A protocol is only as valuable as what gets built on it
In most software categories, a product can succeed by selling directly to end users. Many blockchain protocols work differently: a layer-1 chain, a layer-2, or an infrastructure protocol generates real value only when developers choose to build applications on top of it. A chain with no applications, no tooling, and no active developer ecosystem is, in practical terms, an idle piece of infrastructure no matter how technically sound it is.
That reality turns developer experience into a direct business priority rather than a nice-to-have. If building on a protocol is confusing, poorly documented, or unpleasant, developers will simply choose a competing protocol that makes their job easier. This is a major reason well-resourced Web3 protocols invest specifically in DevRel functions, because the return on that investment shows up as more applications, more integrations, and a more durable ecosystem.