On March 17, 2025, a conversation between crypto bigwig Emperor and crypto top player CZ on Twitter sparked deep reflection among many Web3 players:
Emperor pointed out that the barrier to success in the crypto field is very low, as 80% of people come in just to check it out because of a hot news story, 10% are influenced by FOMO while lurking on Twitter, and 5% pretend to be rich, with only the last 5% truly needing to surpass.
CZ then added that among them, 4% have been active on major trading platforms, but their returns may not outperform the last 1% who hold BTC long-term.
To outperform this 1%, tremendous effort is needed.
In simple terms, if you are busy in and out of the market, playing MEME and derivatives, you might be worse off than someone who bought BTC and held it without moving.
On the surface, the two were just discussing virtual currency investment, but behind this conversation lies a harsh reality worth reflecting on for all Web3 investors: those who outperform 99% in Web3 do so not by luck, but by an anti-human long-term understanding.
Many people see CZ say 'holding BTC long-term can outperform 99%', and may subconsciously think this is just a motivational phrase for retail investors. But looking at the data, you will find that behind long-termism lies a cold, hard reality logic.
Take the institutional giant Strategy as an example, which has been continuously buying BTC since 2020. By March 17, 2025, its holdings had reached 499,226 BTC, with a total investment of $33.1 billion. If calculated at a price of $82,000 per coin, Strategy's unrealized profits have exceeded $7.8 billion. In contrast, most short-term players active on major exchanges may have frequently entered and exited over the past few years, only to repeatedly miss opportunities, chase highs, and cut losses, ultimately yielding returns that may not even compete with those of long-term holding institutions and whales.
Staying in Web3 for a long time, you will find that no matter how hot the bull market is, short-term speculators desperately 'look for the next 100x coin,' while the long-term winners remain those investors and institutions that can endure loneliness and thoroughly understand asset logic.
Why do the vast majority of retail investors fail to beat the market?
Because they are more easily swept away by emotions, led by hot topics, and swayed by the fluctuations of bull and bear markets.
In contrast, those who can weather bull and bear markets and consistently outperform typically share several core commonalities:
Long-term perspective, looking at 3 years, 5 years, or even a full cycle.
In-depth research on industry trends and regulatory directions, not just looking at coin prices, but understanding the underlying tracks and technological directions.
Heavy investment in core assets, less short-term speculation. BTC, ETH, and some core assets of leading public chains always sit at the top of the food chain.
Participate in a construction role, either as an early developer/ecosystem contributor or through early equity and fund positioning.
We often say, 'Bull markets create wealth, bear markets train troops.'
For project parties, the teams that can truly explode in a bull market often silently polish their technology and accumulate ecosystems during a bear market. Similarly, this logic applies to all investors who wish to weather cycles.
During a bull market, price sentiment can easily sweep people away, but what truly determines long-term returns is whether you can establish a solid cognitive foundation and position valuable long-term targets during a bear market, instead of blindly chasing high prices when the market improves. Many investors who can weather cycles and achieve stable profits actually did their research and recognized which tracks have real value long before the market heated up, and are not swayed by short-term fluctuations.
Understanding the cognition during a bear market and harvesting results during a bull market is the correct way to outperform 99% in the long run.
Therefore, for new Web3 investors, especially those with a Chinese background, the current predicament may not only be due to the limited participation in the Web3 market under regulation but perhaps more importantly, the boundaries of understanding.
"What exactly constitutes an investment target that can be held long-term, participates compliantly, and is risk controllable?"
Looking back at those who can truly weather cycles for the long term, whether individual investors or institutions, they often have long since shifted their focus to:
Recognize whether there is a real value accumulation capability behind the project;
Reasonably utilize compliant funds, equity, and service architectures in places like Hong Kong and Singapore to participate, aligning with regulatory policies;
Focus more on the technology trends and regulatory policies of the entire industry rather than the rise and fall of coin prices.
However, many Chinese investors precisely lack a clear framework and compliant path on this road, which is also a key issue that Portal Labs has been assisting high-net-worth users to address.
Currently, the market appears to be neither a bull market nor a bear market. Many investors are waiting for the next 'certain opportunity' to arise or are hesitating in the fluctuations of the market.
But have you ever thought that what truly determines whether you can outperform that 1% in the future is whether you have already built a solid cognitive foundation and clarified your investment system during such uncertain market conditions?
Finally, Portal Labs wants to leave a small question for every Web3 investor:
Will you choose to continue waiting and observing, or are you willing to take advantage of the market's calm period to prepare for the next cycle?
Feel free to leave a message~