The government is investing £50 million in critical minerals projects across the UK to increase domestic production and reduce reliance on imports.

The funding builds on a previous £200 million investment in the domestic production of critical minerals, which are essential for everyday projects such as smartphones, fridges, and electric vehicles.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) says the funding will boost domestic production, support high-value jobs and reduce the UK’s reliance on overseas imports, helping to protect the economy from global shocks and supply disruptions.

The government’s Critical Minerals Strategy aims to support British companies to accelerate the extraction, processing and recycling of critical minerals, while investing in manufacturing capability and attracting private investment into the UK.

The funding programme will be delivered through three pillars:

• Magnet Hub: £20 million to establish a national facility to develop, test and scale up rare earth magnet manufacturing, alongside skills and training capabilities.
• Critical Minerals Accelerator: £25 million to support collaborative projects across the extraction, processing and recycling of critical minerals.
• Demand Aggregation Platform: a new, up to £5 million platform to help the UK industry consolidate and pool its critical mineral demand across different industries.

Commenting on the announcement, Industry Minister Chris McDonald said: “Critical minerals are vital for our national security, and this targeted funding will support companies in ramping up domestic production, helping to create new jobs and opportunities in local communities, whilst building more resilient supply chains.”

“Through our Critical Minerals Strategy, we’re leveraging Britain’s mineral wealth, attracting new investment and forming dynamic relationships with partners across the world to boost our economic security.”

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The unprecedented growth of the blockchain industry has propped up many new careers in the last few years. As the number of blockchain protocols and transactions being carried through them increased, the demand for blockchain analysts witnessed huge growth. You can become a blockchain intelligence analyst and pursue one of the most lucrative career paths in the blockchain space. Blockchain analysts have the power to identify potential risks and help with regulatory compliance, thereby driving the growth of the larger blockchain landscape.

• The blockchain and web3 job market witnessed almost 100,000 new jobs emerging in 2025 (Source).   
• Illicit activity through cryptocurrency and blockchain protocols reached the all-time high of $158 billion in 2025 (Source).
• Without adequate monitoring for on-chain behavior of nation states, proxy networks of Iran facilitated illicit crypto transactions up to more than $2 billion (Source). 

Blockchain analytics focus on tracing transactions, detecting financial crime, and ensuring regulatory compliance, thereby proving that blockchain analyst is an in-demand role. As a blockchain intelligence analyst, you can identify, understand, and classify fraudulent on-chain activities. You can not only play a major role in strengthening regulatory compliance but also the cybersecurity stance of blockchain protocols. Awareness of the responsibilities of a blockchain intelligence analyst and skill requirements can help you prepare for the role with little to no confusion.

Who is a Blockchain Intelligence Analyst?

The first thing that you must know before pursuing blockchain intelligence analyst jobs is the responsibility you have to face on the job. Blockchain analysts are professionals who have to evaluate on-chain transactions, monitor the performance of blockchain protocols, and provide valuable insights. The inferences drawn by blockchain analysts play a pivotal role in regulatory compliance, strategic planning, and investment decisions.

If you search for the answers to “How to become a blockchain analyst?” as a complete beginner, then you must begin with an understanding of the role itself. Identifying the responsibilities of blockchain intelligence analysts can offer a clear picture of the job you are getting into.

As a blockchain intelligence analyst, you have to,

• Monitor on-chain metrics and track transaction volumes along with network activity patterns and wallet distributions.
• Evaluate smart contract code to identify vulnerabilities and measure the sustainability level of diverse tokenomics models.
• Generate research reports and comprehensible data visualizations for stakeholders across all levels of an organization.
• Track social trends and market psychology relevant to blockchain and crypto protocols, and understand the market sentiment.

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Which Skills Do You Need to Become a Blockchain Intelligence Analyst?

The next crucial thing to know before pursuing blockchain intelligence analyst jobs is the list of skills required for the role. You will need a combination of core technical skills, fluency in essential analytics tools, domain knowledge, and soft skills to become blockchain analysts. Once you identify the essential blockchain intelligence analyst skills, it will be easier to choose relevant resources and learning paths to acquire them.

