Welcome to NotCryptoBro’s Memo.
Where in-the-trenches digital assets and Web3 experiences meet honest analysis and point of views.
This is your author, Rohan Handa, aka NotCryptoBro.
Thank you for subscribing to the NotCryptoBro’s Memo, your go-to weekly source for unbiased insights into the workings of digital assets and Web3.
Raison d'être.
I jumped head-on into the world of digital assets and Web3 in 2014 when one of my colleagues (now my friend) introduced me to the Ethereum Whitepaper. I read it and thought,
"This is mind-bendingly amazing!" —not exactly those words, but close enough.
At the time, I was fresh out of grad school and working as a management consultant. Since then, life has taken me on some beautiful journeys working as an advisor, venture builder, and investor across the US, Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and more. All that while working with some amazing builders, startups, and large institutions looking to make a dent in the world of digital assets.
As an engineer by training, my goal has been simple — learn, gather experiences, and apply those to solve problems. And be proud of the role I play.
After working with the best-in-class globally known Web3 (and non-Web3) ventures, like Yuga Labs, Consensys, ApeCoin, Animoca Brands, Disney, NEAR Protocol/OWC, Jam City, Xsolla, PayPal, JP Morgan, and many more, I learned something interesting.
Although everyone admits to the potential of Web3 technology, not many people know how to build viable businesses using the underlying technology.
The Problem.
I believe the enthusiasm of many builders, investors, and "influencers" is straight-up misdirected.
The focus is often on the hype and mania that primarily revolve around the price of crypto. Such groups, projects, and individuals are what I often refer to as #CryptoBros and/or #CryptoChads. And their calling cards are #WAGMI (We’re All Gonna Make It!) and #HODL (Hold On for Dear Life!).
This results in undercooked products and ideas as these enthusiasts fail to grasp the basics of building viable businesses around the tech’s foundations. All of this leads to the absence of sound business models, as they rely primarily on creating noise (on CT/Crypto Twitter, now X) and tooting their own horns of empty belief as if something magical will happen and that their garbage projects will turn into unicorns overnight.
This, in turn, forces serious operators and everyone else in general to question the sustainability and authenticity of this space.
There is magnitude but no direction; there is too much enthusiasm and opinion but little knowledge about the working fundamentals, problem identification, and thinking from first principles.
To build a better Web3 ecosystem, the current mindset needs to change.
Separating the Signal From the Noise.
I have a very strong conviction in the Web3 space not because the price of BTC/ETH will go up tomorrow. But because we have a real opportunity to experiment (in the open) and build things that up until now were simply not possible using our technology tool-sets.
Through the memos, I will share my thoughts and in-the-trench experiences on digital assets and Web3, token economics, DAO, market landscape, and ecosystem development with an emphasis on building viable businesses and business models.
NotCryptoBro
[aka Rohan Handa]