From Memecoin to Blockchain Infrastructure: A Veteran's Perspective on the Transformation in Crypto

In an extensive discussion moderated by ThreadGuy, one of the leading figures in the crypto industry reflected on his personal evolution after overcoming a critical period, revealing how his priorities and vision for the sector have radically changed. His comments range from investment strategies to emerging competition within the decentralized ecosystem.

Reorientation after the crisis: When freedom takes another form

After some time out of the public spotlight, the entrepreneur revealed that the experience led him to reconsider what is truly important. “Without health, everything else is meaningless,” he expressed while reflecting on the months of forced introspection. He highlighted that he used to believe wealth was essential, but discovered that personal relationships and family are what truly matter.

His new focus is on helping other entrepreneurs. “When you can take care of yourself, helping others provides genuine satisfaction,” he noted. This shift in mindset led him to detach from the operational management of his previous project and focus on investment and mentoring new teams through blockchain incubators.

He categorically rejected feeling responsible for the entire crypto industry: “That weight would be too much. There are many excellent participants driving it. I am just one more, and that role feels more comfortable to me.”

The memecoin space: From initial skepticism to strategic acceptance

Contrary to what many believed in 2024, he was never truly against memecoins. “Personally, I’m not excited about them because I am neither a creator of this type of tokens nor a trader of speculative assets,” he clarified. However, he recognizes their value and impact on the ecosystem.

What’s interesting is how the community transformed their daily actions into cultural phenomena. An attempt to learn to trade meme coins with $50-100 ended up as a viral joke. Later, when he posted content about Chinese festivals, the community automatically turned him into a reference for tokens with an oriental theme on the BNB blockchain. “It was all spontaneous, not planned,” he insisted.

The memecoin alarm signal came when controversial projects like Meme Rush caused confusion over access control mechanisms via identity verification. “When I was traveling to Bahrain, I faced accusations of ‘selling fake tokens.’ This demonstrates the risk of these assets: without price support from fundamentals, they are extremely volatile,” he explained.

However, his support for infrastructure for memecoins is explicit. While personally holding mainly Bitcoin and BNB as long-term assets, he invests in teams building platforms and tools for these markets.

Bitcoin: A lifelong bet

His entry into the crypto world in July 2013 was a turning point. “It was gradual. It took me six months to fully understand Bitcoin, but by December of that year, I was sure it would change the future,” he recalled.

The decision to sell his house and invest everything was calculated, not impulsive. He had a clear backup plan: if Bitcoin went to zero, he could return to the tech industry with a six-figure salary. He endured 18 months of consecutive price drops before the bet began to pay off.

Regarding current Bitcoin predictions between $500,000 and $1,000,000, he remains optimistic. “Predictions are not reliable, but looking at four-year historical cycles, each cycle brings peaks between October and December. The 1-2% volatility that worries today is less significant for those who have been in this sector for over a decade. Bitcoin has dropped 50% in a day.”

BNB Chain versus Solana: Different philosophies, same destiny

Bitcoin remains the largest blockchain but lacks programmability. Ethereum became saturated with users. In this context, BNB Chain has developed three main architectures: Greenfield for storage, EVM-compatible Smart Chain, and a Layer 2 solution called opBNB.

“Our DNA prioritizes utility and liquidity. Solana is a technically strong blockchain, but today it is mainly a memecoin chain,” he compared. However, he clarified that competition is not zero-sum: “Each chain has its story. Solana faced serious challenges with the collapse of major platforms backing it, but it achieved a remarkable recovery.”

The migration of users from Solana to BNB Chain in recent weeks reflects different profiles: BNB Chain users tend to hold tokens long-term, while Solana attracts more short-term traders seeking volatility. “The activity of memecoins on BNB recently surpassed Solana. We have five memecoins with market caps between $100 million and $500 million, something Solana hasn’t seen lately.”

Perpetual futures DEXs: The next frontier of decentralized trading

Why are perp exchanges growing so rapidly? Privacy is key. Institutional traders don’t want their orders to be public in real-time because that information can be used to decipher algorithms and execute predatory attacks.

Hyperliquid succeeded early on due to its focus on transparent traceability, efficient liquidity pools, and effective marketing. But that’s not enough for the future: “Privacy has always been important for serious traders. After 20 years on Wall Street, I know that total transparency isn’t always beneficial.”

Aster emerged as an alternative precisely because it offers mechanisms to hide orders. It also supports deposits from multiple blockchains, including native Solana assets. “Both projects are less than two years old. Being first doesn’t guarantee permanent leadership. Those who come after learn faster and can surpass pioneers.”

Regarding success metrics: “It can’t be measured with a single indicator. Users and volume combined are key. But you have to consider that airdrops can inflate volume, bots can create thousands of addresses, and zero-fee trading distorts metrics. In the end, users choose based on liquidity, low fees, stability, and security.”

Regulatory confusion and its impact on innovation

The SEC under previous administrations classified many utility tokens as securities, including BNB and others. “If a project tries to launch something with real utility, it faces legal pressure. But memecoins, by declaring themselves ‘without value or utility,’ avoid those issues. That explains why some ecosystems see more proliferation of memecoins than projects with complex functionality.”

Lessons for the next generation of builders

For young people watching this content from Solana communities or other spaces: “Don’t copy everything I say, but I would recommend starting early. The best opportunities are not in corporate offices but in startups and own projects.”

The crucial advice is to have a solid plan B. If everything fails, can they keep living? “I founded my biggest project at 40, when I had accumulated experience and resources. The average age of successful founders exceeds 40. Success has no expiration date.”

He warned against time-related anxiety: “Many seek heroic operations to avoid being lifelong employees. But that leads to hasty decisions. Entrepreneurship requires patience and long-term planning, not impulsiveness.”

The crypto industry: An ecosystem that will continue to mature

“Crypto’s future will have challenges, obstacles, and constant problems,” he acknowledged. But he remains convinced that “if we do the right thing, maintain integrity, and help others instead of harming, the industry will advance.”

Diversity is the greatest advantage: speculative tokens, utility tokens, security tokens—each area has potential. Blockchain technology is more advanced and promising than traditional financial systems.

His view on crypto media is that “social networks and independent creators will be the norm. Reliable media at a global level are lacking. Crypto technology enables micropayments: audiences could pay 10 cents or less per episode. With a large base, that generates sustainable income.”

Although he recognizes persistent market volatility, he maintains perspective: “These fluctuations are temporary. Over time, the industry will be stronger. For those who have been here for years, any drop from 120,000 to 115,000 is just noise.”