• Core Technical Skills

Working with blockchain technology, especially in the role of an analyst, is practically impossible without technical skills. You must have fluency in Python programming and the ability to use Python libraries for blockchain analytics. It is also important to have specialist knowledge of SQL that will serve as a powerful combination with your Python expertise. 

The core technical skills required for blockchain analyst jobs will be incomplete without blockchain expertise. Candidates preparing to become blockchain analysts must have in-depth understanding of fundamental concepts in the blockchain and web3 space. Most important of all, a blockchain intelligence analyst should know how smart contracts work and how to track smart contract transactions. 

• Essential Tools and Platforms

Blockchain analysts have to work with different tools and analytics platforms, and fluency in these tools and platforms is unavoidable. You must know how to use blockchain explorers as they are the primary tools to view on-chain activity. Proficiency in using these tools help in tracking individual transactions, examining wallet addresses, analyzing token transfers, and understanding smart contract interactions. 

The skillset of blockchain analysts also includes specialized blockchain analytics platforms that come with unique strengths. Blockchain intelligence analysts can leverage these tools to gain seamless access to wallet intelligence and crucial insights for compliance. Furthermore, blockchain analysts must know how to use data visualization tools to present raw and complex blockchain metrics with interactive reports, charts, dashboards, and graphs.        

• Domain Knowledge

One of the notable aspects that differentiate a skilled blockchain analyst from other professionals is domain expertise. You can pick any one of the popular blockchain intelligence analyst career paths and notice that awareness of DeFi protocols and NFT market dynamics can offer a huge advantage for your career. Blockchain intelligence analysts must know about concepts of TVL, automated market makers, flash loans, yield farming, and liquidity pools.

Every blockchain data analyst must also have a clear understanding of marketplace dynamics for NFTs, holder distribution, supply schedules and rarity. You should have the ability to figure out the impact of token design on user behavior and sustainability of the NFT protocol. Blockchain analysts focused on crypto compliance must know the essential AML regulations, KYC requirements, and crypto laws in different jurisdictions. 

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• Soft Skills

The need for soft skills in almost every job in the blockchain space is a given and blockchain analysts need a specific set of soft skills. Blockchain analysts must have strong communication skills and the ability to present their findings in the most efficient ways possible. It is also important to note that blockchain intelligence analysts should have critical thinking abilities to ask the right questions. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills empower analysts to craft effective analytical approaches and take decisions based on evidence.

Blockchain intelligence analysts must also know how to build their personal brand to attract more opportunities. You can create a strong personal brand by sharing your expertise in blockchain analytics with the larger blockchain community. The ideal platforms to create your personal brand include Twitter and Medium, where you can publish insights on market trends and emerging protocols. Blockchain analysts should also pursue efforts for community engagement by participating in open-source projects and blockchain forums.

Roadmap to Become a Blockchain Intelligence Analyst in 2026

Once you have understood the blockchain analyst job role and skills required for the same, you will need a roadmap to begin your journey. With a specific set of steps, you can acquire the essential skills and prove your capabilities as a credible blockchain intelligence analyst. 

• Start with Strong Foundations

The most trusted approach to begin your career in any field requires building an unshakable foundation with fundamental skills. You should choose fundamental courses on blockchain technology before picking up a specialist-level blockchain analyst course for your career. Professional training platforms offer courses to help you expand your knowledge of blockchain fundamentals and smart contracts.

• Focus on Hands-on Experience

Learning everything about blockchain analytics is not enough to land a job when you don’t know how to implement your skills. As a blockchain intelligence analyst, you must have the confidence to leverage your expertise and solve real problems. You must be able to use blockchain explorers and analytics tools to monitor on-chain transactions and report valuable insights.

• Create an Appealing Portfolio

The ability to build your personal brand will help you design a portfolio that attracts employer’s attention at first glimpse. You can showcase your achievements in open-source projects and the insights you publish in your blog. The portfolio of a blockchain intelligence analyst serves as a mirror to their level of expertise.

