Berachain expert and developer known as Smokey The Bera raised the topic of platform services truly needed by early-stage Web3 projects. He emphasized that beyond technological readiness, systematic ecosystem support is required, and its priorities influence a project's ability to add value to the BERA token. The discussion covered financial tools as well as product and operational support, including security and market entry.
Who is Smokey The Bera and Why His Opinion Matters
Smokey The Bera is presented as an expert and developer within the Berachain ecosystem, focusing on the practical needs of early-stage startups. He views ecosystem support as a strategic asset, making his perspective valuable for teams seeking systematic guidance. For broader understanding of leadership roles in project success, one can compare approaches from materials on qualities of crypto startup leaders, where similar expectations about management and support are discussed.
Key Services for Developing Web3 Ecosystems
According to Smokey The Bera, the basic set of services includes financial connections and an active role for the ecosystem team. Proper prioritization is crucial, especially if the ecosystem aims to derive value for the BERA token through revenue-sharing or token ownership models. Below are the main elements highlighted by the expert.
- Venture funds and business angels — sources of early capital and experience.
- Connections with potential LPs and industry leaders — critical for DeFi applications and scaling.
- Active ecosystem team — an intermediary that helps establish connections and promote the product.
This combination of financial and reputational resources helps projects validate hypotheses faster and attract initial users, with the nature of needed connections depending on the product type and target audience.
Product Tools and Support
Smokey The Bera identified a set of product tools that reduce operational barriers and improve product quality in early stages. For young teams, these measures enable quicker feedback collection and lower infrastructure costs. Key support elements are listed below.
- Beta testing and feedback sessions — early user input to adjust strategy.
- Credits and discounts on cloud services, including AWS, GCP, and Vercel — reducing operational expenses for startups.
- Access to accounting, legal, and HR services — ensuring basic business stability.
These tools lessen administrative and technical burdens on teams, allowing them to focus on the product and attracting real users.
Security and Market Entry
Special attention was given to security and market entry strategies, where the expert noted the importance of audits and support for international market launches. He pointed out the value of discounts or priority audit scheduling, as well as assistance in preparing Go To Market strategies focused on APAC. This support package includes community engagement, working with key opinion leaders (KOLs), and ready-made playbooks for entering new regions.
Additionally, the expert mentioned support in negotiations with exchanges and market makers as part of assistance for teams aiming for scaling and liquidity.
Challenges in the Crypto Industry
The discussion included criticism of the industry: strong products sometimes remain unnoticed due to lack of "the right connections," a view Smokey The Bera agreed with. He also pointed out that the "key pain point of the industry" is the shortage of real users, complicating product hypothesis validation and sustainable project growth. These remarks highlight the importance not only of finance but also of practical work on product and community.
Why This Matters
For miners with several or hundreds of devices in Russia, this agenda is important because the quality of ecosystem support determines whether convenient and secure services will emerge that they can use or integrate with. If projects gain access to audits, cloud discounts, and legal support, it increases the chances of sustainable services and integrations that ease miners' daily operations.
At the same time, the lack of real users remains a systemic problem: without an active user base, projects poorly validate product decisions, potentially slowing the emergence of useful tools for miners, such as local payment solutions or farm management services.
What to Do?
Miners with 1–1000 devices should focus on practical steps: monitor projects receiving ecosystem support and participate in beta tests to influence product direction and gain early access to tools. Participation in tests and feedback helps accelerate service refinement and makes them more useful for real users.
It is also helpful to pay attention to projects receiving cloud service credit packages or audit priority, as this reduces operational risks. Finally, when possible, engage with communities and opinion leaders to support projects you trust and help them attract real users — a direct way to improve the ecosystem.
For additional context on management expectations and leadership qualities, see materials on leader qualities, and on how investment products affect project support, see the article about investment products.