Web3 experts emphasize that the current trade war, while presents challenges, can also act as a catalyst for innovation within the blockchain space. However, they claim that promoting a mentality of global unity can help reduce the division of trade wars.
Decentralized administration can cause disputes caused by protectionist policy
As the trade war in the US increases and the challenges of Unilateral Action in a globally connected economy reveals, Blockchain and Web3 experts argue for a different strategy. DWF Labs Managing Partner Andrei Grachev argues that decentralized technologies offer important insights to navigate through complex international conflicts.
“Commercial tensions include mutual actions, such as tariff reactions, complicating things,” Grachev explains. He emphasizes the interconnected nature of modern trade disputes, whereby the actions of a nation often cause retaliation measures.
The comments from the DWF Labs Executive came just when the US escalated sharply with its Tit-for-Tat rate war, reportedly an additional 100% rate imposed on Chinese import. This last measure effectively increased the total rate on goods from China to a punitive 245%.
Washington has defended this action as a necessary response to the own series of retribution rates from Beijing and export restrictions, including limitations on critical materials that are essential for high-tech and defense industry. The Trump administration also mentioned concern about national security and argued that China’s commercial practices pose a threat to US economic and strategic interests.
Meanwhile, Grachev contrasts the actions of Nation States with the cooperation character of the blockchain and web3 room. “Open cooperation can help navigating these economic storms. Decentralized projects often work more smoothly across borders than traditional systems.”
He believes that Blockchain’s Open-source Ethos offers a framework for solving cross-border problems. Open-source development, with its transparency, shared contributions and decentralized administration, can reduce the escalation of disputes caused by unilateral and protectionist policy.
“Where effective, open-source alternative solutions offers traditional policy tools,” concludes Grachev.
Policy makers can learn from the crypto industry
Ben Caselin, the CMO at the Africa-oriented Cryptocurrency Valr, supports this and adds a broader perspective: “Trade conflicts reveal that despite the mutual connection of humanity, our actions reflect fragmented identities, tribes or factions.” Caseline emphasizes the need for policymakers to recognize this mutual interconnection, whereby parallels are drawn with the cooperation spirit of Crypto.
Policy makers can learn from cross -border cooperation of Crypto, which promotes innovation with respect for differences. Progress requires recognizing our shared destination.
The CMO warns against unilateral actions: “Unilateral movements disrupt our mutually dependent balance.” He argues for priority in dialogue and building trust, with mutual benefit as the leading principle. “No nation thrives on seclusion; dialogue and trust, aimed at mutual benefit, are crucial.”
Based on the experience of Valr, Caselin emphasizes the benefits of open systems: “Open systems unite various actors for common goals – a model for global trade.”
Although the Trade War has fueled the fear of a global recession, players in the blockchain and web3 space see an increasing demand for decentralized solutions and promote cooperation between Web3 projects to create interoperable solutions. Caselin explained how the trade war influences web3, said:
“Trade wars expose the limits of division systems, which increases interest in boundless blockchain solutions.”
Caselin believes that the resulting volatility stimulates the acceptance of Web3 tools – such as decentralized finances and tokenized commercial assets – that bypass traditional barriers. “Volatility drives companies and individuals to use web3 tools, such as Defi and Tokenized assets, to prevent rates and intermediaries.”
In addition to the practical way, Caseline emphasizes the philosophical shift: “Falling trust in centralized systems feeds the search for alternatives that reflect our interconnected reality.” He connects this with the increasing interest in cryptocurrencies and their potential to improve financial access, as can be seen at Valr. “As confidence in centralized systems decreases, people look for alternatives who reflect a world without artificial boundaries. At Valr we see the growing curiosity about the potential of crypto to improve financial access.”
Caselin, however, believes that widespread acceptance requires a fundamental change in perspective. “However, widespread adoption requires a shift to seeing humanity as a one family. Although trade disputes can stimulate innovation, sustainable change means that loyalty again define outside the nations.”
Grachev also relates to the impact of trade wars on the development of blockchain: “Trade wars do not stimulate the development of blockchain directly, but geopolitical uncertainty increases the attraction of flexible, transparent options.”
The DWF Labs leaders also believe that Web3 aims to connect to, not replaced, existing systems. “The Web3 community wants to make contact with, not replacing, traditional trading systems.” Instead, he regards the technology as a supplement. “We see efforts to fill gaps and offer alternatives where current systems are inefficient, expensive or exclusively. It is about expanding our toolkit.”