• Validate Skills with Certifications

The most crucial asset that can help you build a successful career as blockchain analysts is a certification. You can use professional certification programs to validate your domain knowledge in blockchain and smart contracts. It is also recommended to pursue certification courses on DeFi, NFTs, and cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Final Thoughts 

The roadmap to become a blockchain intelligence analyst can become easier for learners with the right training and certification platforms. Blockchain intelligence analysts play a major role in transforming the ‘Wild West’ of the blockchain and web3 space into a clear tapestry of insights. The work of blockchain analysts helps everyone understand what goes on in the blockchain space and how to make well-informed decisions. You can become a blockchain analyst with the right credentials to validate your expertise. Choose the ideal learning resources to pursue a successful career as blockchain intelligence analysts now.

*Disclaimer: The article should not be taken as, and is not intended to provide any investment advice. Claims made in this article do not constitute investment advice and should not be taken as such. 101 Blockchains shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this article. Do your own research!

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The UK and Dutch governments have signed an agreement to collaborate on circular economy financing.

As part of the agreement, both governments committed to working together to promote a shared understanding of a circular economy finance reference framework.

Intended for voluntary use, the joint statement said the framework would support circular economy financing by establishing common definitions, measurement methods, and indicators for lending, financing, and investing in circular activities in practice.

The joint declaration was signed in London by Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh and Stientje Van Veldhoven, the Minister of Climate and Green Growth, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, in the Dutch Government.

Both governments also said they would collaborate internationally to advance knowledge and practice in circular economy finance and to enhance their understanding of how current circular economy activities are financed.

In March 2025, the UK and the Dutch governments held a roundtable hosted by the Lord Mayor of London at Mansion House to set out a path towards closer cooperation on circular economy finance, bringing together government officials and private sector lenders.

One of the key outcomes of the roundtable was the creation of the Circular Economy Finance Group.

As part of the joint statement, both governments said they recognise that transitioning to a circular economy will help ‘deliver sustainable economic growth’.

It continued that the circular economy would ‘advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals and environmental objectives, reduce financial risks, strengthen economic resilience and support long-term prosperity’.

The agreement reads: “It is clear that there is not yet enough finance for and investment in circular business to enable both governments to realise their circular ambitions. The financial sector has a pivotal role to play in supporting the circular transitions of both nations.”

“The UK and the Netherlands therefore recognise the need for enhanced cross-border cooperation between governments, financial institutions, business and knowledge institutions to advance and grow circular economy finance and support wider efforts to finance the transition to a more resilient and sustainable economy.”

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Exchange for Change pilots Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) at this week’s Wimbledon qualifying competition.

The pilot will test how Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) operate in a live event setting ahead of the DRS’s national rollout next year.

Danone announced the partnership between its evian® brand, The All England Lawn Tennis Club and Exchange for Change to pilot RVMs at this year’s Wimbledon qualifying competition, allowing spectators to experience how the UK DRS will work in practice.

The Championships Qualifying Competition is taking place from Monday, 22 June to Thursday, 25 June at the Wimbledon Qualifying and Community Sports Centre, Roehampton.

During the event, spectators can purchase evian® 75cl plastic bottles on-site, with a 20p deposit added at the point of purchase, reflecting how the national scheme will operate when launched.

Spectators can then return their empty bottles via one of two RVM collection points located across the site.

All deposits collected through the pilot will be donated to the Wimbledon Foundation, supporting a range of local and national community projects.

In addition to boosting recycling rates at the event, the pilot will provide an opportunity to gather valuable insights, helping to shape the consumer experience ahead of the national rollout of the scheme.

Speaking exclusively to Circular Online, Hannah Cornick, Danone North Europe Sustainability and Social Impact Director, said pilots like this provide a chance to see what works in real-life settings.

“By working with the All England Lawn Tennis Club and Exchange for Change to bring the scheme to life at the Championships Qualifying Competition, we’re helping to gather valuable insights to design a system that works for consumers, while also capturing materials from the event,” Cornick said.

