leadership, ALTA advises emerging Web3 companies on go-to-market strategies, providing access to global liquidity and scalable growth. The firm has partnered with hundreds of clients, building a resilient strategic foundation that has withstood major industry cycles and delivered solutions across diverse blockchain ecosystems.
Ivanov emphasizes that we are still in the early stages of adoption:
“We are far from a final, mature state. What we are seeing now is just the infrastructure being built, the frameworks being tested, and the seeds of integration being planted.”
A core mission of the industry is to attract new users through accessible education. Ivanov has played a key role in integrating blockchain educational resources into major crypto platforms, helping them develop user-friendly tools. Sections such as Academy offer free, accessible content designed to guide newcomers through the complexities of the space, while user-friendly interfaces and simplified financial products lower barriers to entry.
One of his key initiatives is the original Blockchain Project Evaluation Model (BPEM), a standardized methodology adopted by leading platforms to rank crypto projects. With over 30,000 projects in the space, consistent and transparent evaluation methods are essential. ALTA leverages this model to help clients navigate the ranking process and optimize their growth strategies.
Crypto’s Future
The potential of crypto extends far beyond financial access. It empowers individuals and communities to take control of their assets, data, and online identities, offering a gateway to the decentralized web of the future. By reducing reliance on traditional financial systems and centralized internet platforms, digital assets create new pathways for opportunity and autonomy.
However, the story of crypto is still in its early stages. The transformative power of digital assets to change lives and reshape industries is just beginning to materialize.
