I have been in crypto for a while. I have bought tokens, provided liquidity and staked for rewards. It always felt a bit like being a tourist in a digital city. I would pass through, take photos and maybe spend a little cash, but I never really put down roots.
That changed the moment I locked my BANK for veBANK.
Clicking the lock button was different from any other transaction. Staking is temporary; you can unstake. Providing liquidity? You can withdraw. But locking felt permanent. It was a conscious decision to connect a part of my digital self to the future of this protocol. For a moment, my finger hovered. It’s a scary feeling to commit to something you believe in.
But the second the transaction confirmed, the fear melted away. It was replaced by a strange, new feeling: belonging.
It was not just about the promise of rewards or extra yields. It was about the intangibles.
Suddenly, I was not just a user anymore. I became a stakeholder.
That governance page I used to just glance at now felt like my town hall. Those proposals about new vaults or fee structures weren't just abstract ideas; they directly impacted my protocol. My little veBANK balance gave me a voice, however small. It gave me a reason to care, to research, and to think about what was best for Lorenzo.
It is the difference between renting an apartment and owning a home. When you rent, you might complain if the faucet leaks, but you call the landlord. When you own, you grab a wrench. You plant flowers in the garden. You invest your effort and care because it is yours.
Locking my BANK was me grabbing the wrench. It was me planting a flag and saying, I am here. I believe in this. I am going to help build this.
Now as I see a new strategy proposed, I read it with an owner’s eye. When I see the community debating I feel part of the conversation. My success is now tied to the protocol's success. We rise together.
That first lock dud not just give me veBANK; it gave me a home in the digital world. And honestly, it feels pretty great to be a citizen.
