The overlooked Layer 1 playing the long game

Most new blockchains obsess over short-term hype and token launches. CoreDAO is doing the opposite — and that’s precisely why it may end up winning.

In this episode, I sat down with Rich Rines, a founding contributor to CoreDAO, to discuss their unique approach to building a truly decentralized Layer 1 that scales without compromise. Unlike most L1s that rush to market with promises and incentives, CoreDAO has taken a much quieter, longer-term route — and they’re doing it with the backing of tens of millions of users from day one.

At the heart of CoreDAO is “Satoshi Plus,” a consensus mechanism that fuses the security of Bitcoin with the scalability of DPoS (Delegated Proof of Stake). Instead of trying to replace Bitcoin, Core builds directly on its trust model — integrating Bitcoin’s hashrate into its consensus. It’s a bet that security doesn’t need to come at the expense of performance.

But what really stood out in this conversation was Core’s approach to distribution. With 50 million users acquired organically through the Pi Network (without issuing a token), CoreDAO now has one of the largest crypto communities — and they did it without hype, VC token sales, or flashy airdrops. The token only launched after the network was live and battle-tested. That kind of patience is rare.

Rich emphasizes that Core isn’t just another tech play — it’s a coordination layer. He argues that the biggest problem in Web3 isn’t lack of infrastructure, it’s the inability of teams, communities, and ecosystems to effectively coordinate. Core’s validator set, contributor structure, and distribution model are all designed to maximize long-term alignment and minimize short-term extraction.

We also dig into:

• Why decentralization is often used as a marketing term — and how Core backs it up with real structural choices
• The difference between making noise and making change
• How to build credible neutrality into the foundation of a Layer 1
• Core’s open invitation to developers: no permission, no gatekeeping — just build

Whether you're skeptical of new Layer 1s or actively building in Web3, this episode offers a clear-headed look at how blockchain ecosystems can be structured for resilience, not just speed. Rich doesn’t make grand predictions or flashy claims — and that might be exactly what sets Core apart.