The privacy protocol sector has been caught in a competitive cycle that misses the bigger picture. Rather than zero-sum positioning, a single breakthrough in privacy tech actually elevates the entire ecosystem—other projects benefit from increased adoption and legitimacy.

The real opportunity? Shift focus from market competition to ecosystem development. Instead of fighting for dominance, privacy projects should collaborate on solutions that expand the user base and use cases. We're running out of runway for this pivot. The window for cooperative growth in the privacy space won't stay open indefinitely—those who recognize this first gain the strategic advantage.