I love expressing my thoughts, especially when it comes to the crypto industry—that's why I write.

I vividly recall the first time I encountered the term "shill" or "shilling." It happened in some HTML chat box around 2013 or 2014. I remember a token creator urging people in the chat to "Go out there and shill" his token. At that moment, I had no idea what it meant; my mind wandered to shucking oysters. Shilling? Shucking?

No joke, I wasn't familiar with the term and its true meaning back then. However, I quickly learned, and soon after, I grasped the concept of a shiller and identified who in the industry played that role and who didn't. I developed a disdain for paid shilling and those involved in hyping up worthless projects, rugs, and scams.

From within reputable projects, the shilling game used to be a full-time pursuit. Having observed from within a few projects over the years, I can affirm that those profiting from shilling their own bags do so at the expense of their followers, with little regard for the losses incurred.

In contrast, I simply write about what I observe, read, and comprehend in this industry. I explore potential advancements in adoption, markets, and projects that captivate my interest enough to invest in or use for my crypto activities, such as minting NFTs on Polygon or staking various currencies like SEI, FTM, or SUI. One thing I refrain from is shilling for profit. I have never done so, and have zero intentions of ever doing so. Not only would that be unethical, but it would not at all reflect my purpose for writing. I write because I love to write, and express my thoughts. Nothing else.

Blockchain Over Profits

I genuinely love this industry and wholeheartedly believe in its fundamental principles. Surprisingly or perhaps naturally enough, I recently attended a seminar on inclusivity and equality in the hospitality industry. I felt confident that, given my long tenure in blockchain, I could have delivered a more insightful lecture on the subject.

But what is blockchain equality?

This topic often sparks substantial discussions about being too inclusive and allowing for criminal or manipulative elements. The truth is, being all-inclusive means opening Pandora's box and incorporating all aspects of life and livelihood into the mix. However, it's the blockchain community that typically helps identify and exclude these elements, or at the very least, terminate one scam, and identify the players to help prevent the onset of another.

A bargaining chip of discourse, perhaps, but we have what we have, and self-regulation via community comments and discovery has been the only real-world tool that can and has policed our industry from the inside. Unfortunately, researchers, both amateur and professional, are spread across various chains and areas where their knowledge, akin to not having enough butter for toast, is spread far and wide without any centralized depository of data for research purposes.

Should this change, with major players like Coinbase stepping up to aid in the self-regulation of the industry by creating or supporting initiatives capable of rooting out scams and fraud, perhaps the industry could present the SEC with a more robust plan of policy, and regulatory frameworks for the industry. This approach would be far superior to allowing nefarious elements to flourish and grow unchecked until reaching a point of irreparable damage. Which reflects poorly against everything positive this industry has going for it.

We hold the keys to unlock golden opportunities for the entire world, but inclusivity comes at a cost when bad actors and criminals, who could legitimately use blockchain for personal betterment, opt to mint scam tokens and deceive people. Should we exclude these elements based on origin? No, because blockchain knows no boundaries or passwords. However, we should address the undeniable reality of entire call centers in India engaging in the creation of scams within our industry, or the multitude of scams originating from Pakistan, Dubai, Israel, and Russia. Tackling these scammers, hackers and thieves necessitates addressing how we operate as an industry and establishing boundaries between the malicious and the virtuous. Essentially, we need to become our own SEC if we are to survive. To achieve this, akin to ETFs, we have to relinquish a small part of our decentralization. AS IF...

The idea may be logical, but can the industry actually adapt or apply such regulatory frameworks without screaming that we're losing our identity and decentralized strengths? Probably not, but how else can the blockchain industry coexist with the public without policing ourselves? Scam after scam, rug after rug, does not convey to the public that we are a safe venture.

Binance has much to do with its BSC if we are ever to deem ourselves safe, and that applies to all chains, including Ethereum. However, Binance has the tools to address the scams; it just lacks the courage to do so. Honestly, I wouldn't blink an eye if Binance disappeared from the face of the earth tomorrow, as, in my opinion, Binance alone has done more damage to this industry than any other company, and it should be uprooted and abolished for its criminal history. Then again, I'm just a writer... what do I know?

What Does the Future Hodl for Crypto Now?

Hopefully, in 2045 when I'm in my 80s and haven't succumbed to cryptolisteryria, the disease of cryptocurrency consumption, we can look back at all of this and witness my grandchildren using blockchain to learn Chinese and selling their fingerpaints as NFTs. Wait... wouldn't Blockchain be much more advanced by 2045?

I believe it will be, and the advancements will likely far surpass our current conception of blockchain. Who knows, maybe my grandchildren will be launching their own currencies, creating their own economies, building dreams on rails of lightning, and inhabiting a world that is more like blockchain. Free and inclusive, open and friendly, and saturated with equality.

Until then, keep hodling!

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