Sponsored influencers have diluted what KOLs actually mean in this space. The real ones? They're the backbone—people willing to stake their reputation, face the pressure, absorb all the criticism, and still show up consistently. That's the antidote we need. They demonstrate through action, not paid posts. Without authentic voices leading by example, most projects would collapse to zero. It's that simple. True influence comes from skin in the game, not sponsorship deals.