There’s something nobody really tells you when you start getting deep into crypto.

It’s lonely.

Not the “I don’t have friends” kind of lonely. I mean the quiet isolation of believing in something before the rest of the world catches on.

You try explaining to your family why you’re excited about a weird little blockchain that’s doing undercollateralized lending and they look at you like you’ve joined a cult.
You tell your friends you’re staking tokens and they’re like, “is that like stocks?”
You mention self-custody and they ask, “but what if you forget your password?”

And so, you stop talking. You just keep learning. Watching. Building your portfolio. Making your own bets. And waiting.

It’s Not Just About the Money

Don’t get me wrong—everyone comes into crypto for the money. That’s the hook. You see the numbers and think: maybe this is my shot.

But the longer you stay, the more you realize it's not just about chasing green candles.

It's about realizing that most of the systems around us—money, privacy, ownership—are broken or outdated. Crypto doesn't promise to fix everything. But for the first time, it offers an alternative.

And that? That’s powerful.

Even if nobody around you gets it yet.

Bear Markets Are the Real Test

Bull markets are easy. Everyone’s hyped. Your weird ideas suddenly sound smart. Strangers are asking you what to invest in. You feel like a genius.

But bear markets? That’s when the silence hits. That’s when you start to question everything.

Was I wrong?
Is this really going to work?
Should I have just stuck with safe stuff like ETFs or real estate?

You don’t talk about these thoughts out loud. But they’re there.

And if you’re still here—still reading, still exploring, still learning—you’re part of a rare breed. You’ve seen the highs, eaten the lows, and still believe in what’s possible.

That’s not delusion. That’s vision.

Real Ones Recognize Real Ones

This post isn’t going to go viral. There’s no chart. No “top 3 altcoins to buy now.” No promises.

It’s just a note to say:

If you feel like the only one in your circle who still believes in crypto—
If you’re exhausted from explaining why decentralization even matters—
If you’re still holding, still hoping, still here—

You’re not alone.

There’s a whole quiet army of people like you. Builders. Dreamers. Degens with a little soul left.

And if you vibed with this—drop a tip if you feel like it. It’s free for you, but it keeps this kind of writing alive.

See you on the other side of the cycle.