I see ppl calling for the death of defi
They're wrong
DeFi is gonna take a hit but it will not die, current situation is completely recoverable with protocol treasuries and loans
I believe in DeFi and I'm gonna keep working to make it succeed🦙
I guess the coins I like the most going into the new cycle are these:
1. $HYPE (perps, L1)
2. $TAO (AI, L1)
3. $NEAR (AI, L1, privacy)
4. $LIT (perps, the best bet on perps after HYPE)
5. $PUMP (memecoins, speculation)
6. $ZEC (L1, privacy)
7. $MON (new L1)
8. $MEGA (new L2)
New coins good, old coins bad. HYPE, LIT, PUMP, MON, MEGA has never been in a bull. Well, you could argue HYPE launched at the tail of the bull, but not a full cycle. TAO and NEAR are clear tokens in the AI narrative. ZEC is the "VC-privacy coin".
But tokens are not stocks, they have no value. Yes, and no. I think this is one of the hardest "dilemmas" of the new cycle. Betting on tokens in 2023 felt like a no-brainer. We all had hopes that our coins would make a comeback at some point. Now, in 2026, with an infinite number of tokens, it's harder than ever to pick something. There is a huge difference between a good product and a good token, and since most tokens are governance tokens, do we really need them? Maybe not, but it remains the main vehicle for speculation.
What about BTC, SOL, ETH? BTC should always be a part of a core portfolio, maybe SOL and ETH also, but I think the ones above will outperform compared to them.
Anyway, my gut feeling says that there will be something else that takes the spotlight, and that "the new thing" will outperform all of the 8 I listed. These are my thoughts today. Next week or next month I could already have changed my mind, so NFA and do your own research.
Should you quit a 9-5 job to focus 100% on crypto?
This is a topic I've touched on earlier as well, but crypto is changing all the time, so here are my current thoughts:
Tbh, it has become substantially harder to make it in crypto since I started full time in 2021. Mainly due to the massive inflation in tokens.
1. First of all, do you have enough money saved up on the side? If not, how are you planning on earning money for a living? Just saying that you're going to trade won't be enough in 2026.
2. Do you have a proven track record of making anything in crypto so far? Either through trading, airdrop farming, marketing, web3 job, etc. If not, could you apply for a job? Just a side note here: airdrops have been shit lately and not many companies are hiring. Yes, it's a deep bear market.
3. Let's say you have saved up some money on the side and that you've been able to earn money from crypto so far. Now, what if you were to lose it all? Think through the worst-case scenarios, would you be able to pay the bills still? Can you go back to your old job if shit hits the fan? What is the opportunity cost of not being full-time in crypto? Is there some upside you miss from your old job?
4. Are you sure you want to sit in a basement with greasy hair, unshaven, watching charts all day, scrolling Twitter, TG, and Discord? You can say it is freedom, but is it really? Personally I am an introvert and handle this kind of lifestyle well, but like 8/10 of my IRL friends would go mad from this kind of life. It can be lonely, and while you ofc can treat it as a 9-5 job, this is way easier said than done in a casino that is open 24/7.
5. Are you disciplined enough to work on your own? Don't underestimate the comfort in routines and been given tasks. Working by yourself is magic for some, but could be pure pain for social people (unless you optimize, getting coworkers etc.)
6. Do you see an upside in income from quitting your job? It's easy to think you will 10x your net worth in crypto, but 99% of people won't make that. In fact they will end up losing money. Could you apply for a web3 job first, and then quit your 9-5 job when you have it? If so, that will be recommended.
7. Do you have a network in crypto already? If not, you should definitely get one. Having friends in here is how you get to know about the airdrops worth farming, coins that might have upside, and the people you discuss thesis with ++ If you don't have a CT profile already, what are you waiting for?
There is no universal answer to this question, but if you are young, have some money on the side to cover all expenses for at least some years + you have some kind of edge and a network in here I would definitely try (assuming you can go back to your old job or something similar if you lose everything).
If you don't have an edge already, you should 100% not quit until you have an edge.