A few days ago, a "crypto bro" who is also genuinely my good bro, reconnected with me. It had been an unexpectedly long time since we’d last spoken, which made his call feel almost serendipitous, especially since I had been trying to reach him repeatedly the week prior. His voice on the other end was a truly welcome surprise. After exchanging the usual heartfelt greetings(GMs), I immediately mentioned my attempts to get in touch. His response was both casual and intriguing: "Oh yeah, sorry bro, I have been on my farm, I barely get reception there, and it usually rains when I am on the farm, so I no longer send gadgets to the farm for fear of them being damaged by rain."

My mind immediately jumped. "You have a farm?!," I blurted out, genuine astonishment coloring my voice. "Bro, that's incredible!"

He chuckled softly. "Yup, I have been farming Soya beans, maize, and some other crops!"

"Naa bro, hold on, back up," I uttered, still processing the information. "What do you mean you are farming at such a scale? What happened to crypto, web3, aren't you..." The impact of his revelation truly began to sink in, and I could feel my voice trailing off. It just didn't compute. This is one of the most dedicated, "web3-ish" individuals I knew. He is also one of the earliest, most committed builders I know, and now a farmer? 

He interrupted my bewildered internal monologue with another soft laugh, clearly amused by my shock. "Well, I realized I had to do something beyond on-chain, something beyond web3, despite my deep love for it. Because sometimes it can feel out of touch."

This statement resonated with me profoundly. For almost the entirety of 2025, I had been experiencing a similar feeling of being somewhat disconnected, or "out of touch." This shift in perspective began when I consciously decided to spend less time glued to my screen, immersed in the onchain world, and more time engaging with the physical world around me. His words validated a feeling I had been grappling with, offering a surprising parallel in our seemingly disparate paths.

"I have been there, it's really not a flex!"

If I had to distill the past five years of my life into two words, they would be: "Chronically Onchain." It’s a descriptor that encapsulates an existence deeply intertwined with the pulsating heart of the decentralized world, a journey through exhilarating highs and devastating lows that have redefined my perception of reality. I have truly lived and breathed the blockchain. I’ve surfed the towering waves of euphoria, felt the intoxicating rush of collective excitement as fortunes were made overnight, and witnessed the groundbreaking potential of nascent technologies. My hands have been dirtied in the trenches of onchain farming, chasing the promise of astronomical yields, only to sometimes find myself, in turn, "farmed" by projects that evaporated as quickly as they appeared.

I basked in the incandescent glow of "DeFi Summer," a period of explosive growth and innovation where financial instruments were reimagined on the blockchain. The frenetic energy of the NFT craze swept me up, leading me through a labyrinth of artistic expression, speculative madness, and community building, each turn bringing its own unique blend of joy and pain. And then there was "DAO Mania," a period when I virtually lived in Discord servers, dedicating countless hours to the governance and development of decentralized autonomous organizations, convinced that I was at the forefront of a new paradigm of collaborative ownership.

It was after being thoroughly "rekt" – financially and emotionally – by a DAO I had poured three years of my life into that a stark realization dawned on me. The digital world I inhabited had become my sole reality, and the "outside world" had receded into a distant, almost forgotten memory. I had lost personal touch with the tangible, the mundane, the human element of existence. The world outside the glow of my screen was still intact, still moving, utterly oblivious to the digital storms I had been weathering.

It was, in many ways, the best of times and yet, unequivocally, the worst of times. The exhilaration of possibility was immense, the camaraderie among fellow degens palpable. But the pain was equally sharp. Getting "rekt" – losing significant capital – became a commonplace occurrence, almost an initiation rite. Being scammed, once a deeply humiliating experience, morphed into something normal, even a "badge of honor" in certain circles. Within some crypto purist communities, never having been scammed or rekt was seen as undesirable, almost as if one hadn't truly experienced the full frontier of this wild west. It was agonizing to lose everything, to watch fortunes dissipate with the speed of light. Yet, the chronic onchain mindset, the ingrained belief in the infinite possibilities of this digital realm, always whispered that it could all be made back, if only I kept clicking those buttons, and kept chasing the next big thing. It was a truly wild, untamed ride.

The Perils of Being Chronically Onchain : When Digital Obsession Blinds Reality

The mantra of "being onchain" has become a pervasive, almost sacred, badge of honor. Yet, beneath the veneer of digital prowess and early adoption, lies a growing problem that mirrors the insidious nature of any addiction: the potential for it to spiral into a detrimental force that distorts reality, erodes social connections, and ultimately hinders genuine impact. Being perpetually immersed in the digital currents of crypto is not a flex; it’s a habit that, if left unchecked, can profoundly disrupt one's life. 

