Timing is everything. In the history of technological shifts, the 'Early Adopter' phase is where generational wealth is captured. But being "early" isn't about luck—it's about recognizing the geometry of the S-Curve.
The S-Curve Logic
Every major technology follows a specific adoption pattern: slow initial growth, a massive vertical explosion (the "knee" of the curve), and then saturation. Most people wait for social proof. They wait until their neighbors are talking about it. By then, the vertical explosion has already happened.
In Web3, we are currently navigating the chasm between "Early Adopters" and the "Early Majority". The user experience is improving, the infrastructure is scaling (L2s, modular blockchains), and institutional pipes are being laid.
Identifying the 'Knee'
The mistake most investors make is jumping in after the media hype cycle begins. The generated Alpha comes from positioning yourself when the technology is working but the user interface is still clunky. That is the signal. If it's hard to use but people are still using it, the value proposition is massive.