“The pilot builds on evian’s long-standing partnership with Wimbledon, which has seen us continue to evolve our approach to sustainable hydration – from refillable stations for players and spectators to reusable bottle formats – making this a natural next step. It’s through collaborations like this that circularity moves from theory into action.”

While this pilot focuses on single-use plastic bottles and returns via RVMs, the UK DRS will apply to all single-use PET plastic bottles and aluminium and steel drinks cans between 150ml and 3 litres.

Evian has worked with Wimbledon as the Official Water of The Championships since 2008.

This RVM pilot builds on recent initiatives at The Championships, including refillable hydration stations for spectators and players and reusable bottle formats.

In 2025, Danone said approximately 40,000 refills were dispensed during the Championships, and 54% of spectator survey respondents who took part in the scheme continued to refill their bottles at home.

Commenting on this year’s DRS pilot, Kate McFerran, Corporate Affairs Director at Exchange for Change, said: “The insights gained from this pilot, as well as others taking place over the coming months, will help ensure the scheme is designed to be as efficient and consumer friendly as possible so we can all play our part in removing litter from our environment and building a stronger circular economy.”

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A team from recycling not-for-profit, Every Can Counts, is taking part in Red Bull’s famous Soapbox Race this weekend.

The four-person crew have designed and built a recycling-themed soapbox to take on the course in front of thousands of spectators at London’s Alexandra Palace.

Inspired by a classic VW Beetle and incorporating recycled cans into the engine detail, Every Can Counts’ design will take on 59 other teams in the hope of setting the fastest time and impressing the judges, while also raising awareness of the importance of recycling.

Canzee, Every Can Counts’ mascot made from 400 recycled drink cans, will make a special appearance as the driver of the soapbox.

By participating, Every Can Counts says it wants to inspire the public to dispose of their drink cans correctly, with a team of ambassadors onsite to engage attendees and highlight the recyclability of cans and the value of aluminium as a material.

Commenting on the race, Chris Latham-Warde, programme manager for Every Can Counts, said: “This is our third time competing in the Red Bull Soapbox race and every year, the team get more and more excited.”

“Every can recycled could be back on sale as a brand new can in as little as 60 days – and this cycle can continue forever thanks to the infinite recyclability of aluminium. Therefore, every can really does count, including at events like the Soapbox race.”

Every Can Counts is a unique partnership among drink can manufacturers, drink can fillers, and the wider recycling industry, with the goal of achieving a 100% recycling rate for drink cans.

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With the FIFA World Cup set to generate an estimated 156 tonnes of single-use plastic waste, 74% of people in the UK have said they want plastic-free packaging at events this summer.

The materials innovation company Xampla, which commissioned the research, says the FIFA World Cup will generate enough single-use plastic waste to stretch the length of more than 13,000 football pitches.

With the FIFA World Cup kicking off this month, new research, released as part of London Climate Action Week, has found that three-quarters of the public (74%) want major sporting events to only use plastic-free food packaging.

Xampla also highlighted that many single-use food containers that appear to be paper or card are lined with a thin layer of hidden plastic.

The survey found that half of the public (49%) said they did not realise that a lot of paper and cardboard takeaway food boxes are lined with plastic.

79% said food packaging should clearly state whether it contains plastic, so they can make informed choices, while 80% believe all food packaging, such as those used in takeaways and supermarkets, should be plastic-free where possible.

Commenting on the research, Alexandra French, CEO of Xampla, said: “The public cares deeply about the environment and wants to play their part to address the global plastic pollution crisis.”

“With millions of people attending festivals and sporting events this summer, there is a real opportunity for food businesses, the events industry, and manufacturers to demonstrate that scalable, plastic-free alternatives already exist.”

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Nadine Leder explains how industry engagement and innovative training opportunities are helping students develop valuable employability skills and prepare for the job market.

As the resource and waste management sector continues to drive the transition towards a more circular economy, developing green skills and attracting future talent has never been more important.

The challenge is not only about recruitment. It is about ensuring the next generation of professionals understands the opportunities, innovation and impact that sit at the heart of the sector.

What is the solution?

