Animoca’s Evan Auyang worked in finance and public transit before crypto—Why he thinks the blockchain should be more like a bus - Fortune

Evan Auyang, president of Animoca Brands, brings an unusual résumé to the blockchain sector: prior experience in finance and public transit. That background shapes his view that blockchain networks should function less like exclusive clubs and more like public infrastructure — accessible, reliable, and useful to ordinary people, much as a bus system serves riders regardless of wealth or technical expertise.

The comparison carries weight for how the industry thinks about adoption. Public transit succeeds when it is easy to use, affordable, and dependable; critics argue many crypto products remain the opposite, burdened by complexity and friction. Auyang's argument suggests that long-term relevance may depend less on speculative appeal and more on practical utility and ease of access.

For observers, the key question is whether this "public utility" framing translates into measurable usage rather than marketing language. Watch for concrete signals: products aimed at mainstream users, partnerships that broaden access, and whether projects prioritize usability over novelty. The debate matters because it shapes how developers and investors judge which networks are built to last.