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Back in 1995, the internet felt chaotic, experimental, and misunderstood. Yet that’s exactly when Mark Cuban launched Broadcast.com and sold it to Yahoo for $5.7 billion just before the dot-com crash.
Today, Cuban says blockchain reminds him of those early internet days.
And honestly? He’s not wrong.
If I were starting a business in 2026, it would be built around blockchain infrastructure, smart contracts, and digital ownership – not because it’s trendy, but because the economic rails of the internet are quietly being rebuilt.
Why Blockchain Feels Like 1995 Again
In a podcast conversation with Justin Kan, Cuban said:
“If this was 1995 again, I’d be going nuts building digital applications.”
That statement matters.
The early internet wasn’t about websites. It was about digitizing industries.
Blockchain is doing the same thing – but instead of digitizing information, it digitizes ownership, contracts, and value exchange.
And that’s a far bigger opportunity.
NFTs Were Just the Beginning
NFTs exploded in 2021 as digital collectibles. Most people saw pixel art selling for millions and assumed it was speculation.
But NFTs introduced something deeper:
- Provable digital ownership
- Smart royalty systems
- Creator-to-consumer monetization
- Secondary market automation
That’s not hype. That’s infrastructure.
Cuban himself invested in NFTs, including NBA Top Shot moments, and auctioned digital experiences tied to the Dallas Mavericks. He understood that digital scarcity – when verified by blockchain – changes how assets are valued.
The collectible use case was just phase one.
The Real Blockchain Business Opportunity
If I were building today, I wouldn’t start another NFT art marketplace.
I’d focus on solving inefficiencies where:
- Trust is expensive
- Middlemen take large cuts
- Ownership verification is messy
- Contracts require manual enforcement
That’s where smart contracts shine.
Creator Monetization Infrastructure
Instead of launching another token, I’d build tools that allow:
- Musicians to sell royalty-backed NFTs
- Filmmakers to crowdfund with revenue-share tokens
- Influencers to tokenize exclusive access
The future isn’t about selling JPEGs.
It’s about programmable revenue streams.
Smart contracts remove disputes and automate payouts. That alone disrupts the music and film industries – something Cuban has repeatedly predicted.
Digital Asset Verification Platforms
Cuban grew up trading baseball cards. He understands physical collectibles have friction:
- Counterfeits
- Grading disputes
- Shipping risk
- Escrow complications
Blockchain eliminates most of this.
A modern startup could build hybrid verification systems where physical assets are tokenized and tracked digitally.
Luxury goods.
Watches.
Rare sneakers.
Real estate titles.
That’s a real blockchain business model – not speculation.
Smart Contract SaaS for Businesses
Most companies don’t need to “launch a token.”
They need:
- Automated vendor payments
- Escrow-based services
- Transparent supply chain tracking
- Decentralized identity systems
A SaaS company that simplifies blockchain integration for SMEs is a stronger long-term bet than another meme coin launch.
Why Gen Z Matters
Cuban pointed out something critical:
Gen Z values digital goods more than previous generations.
Look at:
- Skins in gaming
- Digital collectibles
- Online identities
- Virtual real estate
Digital ownership already has cultural value.
Blockchain simply formalizes and secures it.
And cultural shifts create billion-dollar markets.
What Most Founders Get Wrong
The mistake most crypto founders make:
They build tokens first.
The smarter approach?
Build utility first.
The companies that survived past crypto cycles weren’t hype-driven. They solved infrastructure problems:
- Exchanges
- Custody providers
- Developer tools
- Layer-2 scaling solutions
If Cuban were starting today, he likely wouldn’t chase speculation.
He’d chase digitization of value.
The Risks (Let’s Be Honest)
Blockchain businesses still face:
- Regulatory uncertainty
- Token classification issues
- Volatility in crypto markets
- Security vulnerabilities
- Market saturation in NFT platforms
This isn’t 2021 anymore.
Users are smarter. Capital is tighter. Hype cycles are shorter.
But infrastructure always wins long term.
Where I’d Start in 2026
If I had to narrow it down:
👉 A blockchain-powered creator revenue platform
👉 Or a smart-contract-based escrow system for digital services
Both solve real problems.
Both reduce friction.
Both align with where digital ownership is heading.
Final Thoughts
Mark Cuban saw opportunity in the early internet when most people didn’t.
Blockchain today feels similar.
It’s noisy.
It’s misunderstood.
It’s volatile.
But underneath the noise, the rails of digital ownership are being rebuilt.
And if you’re thinking about starting a business in 2026?
Don’t chase tokens.
Build infrastructure.
That’s where the real blockchain business opportunity lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a blockchain business?
A blockchain business is a company that builds products or services using decentralized ledger technology. These businesses often focus on smart contracts, digital ownership, tokenization, or decentralized applications (dApps).
2. Are NFT businesses still profitable in 2026?
NFT speculation has cooled compared to 2021, but infrastructure-based NFT businesses – such as creator monetization tools and digital verification platforms – continue to show long-term potential.
3. How can entrepreneurs start a blockchain startup?
Entrepreneurs can start by identifying industries with trust inefficiencies, then building smart contract-based solutions that automate payments, ownership tracking, or verification processes.
4. Is blockchain better than traditional databases for business?
Blockchain is not always better than traditional databases. It is most useful in cases where transparency, decentralization, and trustless transactions are critical.
5. What industries will blockchain disrupt next?
Music royalties, digital collectibles, supply chain tracking, real estate tokenization, and digital identity management are among the most likely industries to see further disruption.