Earlier this year, CIWM Cymru, Dauson Environmental Group, and Cardiff Business School came together to deliver a different kind of training session.

Delivered as part of Cardiff Business School’s BSc Business Management Lunch and Learn series, the event brought 25 undergraduate and postgraduate students together to explore circular economy business models in an informal, engaging and highly practical setting.

The series is an extracurricular offering designed to enhance employability skills by giving students access to industry perspectives and exposure to real-world challenges, with previous sessions covering topics such as leadership, work experience and presentation skills.

For the final session of the semester, CIWM Cymru delivered a certified training workshop, providing students with a valuable opportunity to engage directly with the sector.

Led by Brian Royson Mayne, the session explored the principles and practical application of circular business models. Drawing on extensive experience within the resource and waste management sector, Brian encouraged students to look beyond recycling and consider the broader system, business models and innovations required to deliver a truly circular economy.

Through real-world examples and discussion, students gained an insight into what circularity means in practice, the impact of technology, and the role that resources and waste professionals play in enabling the transition.

No ‘Lunch and Learn’ is complete without lunch. With support from Dauson Environmental Group and its Sustainability Manager, Ben Maizey, who also volunteers on the CIWM Cymru Regional Committee, refreshments were provided for the students, helping to create a relaxed and informal tone for the session. This atmosphere proved key to the session’s impact.

Beyond the workshop content, students welcomed the opportunity for genuine interaction with the practitioners. The setting encouraged open discussion about careers, skills and the realities of working within the resources and waste sector, creating space for more honest and practical exchanges than a traditional classroom format typically allows.

These conversations often prove just as important as the formal training itself. They help students understand the breadth of career opportunities available, while giving practitioners a chance to engage directly with future talent and share first-hand insights from the sector.

Taken together, sessions like this highlight the value of closer collaboration between education and industry in building the skills needed to deliver a more resource-efficient and circular economy.

As the demand for green skills continues to grow, partnerships between education and industry will play an increasingly important role in preparing the workforce of the future.

Initiatives like this demonstrate how small interventions can create meaningful connections, raise awareness of the sector, and inspire the next generation of professionals who will help deliver a more resource-efficient and circular economy.

Speaking about the event, Siddh Sharma, Final-Year BSc Business Management Student, Cardiff Business School, said: “The CIWM Lunch and Learn brilliantly highlighted that circularity is no longer just an environmental initiative, but a core commercial strategy.”

“Engaging directly with industry practitioners gave us a practical understanding of how to transition from linear risks to resilient, closed-loop systems. As a student preparing to enter the supply chain sector, learning from the experts driving this sustainable transformation at scale was invaluable.”

Ben Maizeycommented: “One of the biggest challenges facing our sector is attracting and developing the talent needed to deliver a circular economy. Sessions like this give students a chance to see the innovation, purpose and career opportunities that exist within the industry, while allowing us to learn from the fresh perspectives they bring.”

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Susan Randall, Sustainable Solutions Advisor at Rype Office, gives an insight into how CIWM has led the way in circular economy furniture across two office moves in seven years.

Over the last seven years, CIWM (Chartered Institution of Wastes Management) has quietly led the way in sustainable office fit-outs, particularly circular-economy furniture. This has reduced costs, environmental impact and waste.

2019 office move

For its 2019 office move, CIWM employed the principles of the waste hierarchy, reusing where possible and using remanufactured furniture and items manufactured from waste materials for the rest.

CIWM sought a professional, modern space that inspired people and reflected its ethos of resource efficiency, sustainability, and the circular economy.

Rype Office, an award-winning British sustainable office design and furniture remanufacturing company, was appointed to assist, and they immediately conducted a review of existing furniture.

The design for the new office was developed incorporating existing furniture where suitable, externally sourced and remanufactured items, and furniture made from recycled/sustainable materials by local companies. 

Externally sourced used furniture came from Amazon’s UK office, advertising and PR firm WPP, and Marks and Spencer’s head office. This was remanufactured by Rype back to new condition in a quality-controlled engineering process.

