.png)
Who this is for
You are a founder, product lead, or engineering manager and one of these is true:
-
A vendor has pitched you a blockchain solution and you want an independent read before committing budget
-
Your team is considering a build and nobody internal has stress-tested whether it needs a chain
-
You are already building and want a second opinion on architecture, vendor selection, or scope
-
Your board or investors are asking about blockchain and you need a defensible position either way
-
A pilot has stalled and you need to decide whether to finish it or stop
The 5 questions
Every engagement runs the same framework. It is public, we run it on the podcast in front of an audience, and it is the reason most of our verdicts come back as a database.
1. What exact problem is being solved?
Not the category. The specific failure that costs money today.
2. Does this need a blockchain, or would a database do?
The only question about the technology. Most cases fail here, and the honest answer is usually that a well-designed database is faster, cheaper, and easier to change.
3. Does the team have the technical capacity?
Most teams can build it. Fewer can operate it for 5 years, with key management, upgrades, and someone on call when it breaks.
4. What does the regulatory environment look like?
For your sector and your jurisdiction, not in general.
5. Can the ROI be justified before building?
If the number only works after you have spent the money, it is not a number.
A use case has to clear all 5. Most clear 1 or 2.
How we work
Four ways to work with us: a free verdict at $0, a Strategy Call at $150 for 60 minutes, a Web3 Readiness Audit at $750 delivered in 5 business days, and an Advisory Retainer at $750 per month with a 3-month minimum.
Why us
20 years in engineering and analytics at Qualcomm and LG, before this. The framework comes from evaluating systems that had to work, not from selling blockchain.
A public track record of saying no. 2 seasons of Blockchain or Database? run real use cases through these 5 questions on camera. Property titles, supply chains, healthcare records, voting, AI agent identity, customer loyalty, and cross-border payments. Most come back as a database. When blockchain wins, we say so and explain why.
No vendor relationships. We do not resell a chain, a platform, or an integration partner, so there is nothing to steer you toward.
Independent, and small enough that you talk to the person doing the work.
What this is not
-
We do not write smart contracts or build production systems
-
We do not advise on token design, launches, or tokenomics
-
We do not make investment recommendations or introduce investors
-
We do not take referral fees from vendors
-
This is not legal, tax, or financial advice
If you need a build partner, we can tell you what to look for. We are not one.
Common questions
What if the answer is that we do not need a blockchain?
Then that is the answer, and it is the most valuable outcome we can give you. It is also the most common one.
Do you work with crypto-native companies?
Rarely. The framework is built for businesses evaluating whether a chain belongs in an existing operation, not for teams already committed to one.
How quickly can we start?
Strategy Calls are usually available within the week. Audits run 5 business days from intake.
Are you remote?
Based in San Diego, working remotely with clients anywhere. Calls run on Google Meet.