Odaily 8th Anniversary Special | From 8 to ♾️

Odaily turns 8 years old!

Over eight years, we've witnessed several bull and bear cycles, and the crypto industry has moved from the fringes into the spotlight. Looking back, we have set aside those results driven by quick success, persistently delivering clumsy yet sincere value, and continuously acting as the connection between people and technology, the present and the future. Having engaged multiple times with this uncertain crypto world, our enthusiasm remains undiminished.

Because we know that every late-night glance at the charts, every cautious protocol interaction, every debate about a decentralized future — these are all moments of your struggle with Web3. And it is these very moments that allow us to say: we are living authentically, creating meaning that transcends market cycles.

From 8 to ♾️, from finite to infinite, from this moment to eternity. On this eighth anniversary, we've invited fellow travelers in the crypto industry — from seasoned OGs who have weathered storms to fresh newcomers just beginning to explore the world. They've sent their messages to Odaily, and to every one of you still chasing the light.

Here's to the next eight years — may we still be present, with infinite imagination.

Rising Newcomers (1-3 years in the space)

Odaily: What was your entry point into Web3? What does Web3 mean to you, and does it live up to your expectations?

Yang Zhuanzhuan (2.5 years in): After the college entrance exam, I was looking for ways to make money in college and somehow got brought into this. To me, Web3 is about changing your life with very little money. The market is bleak now, but at least newcomers have a chance.

MaraCake @MaraCakeHotSale (2 years in): When I was looking for a job after graduation, I met a CEX contract BD on XiaoHongShu. Seeing it was the blockchain/crypto industry, I wanted to give it a try. To me, Web3 is a bustling bull market where projects airdrop tokens for no reason, filled with interesting narratives, protocols, and teams. It's a mixed bag right now, but finding something genuine in this market is still exciting. The barriers to entry are usually lower, offering opportunities for early wealth creation.

yael @YaelC_03: I saw Arbitrum was doing an airdrop and thought, 'This is a thing? I can make money by interacting with projects?' So I came in to check it out. I found the space interesting and stayed. To be honest, it's different from what I expected because there isn't much innovation anymore.

Nini @nininaby (2.2 years in): I hadn't graduated yet when I met an online friend who told me airdrop farming in Web3 was very profitable, saying he made millions from ARB. So I started farming Starknet. When I first got into Web3, I thought it was amazing — interacting through wallets outside the traditional financial system, even anonymously. I thought Web3 would definitely shine. Now I feel Web3 is just a hub for schemes.

Nexus (2.5 years in): My entry point was after the FTX collapse. A friend recommended I buy ETH. With my first crypto asset, I started on the path of 'buy first, research later' and found this space way more interesting than I imagined. Misled by traditional media, I used to have a bias against Web3, seeing it as a perfect picture of scams, speculation, and bubbles. But after entering, I realized these labels aren't entirely wrong, just too one-sided.

To me, Web3 is fundamentally a disintermediated value network where everyone can participate and price assets more freely. But in reality, it currently resembles a global trading market driven by liquidity and amplified by narratives, with technology, products, and applications still gradually catching up. So, it's not exactly what I initially expected. But precisely because it's imperfect and immature, it offers participants enough room and opportunity.

Odaily: What's your persona in Web3?

Yang Zhuanzhuan (2.5 years in): Meme bag holder fits me perfectly, haha. I'm on the front lines every day scanning chains, hoping to win big once.

MaraCake (2 years in): My persona is alpha hunter / degen marketer. I hope my tweets can bring some real alpha opportunities to those who see them.

yael: Contract gambler.

Nini (2.2 years in): I used to do everything. Now I'm a value holder, occasionally participating in some Meme coins.

Nexus (2.5 years in): An absolute contract enthusiast, obsessed with short-term trading. I rarely buy spot, only using leverage to amplify short-term volatility.

Odaily: What's your biggest loss/gain since entering the space?

Yang Zhuanzhuan (2.5 years in): Lost $230,000... Holding Alon thinking I'd catch the next Trump.

MaraCake (2 years in): My biggest gain was on Plasma. My biggest loss was on a CEX token (bag holding at the top, now down 50%). I haven't had massive losses because my risk control is very strict. I firmly believe in using small amounts for big potential and taking profits.

yael: My biggest gain was from a Meme coin, a single coin netting A6 (6 figures in RMB). My biggest loss was probably on inscriptions. I don't remember how much I lost, but I was continuously losing money during the slow death spiral of inscriptions over six months.

Nini (2.2 years in): My biggest loss was on the Merlin chain. My biggest gain was TRUMP. I bought in at $0.2, and it made more money than my whole family could earn working their entire lives.

Nexus (2.5 years in): I'll answer based on yield rate. My biggest loss is unforgettable. I was still in college, had just learned some technical analysis, and got cocky after a few lucky winning trades. I went all-in leveraging to short BTC. Predictably, I got liquidated, losing about 3000 USDT. I was devastated for days. I doubt I'll ever forget that. As for gains, since I mostly do short-term trading, my single trade profits aren't huge. The coin that made me the most was RIVER. Last year, I took long positions in waves, doubling my capital.

Odaily: What new things in Web3 are people currently willing to pay for?

Yang Zhuanzhuan (2.5 years in): Still Memes. There's nothing new worth paying for.

MaraCake (2 years in): Recently, I think fewer protocols. Odd coins and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization seem to be getting more attention. Commodities, US/HK stocks, etc.

yael: Two directions: PerpDEX and prediction markets. I find these two quite interesting right now.

Nini (2.2 years in): New methods of asset issuance.

Nexus (2.5 years in): Mainly two: first, Memes, the eternal center of attention; second, AI + Crypto, old wine in new bottles, but good enough for storytelling.