The boardroom table was made from recycled post-consumer waste yoghurt pots. Coffee tabletops were made from recycled kitchen cutting boards. Booth frames were manufactured by the Merthyr Tydfil Institute for the Blind (MTIB).

By choosing circular economy furniture, CIWM saved money and avoided 7,600 kg CO2e carbon emissions compared to all new, while avoiding 2.6 tonnes of office furniture going to waste. For the flooring, 78.7% of the carpet tiles in the office were reused or recycled.

Existing furniture that was not suited to the new office was donated to the Northampton School for Girls, Derby Sea Cadets, Disability Network, Madani School Federation, Deaf Blind Conference Organisation, NHS Leicester, and the British Heart Foundation.

In 2025, CIWM relocated within the same building, with Rype Office designing, constructing and furnishing the new space.  Because CIWM chose high-quality furniture in 2019, 100% of the furniture in the new office came from the old office.

More than 90% of the flooring was reused, which saved a lot of money and avoided 3,000 kg CO2e embodied carbon emissions. Furniture not used in the new office was remanufactured by Rype for further use.

2026 chair upgrade

In 2026, CIWM decided to upgrade their task chairs to Rype Zeros and make sure their existing task chairs were remanufactured again for another life, avoiding waste.

The Rype Zero leads the way in ergonomic, low-carbon and sustainable task chair design. Developed in collaboration with Brunel University, this chair provides extraordinary comfort and support without the environmental or financial costs associated with new chairs made from virgin resources. It is used by JLL’s Manchester office, Transport for Wales’ head office and the Howard de Walden Estate’s HQ.

The mechanism, base, arms and shell of the Rype Zero are from the award-winning Giroflex 64 chair. Rype remanufactures G64 parts in the UK using a quality-controlled engineering process to return them to as-new condition and add to them seat and back pads that have been redesigned for greater comfort and a modern aesthetic.

The G64 chairs, which Rype remanufactured into Zeros for CIWM, came from Nomad Foods UK Headquarters. CIWM’s replaced chairs have been remanufactured again and are now serving the offices of Heathrow and Greenwood Place. Choosing Rype Zeros avoided 1,630 kgCO2e of carbon emissions compared to buying chairs made from virgin resources. 

Commenting on the projects, Dr Greg Lavery, Rype Office CEO, said: “CIWM has embraced the circular economy and made substantial cost and environmental savings – all without compromising on aesthetics or ergonomics. They have a wonderful office that embodies their commitment to transitioning the world to a more circular approach.”

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The Flexible Plastic Fund (FPF) has launched its FlexCircular initiative, which aims to further accelerate the UK’s transition to a circular economy for flexible plastic packaging.

Building on the FPF FlexCollect project, which found that large-scale household collection of flexible plastic packaging is achievable, FPF FlexCircular aims to demonstrate how to move towards recycling and full-system circularity.

The initial project is undertaking research to determine the scale of investment required in the UK to recycle up to 400,000 tonnes of post-consumer flexible plastic packaging by 2030.

It will have a particular focus on achieving circularity for food-contact packaging – by recycling it back into food-contact packaging.

The project, which will report its findings towards the end of 2026, is a collaborative effort led by Ecosurety with input from DEFRA, PackUK, the Welsh Government, and Zero Waste Scotland, and a project team comprising Suez, CEFLEX, WRAP, and RECOUP.

Commenting on the project, Gareth Morton, Discovery Manager at Ecosurety and FPF lead, said: “FPF FlexCircular is about turning the proof of collections into a real, investable circular system.”

“By understanding what the UK needs in terms of investment, infrastructure and policy, we can maximise the opportunity to recycle flexible plastics at scale, creating benefits for industry, consumers, and the environment alike.”

The project has several key aims, including analysing how much recycled flexible plastic may be needed by industry from 2030 onwards, and whether supply will meet demand.

It will also evaluate what types of recycling facilities, such as mechanical, chemical, or future technologies, may be needed in the UK, and at what capacity, and what level of investment might be required to build this infrastructure.

