Why Web3 growth is broken—and how Bandit Network is fixing it

Web3 projects aren’t struggling to grow. They’re struggling to grow right.

Token incentives, bounty campaigns, and airdrops have been the go-to playbook for Web3 startups trying to scale. But what if these strategies—meant to attract loyal users—are doing the exact opposite?

In this episode of Web3 with Sam Kamani, I sat down with Sandesh Suvarna, founder of Bandit Network, to explore why the Web3 growth stack is broken—and what it actually takes to build sustainable, scalable, community-driven growth.

From AI tools to NFT marketplaces to growth infra

Sandesh’s story begins far from airdrops and memes. In 2020, he was already working with GPT tools, building smart reply assistants for creators. That led him to Web3, where his AI-powered app pivoted into the NFT space and was eventually acquired by a crypto exchange.

He went on to help build NFT marketplaces at WazirX and Binance, collaborating with creators and celebrities. But in all that work, one issue kept resurfacing: user growth campaigns were superficial.

Projects used platforms like Galxe and Layer3 to bring in traffic—but that traffic was mostly bots, bounty hunters, or reward farmers with no long-term interest. These campaigns generated numbers, not communities.

That insight became the seed for Bandit Network.

Bandit Network: Not another quest tool

Unlike typical quest platforms, Bandit is designed as a modular campaign infrastructure layer for Web3 teams. Instead of chasing hype, it empowers projects to build their own flexible growth stack with features like:

• Composable campaign modules: Referrals, social quests, NFT drops, testnet participation—you can mix and match.
• ️ Self-hosted and white-labeled: Own your campaign experience and data.
• Web2–Web3 identity mapping: Combine wallet addresses with social handles from Twitter, Discord, Telegram.
• Sybil resistance: Integrates with Bitcoin Passport to filter bots while keeping the platform open.

Sandesh explains that the key isn’t having a perfect strategy—it’s having a flexible toolset that evolves with trends. Airdrops might work today, points systems tomorrow, meme coins next week. Bandit lets you adapt without spinning up a new tool every time.

What is working in Web3 growth?

According to Sandesh, the real secret weapon in Web3 isn’t utility—it’s memes.

Bandit has powered meme-driven growth campaigns where communities co-create content, vote, and even tokenize the winners. Think “Roast of the Week” memes getting added to liquidity pools—funny, chaotic, but sticky as hell.

Other smart tactics he shared:

• Rollups for campaign data: Building an onchain rollup layer to decentralize and index Web2–Web3 identities (e.g., "target Twitter user X who holds token Y").
• Allowing bots early: Use bots to simulate traction early in a campaign—but filter them out during reward distribution.
• Let devs stay devs: Don’t burn cycles rebuilding referral systems. Founders should focus on core product, not marketing infra.

Business model: Scalable, modular, protocol-first

Bandit runs on a SaaS model with pricing from $250 to $2,000/month. There’s a free tier with usage limits, while major clients like Brave, Bonk, and Unstoppable Domains opt for custom integrations—sometimes paid in tokens.

They’ve secured a $1M grant from QuickNode, and are currently raising a $3–4M seed round.

Their long game? Not just a tool—but the infrastructure protocol for Web3 growth.

Why this matters

Web3 is growing up. Founders are tired of vanity metrics and bot-filled airdrops. They want users, engagement, and ownership.

Bandit Network is building the campaign infrastructure layer Web3 was missing—flexible, modular, and future-ready.

If you're a founder asking “How do we grow without burning our treasury on hype?”—this episode is your roadmap.

Listen now:
Spotify |
Apple Podcasts

Explore Bandit Network: banditnetwork.xyz

Connect with Sandesh: LinkedIn

‍