Looking back over the past few years, Web3 is not only an investment market but also resembles a harsh 'school of life'. Each passing year, the way to make money changes, forcing participants to continuously learn, adapt, and accept being eliminated. What once generated huge profits today can become worthless after just one cycle.
The journey of 'survival' in Web3 therefore reflects very clearly how the market self-adjusts and how humans are forced to evolve with it.
2020: Buy top coins, hold, and wait for the explosion
The year 2020 was a relatively 'pure' phase for Web3. The most popular strategy at that time was very simple: buy top coins, hold long-term, and wait for the market to grow. Bitcoin, $ETH or major infrastructure projects became safe choices for the majority.
At this time, the market is not too complex, leverage is not widespread, and narratives are not saturated. Anyone with basic knowledge and enough patience can make a profit.
2021: Game blockchain and the play-to-earn wave
In 2021, Web3 entered a strong explosive phase with the emergence of blockchain games. Play-to-earn became a global trend, attracting millions of new users. Farming tokens, earning NFTs in games, or participating in gaming ecosystems was seen as a quick path to 'transforming lives'.
Many people do not need large capital; they just need time and effort to generate income. However, this is also the stage that lays the foundation for the first bubble of Web3.
2022: Mint NFTs and the account creation craze
The year 2022 witnessed an explosion of NFTs in a different way: mint early, sell quickly. Not a few NFT collections were inflated to 10, or even 100 times in a short period. Making money at this time was highly speculative, relying on speed and the ability to catch trends.
However, it is also during this period that risks began to become more apparent as the market became too hot and out of control.
2023: Crisis of trust and valuable lessons
The year 2023 was a major shock to the entire market. A series of collapse events like FTX and Celsius caused many investors to fall into a state of confusion, even losing everything. Making money is no longer a story of profit, but a hope to recover a portion of the assets that were entrusted.
This is the year that Web3 'matured' in the most painful way, forcing the community to reflect on issues of governance, transparency, and systemic risk.
2024: Testnet, staking, and the airdrop hunt
After the crisis, the market enters a recovery phase. The year 2024 witnesses an explosion of airdrop hunting. Users actively participate in testnet, stake tokens, and experience products early to earn rewards in the future.
Making money at this point no longer depends too much on capital, but leans towards time, knowledge, and perseverance. Those who are diligent will have the opportunity to reap rewards.
2025: Content, analysis, and community value
Entering 2025, Web3 witnessed a clear change. Writing analysis, building content, and contributing to project communities became part of the money-making strategy. Airdrops are not only for technical users but also extend to those who create informational value.
This shows that Web3 is gradually shifting from 'pure speculation' to a model that values substantial contributions and understanding.
2026: What game is waiting ahead?
No one can say for sure how Web3 in 2026 will make money. But looking back at history, one common point can be seen: the market always changes faster than expected. Only those willing to learn, adapt, and accept experimentation can survive in the long term.
Web3 does not promise an easy path, but always offers opportunities for those willing to go with it until the end of the cycle.
