I would like to say that the next step will be super fast liquid DEX exchanges, however, given the fact that regulation is tightening more and more tightly, the crypto market says the opposite.
I am sure that DEX exchanges will not be going through the best of times, and their development will greatly slow down.
Probably the next step will be the symbiosis of the crypto industry and the banking sector.
Agree. DEXs will have a hard time complying with regulations imposed by governments worldwide. We've seen how these entities have gone against Bitcoin mixers with the excuse that these services are used for money laundering. The same thing could happen with DEXs that don't require ID verification (KYC/AML) from their users. Depending on how DEXs will be able to survive in a tightening regulatory environment, they could become the next big thing in crypto land sometime in the future.
With the introduction of the Lightning Network, it's possible to perform atomic swaps in a cross-chain manner. This would prove to be even bigger than traditional decentralized exchanges, as people will able to trade from one crypto to another using the same Blockchain (instead of a separate platform). As of now, we're only a few months away for the next Bitcoin halving to occur. It seems to me that this, followed by ETH's PoS consensus upgrade will be the next big thing that will happen in crypto land. Then, we'll see STOs rise like never before, gathering a large number of people into the Blockchain.
Believe me, things look quite positive for the development of crypto and Blockchain technology in general. Within a couple of years from now, we might grasp the benefits of increased adoption of Blockchain technology as prices rise like never before. Those who get in now will be considered as early adopters of crypto and Blockchain tech within the not-so-distant future.
Nonetheless, the Blockchain industry is improving day after day. This means that new cryptocurrencies with better tech will replace others in a blink of an eye. People that are always following the money (instead of the technology), will often look for the next big thing in crypto for profit. But all that matters is the real use cases Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are able to provide for the mainstream world. Just my thoughts