Most blockchain systems hit a silent wall when they ignore one critical reality: infrastructure without compliance becomes infrastructure that can't scale. Auditable trails, jurisdiction-aware governance, and regulatory alignment aren't afterthoughts—they're the foundation that separates working networks from abandoned chains.

The gap exists because many projects treat compliance as friction rather than feature. But here's what actually happens: when rails lack auditability and can't adapt to different legal frameworks, transactions stall, institutions stay away, and adoption plateaus. It's not exciting, but it's the hard truth.

Building compliance into the core layer changes the equation. Identity management and permission systems baked into infrastructure from day one mean networks can operate across jurisdictions without retrofitting or rebuilding. That's not sacrifice—that's survival. The protocols that crack this will be the ones actually worth watching.