I have been working through an approach and mechanism to support Zcash adoption with @zcashco. What does adoption mean and how do we get there? Here’s the plan.
All of crypto is still in its infancy with low levels of adoption. Innovators are creating the foundation for the revolution. Early adopters are visionaries that can see the promise and buy into the revolution. 
Widespread cryptocurrency adoption will require engagement by the early majority who are pragmatists that see the usefulness and buy into the evolution. But are the early majority all the same? No.
Adoption vectors represent first order use cases for a currency: speculate asset (SA), store of value (SoV), medium of exchange (MoE) and unit of account (UoA). Other use cases exist for other blockchain projects (securities, NFTs) not currently relevant for Zcash.
I’ve mapped currency vectors mapped to the technology adoption lifecycle.
Each adoption vector produces a complementary network effect to its adjacent vectors and each must reach some level of maturity before the subsequent vector will gain traction.
The speculative investor’s hope that an asset will be considered a SoV leads to increased adoption which it turn provides a positive outcome for both SA and SoV use cases (Nash Equilibrium).
SoV is symbiotic with MoE. As a SoV matures and price fluctuations stabilize, a SoV asset becomes a safe and viable means to purchase goods and service.
As a MoE is adopted broadly, it is used more consistently as a UoA where both buyer and seller think the price of goods and services in that currency first.
Early adopters may be introduced to Zcash as a speculative asset ahead of recognizing its properties as a SoV or MoE. Adoption of Zcash as a SoV will occur before broad adoption as a MoE.
From a technical perspective, SoV is easier to implement well than a MoE due to fewer transactions and less contact points (no POS, eCommerce, 3rd party integration). Some MoE cases may require L2 solutions.
From a regulatory perspective, SoV is easier to implement well than MoE. Taxation is more clear, compliance with KYC/AML may be easier. It is in the best interest of each user group to evangelize the next.
The crypto market is not ready for MoE adoption in full force. UX for day-to-day cryptocurrency txs is insufficient, access requires fiat on-ramps with a high friction, it doesn't scale well enough. SoV is more palatable, even if all parties recognize it as a Trojan horse.
We’re working through planning using the customer decision journey (CDJ) stages and vectors.
In a decision journey and subsequent loyalty loop, both the stages and vectors have importance with deliverables and activities. The vectors are necessary for getting the person to the next stage and often where we have opportunities to remove friction.
For example, fiat on-ramps like exchanges are a source of friction. A strong MoE full life-cycle use case might require that someone receives Zcash without a fiat on-ramp, like the ability to receive income in Zcash.
The outer loop includes the initial set of activities to introduce someone new to Zcash. The inner loop is a flywheel. If the user experience is good between stages, the user will continue to use Zcash and pull others into the loop (network effect).
Different countries, people groups and communities will each move at difference paces based upon local realities such as regulation, belief systems and bias, relevant use cases, …
We're now mapping investment and activities across the customer decision journey for regionally-targeted/localized uses cases in support of Zcash as a SoV. This may include uses case where Zcash is used as a hedge against hyperinflation. This is our primary set of activities.
Secondarily, we are looking to pilot global-level MoE loops through possible marketplace businesses / income streams and remittance solutions while also considering highly localized opportunities where needs can met with limited friction across the full customer decision journey.
Feedback welcome. Poke holes. Let's go!
