Crypto's Next Major Breakout Driven by Infrastructure, Not Narratives, Says Hashed CEO Simon Kim

The next significant surge in the cryptocurrency market will be fueled by advancements in core infrastructure rather than short-term narratives, according to Simon Kim, CEO and Partner of Hashed, a leading South Korean crypto venture firm. In an exclusive interview, Kim emphasized that while market narratives generate temporary hype, sustainable growth and true breakthroughs originate from foundational technological improvements. Key infrastructure areas poised to drive the next cycle include scalability solutions (Layer 2, modular blockchains), enhanced user experience through account abstraction, and secure cross-chain interoperability. Kim pointed to the development of robust decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN) and the maturation of the Web3 gaming ecosystem as critical, real-world utility drivers. This shift from speculative narrative trading to value-driven infrastructure investment, he argues, will create a more resilient and mature market, attracting substantial institutional capital. Hashed, known for early investments in projects like The Open Network (TON) and Axie Infinity, continues to back infrastructure-focused startups building the foundational layer for mass Web3 adoption.