The combination of a 4-hour train ride and a long weekend meant a lot of time to scroll and even more time to ruminate about what I was scrolling through. By virtue of sometimes knowing me better than I know myself, I feel like the “The Algorithm” has caused me to think less. What promised to “democratize taste,” is instead telling us what we like and flattening culture into beige uniformity.

For the past two decades, we’ve celebrated killing our gatekeepers—those stuffy critics, label executives, and gallery curators who decided what deserved our attention. We were tired of elitists in ivory towers telling us what was cool, so the internet gave us forum culture, direct artist access, and algorithmic discovery to bypass the middlemen and find what we actually liked.

We didn’t end up doing that, though. Instead, we decided to all like the same things. Now it’s time we bring back the gatekeepers.

Welcome to Catalyst—your bi-weekly insights on emerging fintech and Web3 trends, a behind-the-scenes look at some of the top players in the space, and actionable strategies you can implement today. No fluff. No basic takes. Just clear insights on what's actually happening in fintech. 💻

Forwarded this email? Get Catalyst in your inbox each week.

Will’s Picks

A few things I’ve loved reading this week—

• The New Playbook for Marketing-Led Companies Using Outbound

• The only 2 LinkedIn post formats you’ll ever need

• The Genius Guide to Pitching Without Getting Ghosted

• Want to Come to Dinner? The Power of Outbound for Events and Enterprise

• Is gatekeeping cool now?

The Great Flattening

Instead of diversifying our taste, recommendation algorithms created the most homogeneous culture in human history.

Spotify doesn't introduce you to obscure jazz from the 1960s—it feeds you variations of songs you've already liked. TikTok doesn't challenge your worldview—it reinforces your existing biases with surgical precision.

The data is telling:

• Music streaming has reduced genre diversity by 40% since 2010

• Netflix's algorithm drives 80% of viewing decisions toward increasingly similar content

• YouTube's recommendation engine creates echo chambers that narrow rather than expand interests

AI has accelerated this flattening exponentially. When everyone uses ChatGPT to write emails, emails start sounding identical. When designers use Midjourney with similar prompts, visual culture converges toward sameness.

We eliminated gatekeepers and replaced them with algorithms that optimize for engagement, not quality.

Why Gatekeepers Had Value

The old gatekeepers weren't perfect, but they understood something algorithms don't: curation requires taste, and taste requires a point of view.

Great music critics championed artists who deserved attention but hadn't found it yet and gallery curators built coherent narratives about artistic movements. It wasn’t about what would get the most likes or find it’s five minutes of viral popularity.

These people had skin in the game. Their reputations depended on their judgment over time. Algorithms have no reputation to protect.

Consider the difference:

A jazz critic stakes their credibility on recommending an unknown musician

Spotify's algorithm recommends what statistically correlates with your listening history

One takes risks in service of discovery. The other optimizes for immediate satisfaction.

The Creator Renaissance

This explains the shift from influencers to creators happening across industries.

Influencers built audiences through algorithmic gaming—posting at optimal times, using trending sounds, reverse-engineering viral formulas. Their value came from reach, not expertise.

Creators build audiences through demonstrated expertise and distinctive perspective. They function as trusted filters in an overwhelming information landscape.

In fintech specifically, we're seeing this transition:

• Newsletter writers like Packy McCormick and Matt Levine build massive audiences through financial expertise and unique voice

• Podcast hosts like Patrick O'Shaughnessy create value by asking better questions than algorithms could generate

• YouTube creators like Ben Felix educate audiences about complex financial concepts with more nuance than any recommendation engine

These creators succeed because they apply human judgment to infinite digital possibilities. They're the new gatekeepers—but they earn their authority through demonstrated value, not institutional position.

What Makes New Gatekeepers Different

The emerging gatekeepers operate under completely different rules:

Transparency over Authority

Old gatekeepers derived power from opaque decision-making processes. New gatekeepers succeed by showing their work—explaining why they recommend something, not just what they recommend.

Niche over Mainstream

Old gatekeepers needed mass appeal to justify their positions. New gatekeepers can build sustainable businesses serving specific communities with shared interests.

Accessibility over Exclusivity

Old gatekeepers often emphasized what you couldn't access. New gatekeepers help you discover things you didn't know existed.

Dialogue over Dictate

Old gatekeepers made pronouncements. New gatekeepers engage in ongoing conversations with their audiences.

The Business Opportunity

Smart companies are already positioning themselves as “tastemakers” rather than just service providers.

• Substack curates and promotes writers who match their editorial vision

• Discord highlights communities that represent quality conversations

• Patreon showcases creators who exemplify their platform values

In fintech, this opportunity is massive. Financial services companies that develop curatorial expertise will capture outsized value:

• Investment platforms that recommend specific assets with clear reasoning, not just broad categories

• Banking apps that highlight financial products based on user goals, not algorithmic correlation

• Insurance companies that explain coverage decisions rather than hiding behind actuarial tables

Building Your Curatorial Advantage

If you want to become a trusted filter in your industry, focus on developing genuine expertise rather than optimizing for algorithms:

1. Develop Deep Knowledge Become genuinely expert in a specific domain. Breadth matters less than depth when establishing curatorial authority.

2. Take Positions Have opinions about what's good and what isn't. Neutral observers don't become trusted guides.

3. Show Your Work Explain your reasoning. The logic behind recommendations is often more valuable than the recommendations themselves.

4. Accept Being Wrong Your credibility comes from the overall quality of your judgment, not perfection. Acknowledge mistakes and update your thinking publicly.

5. Serve a Specific Audience Don't try to be relevant to everyone. The best curators serve specific communities with shared values and interests.

We're entering an era where human curation becomes a premium service. As AI generates more content and algorithms create more options, the ability to filter signal from noise becomes increasingly valuable. The gatekeepers are coming back as trusted guides who've earned their influence through demonstrated expertise and consistent value.