The recent gossip in the crypto circle is just too intense! A few days ago, Aevo co-founder Ken's long article (I wasted eight years of my youth on cryptocurrency) exploded in the community, leaving many old players feeling emo after reading it... As a result, today, Nic Carter, a partner at Castle Island Ventures, directly published a rebuttal. It wasn't just a hard counter but rather a deeper analysis of the issues, and it really made people wake up after reading it! 🤯
Let's review the background: Ken said he 'wasted 8 years', and the core of his argument is that the crypto industry started with ideals but has strayed further away. Nic particularly agrees with this reflection, but he didn't stop at just complaining; instead, he posed a soul-searching question—what is the original mission of cryptocurrency? He directly summarized 5 points, each hitting the industry's original intent:
• Restore "sound currency," break free from unreliable centralized issuance.
• Use smart contracts to 'lock in' business logic directly, no longer relying on trust and disputes.
• Make digital property truly "belong to oneself," not just something the platform can take away.
• Maximize the efficiency of the capital market, reduce the losses from intermediate links.
• Ensure that everyone around the world, whether rich or poor, can access financial services (financial inclusion).
Then the key point comes! Nic didn't say Ken was wrong, nor did he claim to be overly optimistic; instead, he said: the real challenge in the industry is "optimism rooted in reality," not "optimism based on blind fantasy." This is so on point! He said if you initially believed in a "libertarian utopia," then reality will definitely slap you in the face; as for the casino effect, random coin issuance, and speculative trading, these are the "ugly growths" on the industry's belly—hard to remove but indeed exist. If you think the cost of blockchain has already outweighed the benefits, then choosing disillusionment is also reasonable.
But in the end, Nic's conclusion really gives people a boost: "The current situation is actually better than ever." It's not just empty praise; it means there is more evidence to prove that we haven't lost our way and are still moving toward our original mission—this is probably the clarity of the old-timer, not avoiding problems but also not denying everything.
So who is right? Is it the pessimists who say it's a "waste of youth," or the idealists who shout "now is the best time"? Perhaps there really is a third possibility: acknowledging that the industry has its mess, but also seeing the tangible progress, not blindly boasting, nor easily giving up.
What do you think? Eight years in crypto, is it a waste or worth it? Let's chat in the comments～#AEVO/USDT $AEVO
