How to spot emerging tech before the hype hits

When you're scouting the next big Web3 project, a few signals cut through the noise pretty fast.

Start with screen time—how long do people actually stick around? Apps that hook users don't need aggressive marketing. If people keep coming back day after day, that's your first clue something's working.

Then watch for the dopamine loop. The best products nail the feedback cycle—think sub-30 second interactions that feel snappy and rewarding. When every action gets a crisp response, users stay engaged. That's when you know the builders care about the experience, not just the feature set.

Don't sleep on frontend either. A polished interface isn't just pretty—it's proof the team sweats the details. Sloppy design usually signals sloppy thinking everywhere else. Clean UX means someone's actually thinking about how real people use this thing.

Combine these three, and you've got a solid framework for spotting projects worth your attention before they blow up.