@samantha
1. I have a gut feeling that the giants will either adapt to the web3 changes or die. Equity in the form of tokens for early users is a common crypto VC thesis and is worth exploring and criticizing. Crypto is still thriving but traction is questionable.
2. Only skills (I was a tech recruiter for a few years). Education only matters if you can get into an Ivy League - not because of the education, but because of the network. And contribute to OSS ;)
3. Do what you're good at, what you like, and what you'll be paid for. That could be AI, Crypto, or neither.