In the past few years, the crypto space's narrative has been more tumultuous than a roller coaster: Bitcoin reached new highs after halving, then collapsed dramatically with the FTX incident and LUNA going to zero; from the frenzy of DeFi and the wealth creation myth of NFTs to the rise of the AI sector, deep cultivation of the BTC ecosystem, and the breakout of RWA (real-world assets)—each node is marked with dual imprints of opportunity and risk.
Many people ask me: Can we still enter the crypto space now? Is there still an opportunity?
As an 'old lettuce' entering the space in 2017, I want to share my personal experience about the true nature of the crypto space in 2025, and how ordinary people can establish themselves here.
1. There are still opportunities in the crypto space, but the era of 'getting rich with closed eyes' is dead.
Let me conclude: the crypto space hasn’t cooled down, but it is no longer the era of 'easy profits for everyone'; it has become a 'professional field with increasing differentiation'.
To put it bluntly, the gap between those who can make money and those who can’t is widening to the extreme. The days of blindly buying Shiba, APE, and Dogecoin for quick profits are long gone with the market's maturity. Nowadays, profit hinges on information asymmetry, strategic logic, and execution capability.
Why is this happening?
Because the market's leaders have changed: from the early days of retail frenzy to a new stage of deep institutional involvement and professional capital competition. Your opponents might be full-time on-chain analysts, quantitative arbitrage teams, or even AI trading bots and exchange market makers—without professional skills, it’s easy to become the 'retail lettuce' being harvested.
So, using the bull market mindset of 2019 and 2021 to deal with today’s market? You’re likely to stumble.
2. The dividends are still there, but the gameplay must be upgraded.
1. Make money from 'cognitive differences', not by gambling on luck.
In the past, one could become wealthy just by 'catching the wind' (like DeFi, NFT, GameFi), but now the trends are shorter, and hype is faster; without research ability, it’s easy to take on 'the last baton'.
Currently, real opportunities worth deep exploration are hidden in these directions:
Pre-position for airdrops: track early interactions of potential projects like LayerZero, EigenLayer, ZKSync, and seize the dividend window;
Bet on ecological growth: pay attention to the TVL (Total Value Locked) growth rate of new public chains like Berachain and Monad, capturing the ecological explosion period;
Keep a close eye on institutional trends: AI + blockchain, RWA (real-world assets on-chain), Bitcoin Layer 2, and other sectors heavily invested by institutions offer clearer long-term value.
2. Learn to 'look at data' for decision-making, rather than following rumors.
What the crypto space lacks is 'gossip', but reliable information is always hidden in the data:
Use Dune Analytics to observe protocol activity and assess the project's real popularity;
Use Nansen to track the movements of 'smart money' (large addresses) to avoid being misled by false market conditions;
Use Arkham, DeBank to check on-chain large holder positions to sense market sentiment;
Even follow Twitter (X platform) to keep track of core developers and institutional accounts for first-hand information.
Those who can use tools have long surpassed retail investors who only follow trends by scrolling through short videos.
3. A survival guide for the crypto space in 2025: a practical asset allocation model.
I suggest ordinary people abandon the gambler's mindset of 'all in on one coin' and try layered allocation, balancing safety and returns:
✅ 70% Long-term value position
Focus on BTC and ETH, suitable for dollar-cost averaging, avoid frequent trading.
This part is your 'ballast', resistant to risks and volatility like digital gold; it gives you the confidence to ride through bull and bear markets.
✅ 20% Hotspot tracking position
Focus on current mainstream trends: AI sector, Bitcoin Layer 2, modular public chains, stablecoin RWA, Solana ecosystem.
The principle is 'don’t chase highs, dare to take profits', follow the trend and savor the soup, don’t be greedy for the whole fish.
✅ 10% Small position speculation + Airdrop layout
Engage in on-chain interactions, mining, testnet activities with small capital, for example:
Task interaction on ZKSync
Staking mining on EigenLayer
Testnet testing of new chains like Manta and Scroll
This part is a 'high-risk high-reward' gamble, and you must be mentally prepared for 'losing it all won't affect your life'.
4. Whether you can make money ultimately depends on your mindset.
Many people think the crypto space relies on insight, but the key is actually mindset + rhythm control.
Three survival rules summarized by old investors are worth remembering:
Don’t aim for the last segment of profit, don’t be greedy for the first segment: in a bull market, don’t wait to sell at the peak, in a bear market, don’t hope to buy at the lowest point; the safest strategy is to 'eat meat' in the middle.
Volatility is the norm, explosive growth is incidental: real opportunities are 'guarded' and frequent operations may lead to missing opportunities or being trapped.
Reject FOMO (fear of missing out): what you see as 'others getting rich' may be the result of years of hibernation and trial and error, don’t let short-lived market conditions cloud your judgment.
5. Finally: The crypto space has changed, but opportunities still exist.
The crypto space has long transformed from a 'get-rich-quick' 'wealth prairie' to a 'professional survival' 'expert arena'.
If you are still using past thinking to play in today's market, you will only suffer more; but if you are willing to calm down, research, build your own strategies, and optimize your understanding, there are still the most potential returns in the entire market.
Finally, here are three life-saving suggestions:
Never go all-in, don’t easily trust any 'sure-win' KOLs;
Spend time learning on-chain operations; analyzing data yourself is more reliable than listening to 100 'insider' tips.
Remember: staying alive is more important than anything else; position control is the 'lifeline' in the crypto space.
I hope you are not just 'here to take a look' in the crypto space, but can 'survive, make money, and become stronger'.
