Proof of Talk, a notable Web3 leadership summit, along with INPUT Global, a well-known Web3 research platform, has released the H1 2026 report. The report discloses a notable shift within the Web3 startup network toward tokenization and RWAs.
As per Proof of Talk and INPUT Global’s report, the findings indicate the growing focus of Web3 founders on commercial viability, while almost 50% of them are already making revenue. Particularly, out of over two hundred Proof of Pitch applications, forty-four percent disclosed revenue generation, whereas seven percent of them confirmed profitability, though most are still raising at the seed or pre-seed stage.
RWA and Tokenization Outcompete DeFi as Web3 Founders Prioritize Commercial Viability
H1 2026 report of Proof of Talk and INPUT Global displays a notable market shift, as top Web3 players are moving toward broader commercial viability. This presents a huge departure from former cycles powered by speculative token frameworks and narratives toward tokenization and RWAs.
Hence, founders are currently prioritizing balanced business models, distribution, and customer experience. This helps redefine the interaction between investors and startups. The unparalleled growth of the RWA sector, with tokenization getting core attention, has outcompeted the decentralized finance (DeFi) world.
In this comparison, 29% of the total ventures pointed toward RWA as their center of attention, while just 23% identified DeFi as their key goal. Following that, decentralized AI secured the attention of 11% of startups.
Equity Fundraising Leads Web3 Funding Preferences
Mirroring this pattern, among investors, 92% of the total surveyed fund collaborators chose tokenization and real world asset (RWA) as the prioritized areas. The report also presents a transformation in the wider fundraising preferences, with token-only financing losing ground, as only 5% of the participants are seeking it. On the other hand, eighty-three percent revealed equity exposure as their key focus, either via hybrid equity/token or equity-only rounds.
Additionally, almost 50% of the founders supported equity-only structures, highlighting a wider shift toward frameworks that stress long-term sustainability. According to Proof of Talk and INPUT Global’s report, the competition among the blockchain entities has also intensified, with Solana leading founder mentions while accounting for 25%.
Following that, Ethereum, Base, and Canton Network account for 22%, 21%, and 7%. Overall, the report reveals that even in the earliest phases, Web3 founders are showing potential to generate wider traction while focusing on commercial viability amid the RWA expansion.