Veteran OGs (8+ years in the space)

Odaily: What was your entry point into Web3? What does Web3 mean to you, and does it live up to your expectations?

TC (8 years in): I used to work in the internet industry. An entrepreneur friend from Beijing airdropped EOS on WeChat Moments. I won some, looked up how to receive it, and ended up downloading an exchange. To me, Web3 was about decentralization and immutability idealism. But now the industry is easily swayed by highly centralized forces like Trump and Wall Street.

Zhang Xia (10 years in): By chance, someone shared the Bitcoin whitepaper on WeChat Moments along with a price chart. I looked into it. It was easy to buy back then, so I quickly funded my account and made my first purchase. To me, Web3 should be decentralized, fair, and censorship-resistant. But it doesn't seem to be what I once expected. Things have their ups and downs. I've only walked a part of this path; the future remains unknown.

Ma Siqi (13 years in): I had just started university when I learned about Bitcoin from the Weibo influencer 'Hardware Academy', coinciding with that bull run. In 2018, I became a journalist for a financial media outlet, attended some industry summits, got closer to this circle, and deeply understood blockchain technology. My ideal Web3 might be more technically idealistic, but it has become more of an entertainment space.

Mudan (8 years in): Back then, a senior recommended it, and I invested a bit in a private sale with friends. I felt there were more opportunities than in other industries. I've been constantly learning over the years, moving from marketing to content to business operations. The skills I've learned are rich and diverse, opportunities rarely found in traditional industries. The industry isn't quite what I expected. On one hand, I have made some money, meeting expectations. On the other hand, it's a mixed bag with many overhyped people, so I don't socialize much.

Odaily: How does the entrepreneurial environment now compare to 8 years ago?

TC (8 years in): The fundamentals haven't changed, but it's getting harder to make money.

Zhang Xia (10 years in): The industry environment is relatively monotonous now. In past cycles, people tried different narratives, attracting many entrepreneurs and funds. But the results were disappointing, leaving only the trading track dominant. On the bright side, the industry has become a liquidity pool for global financial markets. It's no longer niche, but also quite boring.

Ma Siqi (13 years in): The entrepreneurial atmosphere is much worse. Although there were all sorts of chaos before, many people still discussed technology, believed in the 'decentralization' narrative, and the industry's prospects. After several rounds of washing out, it's now entirely dominated by 'Shandong studies'. Some big names have chosen to capitulate and get co-opted, some freed themselves and retired, others left disappointed for AI. Those remaining are forming cliques and sucking up to power, trying to survive this bear market.

Mudan (8 years in): Eight years ago when I started, there was a lot of vitality. Starting a business and getting funding was easier. I think it's related to the overall economic environment. The entrepreneurial environment is nowhere near as good as before.

Odaily: How has Web3 changed your life/investments over the years?

TC (8 years in): My life has partly become a digital nomad lifestyle. I have more freedom. I like to measure prices in stablecoins.

Zhang Xia (10 years in): The working atmosphere in Web3 was great in the early years. We shared a brilliant time, and the work was fulfilling.

Ma Siqi (13 years in): It hasn't changed my life or investments that much. But it has changed my worldview significantly, giving me a very detailed and deep insight into society and human nature. Without entering this circle, I might never have had the chance to learn these things.

Mudan (8 years in): It has given me more physical and financial freedom. I can fly anywhere with my laptop, experiencing different countries. My spending is also more casual; I don't think too much about prices. I enjoy life. I read a great article by Mandy. She said one or two SOL can buy a great meal. Earning money is for experiencing and enjoying, not for getting more chips to keep gambling. I've also seen many people who have made enough to live comfortably for a lifetime lose it all because of an obsession.

Odaily: Which sectors in Web3 are you currently watching? What do you think will be the next breakout narrative?

TC (8 years in): Prediction markets, stablecoins, AI.

Ma Siqi (13 years in): Payments and RWA. Payments are already rolling out. RWA still lacks a catalyst and needs some adjustments; simply tokenizing equity/debt assets isn't very meaningful.

Mudan (8 years in): Honestly, I don't watch any sectors anymore. I'm just holding ETH and SOL, waiting for a miracle. It's hard to say what the next breakout narrative will be. Many practitioners have moved to AI, and I haven't seen a great business scenario or model combining AI and the industry yet. Personally, I always feel that AI's tool nature outweighs the current hype. It will become a deeply relied-upon tool for communication and monetizing traffic, similar to WeChat, rather than aiming to replace people or other things.

Odaily: On the occasion of Odaily's 8th anniversary, what message would you like to send to Odaily or crypto players?

TC: Stay alive. During bear markets, increase your income. Persist in staying at the table.

Zhang Xia: Odaily still has 92 years to go before becoming a century-old establishment. Happy birthday every year.

Ma Siqi: Let me borrow a line from Chairman Mao to conclude: 'Dawn is breaking, don't say you started early. The scenery here is superb after roaming over green hills.'

Yang Zhuanzhuan: Trust the market, trust everyone, and finally, trust yourself.

MaraCake: To Odaily: Wishing you prosperous business and good luck! To crypto players: Stay forever passionate 🥹.

yael: You must live to see the bull market. Things will get better.

Nini: The harder you try, the unluckier you may get. Learn to hold, not just to buy. Wishing us all to be among the few players who survive bull and bear markets and multiply their assets!

Nexus: Cycles will always be there, but few can transcend them. This space lacks neither opportunities nor stories. What it lacks is the ability to survive until the next cycle. Many lose not because they misread the market, but because of their positions, emotions, and timing. Those who can control risk often go further than those who can only seize opportunities.

Mudan: Living well, staying healthy, and your own happiness are the most important things.