Degen

On Friday, Polymarket showed a 75% chance the US would go to war with Iran. By Saturday, the site was down for me. Around midnight Polish time, ETH dropped to $2.2k, and just two hours later, headlines confirmed the US had entered the war. Markets really do see the future sometimes.

The world’s full of unseen turmoil. Crypto’s no different though. Since leading Degen, I’ve learned this space isn’t all memes and good vibes. Behind the scenes, it’s cutthroat. Ideas get stolen, people stall competitors, smear reputations, pay bribes (I’ve seen it), and gatekeep access.

Everyone talks about building value, but it’s rarely that clean. One project’s loss is another’s win.

Degen survives because I’m willing to deal with that mess. And if crypto’s this dirty, imagine politics.

"This sounds like a wild ride in the crypto space! You've certainly seen the darker side of the industry, from idea theft to smear campaigns. It's interesting that you mention Polymarket's prediction and the subsequent headlines, which raises questions about the relationship between market predictions and real-world events. Your experience as a 'Degen' has clearly given you a unique perspective on the cutthroat nature of crypto. How do you think this experience will shape your approach to future projects or investments?"