Hey y’all! It’s JC

Let’s get one thing straight, I don’t have a fancy job title in crypto. I’m not a founder. I’m not leading a protocol. I’m not backed by a VC. Not (yet).

But I’m still here.

Still writing. Still learning. Still connecting with people across the world. Still showing up.

And you know what? That counts.

I think a lot of people get stuck thinking they need permission. Like they need to land the perfect role, raise capital, or have 100K followers before they’re allowed to contribute. But that’s backwards. In this space, contribution is the entry point. The title can come later, if it even needs to at all.

Presence Is the Proof of Work

This space moves fast. Trends change. Chains rise and fall. Timelines go from hype to silence overnight. But one thing always matters, who’s still here when no one’s watching?

Showing up consistently whether it’s writing, researching, commenting, building, sharing thoughts, or simply reaching out to someone you admire is a signal. It says you’re here for more than clout. That you care enough to keep learning even when the room’s quiet.

That kind of presence builds trust over time. It’s what helps you go from someone just scrolling, to someone people notice, reply to, and eventually want to work with.

Community Isn’t Built from a Title

The best people I’ve met in this space didn’t wait to be invited in. They shared, explored, asked questions. They were curious and helpful before they were ever “known.” That’s what I’m trying to follow.

Community in crypto is built through contribution, not title.

Some of the most meaningful connections I’ve made have come from conversations that started on Warpcast, X, or even Paragraph. Just exchanging thoughts. No pitch. No angle. Just being human in a space that sometimes forgets that.

You never know where that can lead. A freelance project. A collab. A long-term opportunity. Or maybe just someone who supports your journey from afar.

That’s how networks are built in crypto. Not through resumes. Through reps.

You Learn by Being in the Mix

I’m learning more right now than I ever did when I was just watching from the outside.

Talking to devs and founders. Reading updates on chains like Base and Sonic. Following projects like Shadow or Interface. Even writing these blogs, this is how I process what I’m seeing and figure out what I actually think.

You can’t do that on the sidelines. You’ve gotta get your hands dirty. Ask dumb questions. Be wrong. Say something, get feedback, refine it.

That’s where the skillset develops, not in theory, but in motion.

The Long Game Has No Gatekeepers

Look, I still want to land a full-time Account Executive, Business Dev or Product role in crypto. That’s the north star. But even if that hasn’t happened yet, I know that what I’m doing now matters.

Every blog, every chat, every DM, every podcast I listen to, every project I research, it’s all stacking up. It’s building a body of work, even if it’s not being shouted from a stage.

There are no gatekeepers in crypto if you’re willing to contribute without needing validation first. That’s the beauty of it.

You can literally change your trajectory by showing up consistently and being useful.

It’s Not About Being Seen, It’s About Being Part of It

One of the biggest mindset shifts I’ve had lately is realising that I don’t need recognition to make progress. I just need to keep going.

Because every day I’m involved, I get sharper. I understand the space better. I meet new people. I build context. I become more valuable, not in a loud way, but in a real way.

So when the opportunity comes because it will, I won’t need to prove I belong. I’ll already be part of it.

Wrap-Up

You don’t need a title to start building. You don’t need permission to contribute. You just need to care enough to show up when most people don’t.

That’s how you find your people. That’s how you learn. That’s how you get closer to whatever it is you’re chasing, whether it’s a role, a project, or just becoming someone who gets this space.

So if you’re out here grinding quietly, writing, learning, commenting, thinking. I see you.

And trust me, it matters.

Cover Image x ChatGPT