The "hierarchy" in the Crypto world is quietly solidifying

Crypto has long been regarded by many as the last chance to turn things around. But if you’ve been in this industry for a while, you’ll realize a harsh reality: the stratification here happens faster and more ruthlessly than in any traditional industry.

The Logic of Monopoly on Top Resources

Recent industry events have made this divide visibly clear. When top exchanges host events, they tend to favor a select few KOLs—private jets, five-star hotels, opportunities to take photos with industry leaders. These “sponsored” opinion leaders then showcase these privileges on social platforms, implying a clear message:

We are different from you; we are superior.

Interestingly, the actual revenue sources for exchanges come precisely from those marginalized retail investors—called “leeks.” It is their trading fees and deposit flows that sustain the entire ecosystem’s revenue. Yet, they have no say, no representation, and not even the right to be respected.

This is essentially no different from ancient hierarchical systems: power is held by a few, who set the rules of the game, while those below are either assimilated or excluded.

The Illusion and Reality of “Class Advancement”

Many people enter the Crypto space with similar initial thoughts: they see no future in traditional industries, the ceiling is too low, and salary growth has stagnated. Hearing about the wealth-creating myths in Crypto, they decide to take a gamble. Whether investors or project founders, the reasons for entering are surprisingly similar.

But the problem is:

If you can’t compete in other industries, why do you think you can compete in Crypto?

A newcomer with no experience faces the first hurdle: depositing funds. In the eyes of scammers, these novices are the fattest targets—they haven’t lost money yet, and their psychological defenses are weakest. Scammers lure them in with profit-sharing screenshots, turning those who initially planned to hold coins into gamblers, ultimately losing everything.

According to platform data, the effective lifespan of new users is only three months. Most newcomers either lose all their capital within three months or give up in frustration.

An even more extreme scenario is being led into a “pig butchering” scam. Many “mentors” don’t even understand the schemes but still lead newcomers into capital schemes, promising high returns until one day they can’t withdraw, only to realize it’s all a scam—by then, it’s too late.

The Hidden Meaning Behind “Leek Cutting”: The Gap in Cognition

Even if you dodge scams, learn the basics, and understand on-chain operations, you can still fall into traps with low-quality tokens or clone coins. Because newcomers to Crypto often have a gambling mentality, they are easily attracted by hyped-up new projects.

Those who realize “I’m in Crypto to make money, not to give money away” are already rare. Most only wake up after losing a round.

By then, some start to shift toward “harvesting”—participating in airdrops and yield farming. But today’s airdrops are no longer the freebies they once were; the thresholds are gradually rising. Now, airdrops require research skills and capital, which keeps most retail investors out.

So, while there seem to be countless paths, in reality, ordinary people find no way out.

Mental Shackles and Wealth Freedom

I once saw a very sobering post where someone said:

If I had 10 million, I would go all-in on Bitcoin.

But I only have 100,000, so I can only go all-in on shitcoins.

This reflects many people’s true thoughts. Interestingly, even if they were given 10 million, they would still bet on shitcoins—amounts of money don’t influence their decisions; their cognition does.

Conversely, those who think clearly, even with only 50,000, will buy Bitcoin if they decide to. It has nothing to do with wealth level; it depends on what’s in their mind.

The Disrespect Toward Those Who Pay for Recharges

After saying so much, the core feeling is only one: Leeks are too hard to grow.

The industry’s profit tracks have long been eaten clean by those at the top of the food chain. Every day, new people keep entering Crypto, unaware that they are already out of options. The ones who contribute the most to industry recharges are precisely the least respected within the industry.

It’s even harder for the poor to produce a noble heir, and retail investors rarely turn their fortunes around.

Of course, the industry itself is developing and has many breakthroughs. But that doesn’t mean there are no problems. On the contrary, behind rapid growth lies disorderly expansion and systemic unfairness. From this perspective, regulatory caution is understandable.

The industry is progressing, but progress also brings underlying issues. These are often invisible in good times, but someone will eventually speak out. What do you think?