Losing Touch with Reality: The Echo Chamber Effect 

The crypto space, for all its revolutionary potential, can paradoxically blind its most dedicated participants to its real-world implications. The chronic onchain individual often finds themselves trapped in a digital echo chamber, their focus narrowed to the immediate, often fleeting, opportunities within the blockchain ecosystem. This tunnel vision manifests in a relentless pursuit of "farming airdrops," speculative "shitcoin" trading, the acquisition of illiquid JPegs (NFTs), and the monotonous clicking of buttons countless times to artificially inflate onchain transaction counts, all in the desperate hope of securing "peanut airdrops" that barely cover the prohibitive gas fees.

Meanwhile, the world outside this digital bubble is undergoing a profound transformation. Governments worldwide are actively developing sophisticated crypto strategies to serve their national interests, recognizing the technology's undeniable influence. Cryptocurrency is reaching critical mass, permeating mainstream discourse and adoption. Yet, the very individuals who possess the deep, nuanced knowledge of this technology — the "hardcore knowledge" holders — are often the ones most deeply entrenched in the onchain hustle, leaving a vacuum in public discourse. This void is frequently filled by "grifters" and ill-informed commentators who parade themselves as experts, further muddying the waters and hindering constructive dialogue. The net effect of chronic onchain engagement is a distortion of the true impact and potential of crypto, turning a powerful tool into a self-serving, net-negative endeavor.

The Social Cost: A Retreat from Human Connection

Beyond the intellectual and financial pitfalls, chronic onchain behavior exacts a significant social toll. What once came naturally — the ability to engage in a vibrant, hour-long conversation filled with laughter, curiosity, serious contemplation, and a spectrum of emotions — becomes an arduous task. The digital hermit, tethered to their screens, finds it a herculean effort to sustain even a few minutes of meaningful interaction. This self-imposed isolation fosters social awkwardness, a phenomenon increasingly acknowledged within the crypto community itself, as evidenced by the widespread adage to "go touch grass."

However, for the "onchain chronics," this advice often falls on deaf ears. Real-world interaction becomes a rare, perhaps occasional, indulgence rather than an everyday habit. Consequently, a noticeable shift in behavior and demeanor can occur, leading to bewilderment and concern from those in their immediate social circles. The vibrant, socially adept individual gradually recedes, replaced by someone who acts and behaves differently, a direct consequence of being "cooped up indoors most times. I remember an incident where my landlady saw me and was shocked because it had been so long she had seen me around that she began to think either something had happened to me whilst in my room or I had secretly packed out. I had reassure granny I was still around, barely in real life though but mostly onchain. 

"The Unfulfilled Promise: Failing to Translate Digital Gains into Real-World Impact

One of the most critical errors in the crypto journey I have come to realize is the practice of accumulating wealth and participating in this never-ending digital economy without a clear, strategic exit plan. While a select few crypto assets, notably Bitcoin and Ethereum, may prove to be sound long-term investments, the vast majority of altcoins, particularly those acquired on the impulsive rush of "adrenaline," are akin to gambling. They offer fleeting highs when the market is favorable, allowing for rotation into more stable assets, but often result in devastating losses when held for extended periods.

A pivotal lesson learned in the crypto landscape is the imperative of having a well-defined, real-life plan for crypto financial wins. This necessitates a deliberate and thoughtful strategy for cashing out crypto gains to demonstrably improve one's life and the lives of loved ones. The ability to translate digital wealth into tangible, positive real-world impact – whether it's securing a home, funding an education, or simply achieving financial peace of mind – is arguably one of the most significant and responsible actions a crypto participant can undertake. Without this crucial step, even the most impressive onchain successes remain merely abstract numbers, failing to fulfill their ultimate purpose and making life fulfilling in the grand scheme of things. 

Beyond Onchain: The New Normal and the real flex

Crypto has transcended its niche origins and firmly established itself as an integral part of everyday life. The once-formidable "perception problem" has largely dissipated, replaced by a growing global acceptance. This paradigm shift necessitates a re-evaluation of one's relationship with cryptocurrency. A useful analogy is to consider how one approaches investments in the traditional stock market or any other financial vehicle. Crypto, like any investment, should be viewed as a component of a larger financial ecosystem, not the entirety of it. It serves as a powerful tool or opportunity to enrich the whole of one's life, rather than consuming it.

For those who still find themselves chronically immersed in the onchain world, it is time for liberation. The future of crypto participation, and indeed a healthy, balanced life, lies in the integration of both the onchain and offchain worlds. "Offchain + onchain is the new flex." It represents a mature, holistic approach that recognizes the power of digital innovation while anchoring it firmly in the realities of daily life.

Perhaps time I also started farming