After four years of rigorous development, Roundtable (RTB.io) has launched its new Web3 Software as a Service (SaaS) platform, aiming to transform the landscape of media and blockchain. The platform, available on the web and on iOS and Android App Stores, integrates features, tools, social incentives, and distribution assets that have already garnered attention from major media partners and prominent blockchain thought leaders. This milestone was officially announced at Consensus ‘24 in Austin.
Roundtable’s new platform is partly powered by an “RTB” token ecosystem designed to incentivize participation and engagement among content creators. The governance of this ecosystem is managed by a Swiss Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO). This system reflects the founders’ commitment to democratizing and decentralizing media and finance, a vision they have pursued throughout their careers.
A Collaborative Effort with Industry Giants
The platform is a product of the collaboration between Web3 visionary and DeFi inventor Eyal Hertzog, known for founding Bancor and architecting the first automated market maker (AMM), and digital media pioneer James Heckman. Their combined expertise has culminated in the creation of this full-featured, major-media, enterprise-level Web3 platform.
Hertzog has emphasized his lifelong dedication to democratizing media and finance, expressing pride in launching their first Web3 integration in partnership with TheStreet, a renowned financial publication. This partnership with TheStreet, along with Arena Group, highlights Roundtable’s commitment to providing comprehensive coverage of the crypto and blockchain industry.
Addressing the Shortcomings of Web2 Platforms
Web3 media platforms have previously struggled to meet the complex needs of major media and professional brands, often failing to offer the user-friendly tools and features that modern consumers demand. While Web2 social platforms have been effective for audience growth, they remain external assets outside the control of content creators, limiting their ability to fully leverage their own content and audience.
Roundtable’s breakthrough technology represents a pivotal moment in publishing history. The platform empowers professional creators to reclaim the promise of decentralized, meritocracy-driven media, enabling them to recapture and reunite their loyal audiences, who have long been co-opted by Web2 monopolists.
Overcoming the Challenges of Centralized Media
The current centralized media ecosystem has often been criticized for extracting core value and control from independent creators through censorship, deplatforming, predatory monetization strategies, throttling virality, and confiscating audience data and brand value. In contrast, Roundtable’s vision for professional media centers on collaborative engagement, fueled by market principles.
James Heckman, CEO of Roundtable, has articulated the platform’s mission to enable independent media brands and creators to distribute, monetize, and engage with their communities within their own brand, data, and voice. This vision seeks to overturn the traditional dynamics of media control and return power to the creators.
Features and Future Prospects
The platform boasts an array of features designed to meet the needs of modern media creators. These include tools for content creation, social incentives for engagement, and robust distribution assets. Major media partners and blockchain thought leaders such as Mario Nawfal, Scott Melker, Aaron and Austin Arnold, George Tung, and Bitcoin Magazine have already begun utilizing these features.
Looking ahead, Roundtable aims to continue expanding its platform’s capabilities and user base. The development team plans to introduce additional functionalities and explore new use cases for their technology, ensuring that the platform remains at the forefront of media innovation.
By providing a decentralized and collaborative environment for content creation and distribution, Roundtable is poised to redefine the relationship between media creators and their audiences, fostering a more equitable and engaging digital media landscape.