Recently, while chatting with friends about investment and entrepreneurship, he remarked: "To be honest, it's still better to engage in real industries, as there is higher certainty and quicker returns. The cryptocurrency world is just endless harvesting." This statement reflects the feelings of many during economic fluctuations and touches on a core issue in contemporary society: where does true wealth actually come from?
1. Real Economy: A Solid Foundation for Value Creation
The real economy is the backbone of human social development. From the agricultural revolution to the industrial revolution, and then to the information technology revolution, every leap in productivity is built on a solid foundation of the real economy.
The certainty of the real economy is reflected in:
1. Traceability of value creation: A cup of coffee, from planting, roasting to brewing, has clear costs and values at each stage
2. Stability of demand: Regardless of technological advancements, basic human needs for food, clothing, shelter, and education will not disappear
3. Employment and industry chain stimulation: A factory not only creates products but also drives employment, forming a regional economic ecosystem
Manufacturing entrepreneur Cao Dewang once said: 'Industry is the backbone of society, finance is the blood. Blood is important, but cannot replace the backbone.'
II. Virtual Speculation: The Cruel Truth Behind the Beautiful Trap
In recent years, cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and various financial derivatives have emerged, weaving dreams of 'getting rich overnight.' However:
The essence of the 'harvesting cycle' in the cryptocurrency world:
· The extreme of information asymmetry: Project parties, exchanges, and large investors hold information advantages that retail investors cannot access
· Zero-sum and even negative-sum games: Most speculative markets do not create value but merely redistribute wealth, accompanied by high fees
· The risk of regulatory vacuum: Many virtual assets are in a legal gray area, lacking protection for investors' rights
'High-quality projects', 'major background investors', 'exceeding expectations returns'—these grandiose terms are often just bait to attract the next batch of participants, similar to how 'uplines' in pyramid schemes continually seek 'downlines.'
III. Comparative Certainty: The Essential Differences Between Real Industry and Speculation
Dimension: Real economy vs. virtual speculation
Source of value: Meeting actual needs, creating products or services vs. market sentiment, capital flow, speculative psychology
Time Frame: Long-term accumulation, exponential growth; short-term games, zero-sum competition
Risk characteristics: Assessable, manageable, low systemic risk vs. unpredictable, frequent black swan events, high systemic risk
Social value: Creating jobs, promoting innovation, enhancing national strength vs. capital idling, exacerbating inequality, systemic risk
IV. The Deep Logic of 'Quick Money' in Real Industry
Making money in real industry seems slow, but in fact, it has its quick aspects:
1. The effect of compound interest: Client accumulation, brand building, and technological barriers will grow exponentially over time
2. Stability of cash flow: Healthy industrial projects can provide continuous cash flow, not just paper wealth
3. Risk resistance capability: Diversified products and a stable supply chain make the real industry more resilient in economic cycles
Japan's 'Saint of Management' Inamori Kazuo insisted on 'achieving excellence in the ceramics field' when founding Kyocera, ultimately achieving success in multiple sectors of the real economy. This focus brings certainty of continuous growth over decades.
V. Between Reality and Illusion: Finding Balance and Wisdom
This does not completely deny the virtual economy. A healthy financial market can supply blood to the real economy, improving resource allocation efficiency. The key lies in:
The principle of wise choice:
1. Clear priorities: Based on industry, utilizing finance
2. Risk matching: No investment should exceed the scope of bearable loss
3. Value examination: Continuously asking 'What real value does this project create for society?'
Conclusion: Returning to the essence of creation
The essence of wealth is not a numbers game, but value creation. When we choose to 'do' real industry with our feet on the ground, we are choosing not only a path to wealth but also a life philosophy: believing that effort will be rewarded, believing that value takes time to accumulate, and believing that true success comes from real contributions to society.
In this uncertain era, perhaps the greatest certainty lies in the things we can create with our own hands—a product, a service, a solution. These tangible things will not evaporate due to market sentiment nor disappear because concepts become outdated; they form the true wealth foundation for individuals and society.