News Summary
TREE NEWS reports: At a time when Arbitrum founder Steven Goldfeder and Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko are publicly debating Robinhood Chain’s fee model, BNB Chain’s growth director Nina Rong has weighed in with a broader industry perspective. Speaking on September 6, Rong argued that further reducing gas fees is no longer the blockchain sector’s top priority. Instead, the real focus for all chains should be building sustainable business models that can fund ongoing technical development and ecosystem growth—whether through gas fees, revenue sharing, or other commercial agreements.
Industry Analysis
Rong’s comments highlight a maturation phase in blockchain infrastructure. Over the past five years, blockchain foundations have largely operated as grant dispensers and subsidy providers, using low gas fees as a competitive weapon to attract users and developers. This approach worked during the era of user acquisition, but it has left many networks dependent on external funding and token emissions rather than generating organic revenue.
The debate between Goldfeder and Yakovenko over Robinhood Chain’s fee structure is symptomatic of this broader tension. On one side, zero-fee models prioritize user experience and mass adoption. On the other, sustainable fee structures ensure that validators, developers, and the network itself can thrive without perpetual subsidies. Rong’s intervention suggests that the industry’s center of gravity is shifting from ‘how do we get users?’ to ‘how do we keep the network alive and growing once the subsidies end?’
This is not merely an academic question. Many Layer 1 and Layer 2 networks face an existential challenge: they have billions in TVL and active communities, but their native treasuries are finite. Without recurring revenue streams, they risk becoming zombie chains once initial funding runs dry. Rong’s call for ‘solid business structures’ echoes a growing consensus among industry leaders that protocols must evolve into self-sustaining economic entities.
Forward-Looking Perspective
If Rong’s vision takes hold, we can expect to see more blockchain networks experimenting with hybrid revenue models—combining minimal gas fees with premium services, enterprise partnerships, or value-added features. The challenge will be balancing user-friendly economics with investor and validator returns. Networks that crack this code will not only survive but thrive in the next cycle, while those that cling to a pure subsidy model may find themselves left behind. As the industry matures, the conversation will inevitably shift from infrastructure costs to sustainable value creation.