Finally, the project will assess the costs and risks of continuing to use virgin plastics and what policies and incentives may help to align the value chain to support UK recycling infrastructure investment.

FPF Spokesperson, Richard Akkermans, said the FlexCircular project represents a ‘pivotal moment’ for flexible packaging in the UK.

“We’ve proven that collection at scale is possible – the next opportunity is to close the loop by investing in the recycling infrastructure to match,” Akkermans said.

“For the Flexible Plastic Fund, achieving circularity for food-contact flexible plastics isn’t just an ambition, it’s a necessity. This research aims to provide the roadmap that the value chain needs to invest in the UK with confidence and deliver positive environmental outcomes for the future.”

The FPF FlexCollect project was set up in May 2022 to understand the best way to collect and recycle flexible plastic packaging and to trial kerbside collections across nine different waste collection authorities over three years.

89% of households that took part in the pilot said they were ‘very satisfied’ with the kerbside collections trial.

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The expansion of the blockchain and crypto landscape led to the introduction of different types of tokens with distinct applications. Utility tokens have emerged as one of the most popular token variants in the crypto space in recent times. You must have come across discussions on use cases of utility tokens in web3 in conversations about cryptocurrencies and digital tokens. Many people assume that utility tokens are a new experiment in digital assets like memecoins and security tokens.

• The global crypto market cap had reached $4 trillion in the third quarter of 2025 (Source).   
• The daily trading volume for all crypto assets is almost $329 billion (Source). 

You should know that the growth of utility tokens is one of the reasons for sporadic rise of the crypto market capitalization and trading volumes. Utility tokens don’t rely solely on hype or performance of blockchain, crypto, and web3 projects. On the contrary, utility tokens come with specific functionality, such as unlocking features, services, or actions in blockchain ecosystems. Anyone interested in learning about utility tokens has arrived at the right place to discover valuable insights on their top use cases.

Understanding the “Utility” of Utility Tokens

The first thing that you should know before exploring use cases of utility tokens is how utility tokens work. You can describe utility tokens in web3 as digital assets created specifically to facilitate access to specific services or functions in a cryptocurrency ecosystem. Utility tokens are different from Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies that serve as store of value or medium of exchange. The primary function of utility tokens is to fuel the operations in decentralized ecosystems.

You can also describe utility tokens as digital keys or a membership card that grants access to certain features or services in blockchain and web3 protocols. Utility tokens can help you. 

• Pay for transaction fees 
• Gain access to decentralized apps 
• Unlock special features on a platform
• Vote for protocol changes and decisions

It is important to note that the value of utility tokens does not come from speculation or the promise of huge dividends. On the contrary, the value of a utility token depends only on the demand for using it. As the concepts of blockchain gaming, DeFi, and web3 applications continue grabbing the limelight, utility tokens have emerged as a strong driving force for decentralized ecosystems.    

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Unraveling the Top Use Cases of Utility Tokens in Web3 

If you are preparing your next web3 project, then you might have some questions about the use of utility tokens. Everyone will say that you need a token for your web3 project without telling how to put it to use after launching the project. Without any real value, users are likely to disappear, and this is why you must identify the right use cases for utility tokens.

1. Payment and Access to Features in Web3 Projects

The foremost addition among common use cases of utility tokens for web3 projects is the ability to facilitate payments and access to services and features of the project. It is the easiest approach to identify utility token use cases for your web3 project, and your utility token can serve as native currency of the project. Users can leverage the utility token to make payments for services, digital assets, or features without traditional payment systems.

You can see how utility tokens can transform web3 projects into independent economies by empowering users to acquire and use the tokens directly within the project’s ecosystem. As a result, users can not only save transaction fees but also make the most of microtransactions. 

The use cases of utility tokens also include the facility of access to platform features and services. One of the examples of using utility tokens to access services is Filecoin, which offers access to distributed data storage for token holders.   

Web3 startups can leverage token-based payment systems to create direct demand for utility tokens and reduce dependence on conventional financial intermediaries. Utility tokens can also promote long-term user engagement with web3 projects by the support of effective tokenomics design.

2. Community Ownership and Governance

Utility tokens have been gaining a lot of traction in the web3 space as ideal tools to transform governance. Many web3 ecosystems have ditched the centralized approach to decision making and use utility tokens to grant voting rights. The use cases of utility tokens in web3 for governance empower token holders to propose new changes and exercise their vote on treasury expenses, protocol upgrades, and ecosystem projects. Token-based governance facilitates decentralization while aligning with the growth of the platform and community interests to ensure transparency.

You can find the best example of utility tokens for decentralized governance in decentralized autonomous organizations or DAOs. Governance tokens have shifted the power for governance from executive teams to community members. Utility tokens for governance can not only enhance transparency and trust but also loyalty from the community. 

The benefits of utility tokens in governance of Web3 projects also draw attention towards access to collective intelligence for developing new products. Furthermore, the applications of governance tokens are not limited to technical upgrades. Utility tokens for governance can also help in defining partnerships, content moderation policies, and marketing strategies for web3 projects. 

3. Successful Launch of New Web3 Projects

The most promising application of utility tokens in the domain of Web3 points at launching and scaling decentralized ecosystems. Web3 startups have to face challenges in attracting users, partners, and investors, all at the same time. With the help of utility tokens in web3, you can craft the ideal mechanism to ensure perfect alignment between groups. Web3 platforms can leverage utility tokens through airdrops, ecosystem grants, and early investor rewards to provide incentives for early participation and adoption.

Utility tokens can also serve as rewards for developers to build applications, while partners can receive utility tokens for expanding services. As a result, utility tokens can create a continuous loop of growth that continues reinforcing itself as the project grows. Ethereum is the best example of how early token incentives for developers and miners helped in creating a massive decentralized ecosystem. 

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4. Promoting User Engagement and Network Growth

The applications of utility tokens as early rewards represent only one aspect of their ‘utility’ in the web3 space. You must also know that utility tokens can drive reward and incentive systems that outperformance conventional loyalty programs in many ways. Web3 platforms can provide tokens as rewards for participation and establish clear relationship between user participation and financial value. It is one of the popular use cases of utility token that has proved effective in web3 gaming platforms and decentralized apps.

You can find the best example of such utility token use cases in play-to-earn gaming platforms. Players on these platforms can earn tokens by playing the games, completing tasks, and participating in the in-game economy. Users can spend utility tokens of the web3 games within the game and also trade them on exchanges. Therefore, utility tokens not only foster digital user engagement but also create real-world value. Many DeFi platforms have also leveraged token incentives to raise capital and launch new platforms with higher early adoption rates. 

5. Foundation for Real-World Asset Tokenization

The biggest use case of utility tokens that is gradually gaining attention is in tokenization of digital and physical assets. Utility tokens offer a model to represent rights to ownership, content access, product usage, and membership on blockchains. The utility tokens use cases in digital ecosystems can expand to providing access to premium communities, features, and exclusive content and virtual assets. In the digital world, creator platforms can use tokens to enable fans to support their favorite artists in return for perks.

Utility tokens in physical contexts can offer access to event tickets, memberships, and loyalty points. Tokenization will introduce more flexibility, liquidity, and transparency for different types of assets. As a matter of fact, many brands with web3 projects have used utility tokens to provide exclusive experiences. You can notice how utility tokens can foster brand loyalty in web3 projects and provide real, ongoing value that drives long-term engagement.

Final Thoughts 

The use cases of utility tokens have gained the limelight in the web3 space for many obvious reasons. You should know that utility tokens can provide access to services and features in web3 projects. Users can leverage utility tokens to pay for various things in web3 platforms and exercise voting rights on protocol decisions. The use cases of utility tokens also include helping with raising capital for web3 projects and promoting long-term user engagement. Learn more about utility tokens and how to choose the right use cases for utility tokens in your web3 project.

*Disclaimer: The article should not be taken as, and is not intended to provide any investment advice. Claims made in this article do not constitute investment advice and should not be taken as such. 101 Blockchains shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this article. Do your own research!

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