Original Author: DeFi Teddy, Founder of Biteye
Recently, I've clearly noticed a trend:
More and more friends around me are liquidating their Web3 holdings and going all in on AI.
I don't entirely agree. Here's my brief take.
Conclusion first: It's not about choosing sides, but finding the intersection.
Crypto & AI: Not an Either-Or Choice
AI and Web3 are not conflicting; instead, they are converging.
I myself am learning Vibe Coding and leading a team in an AI startup, while continuously researching new opportunities in Web3.
What's truly underestimated is:
The "enlightenment-level track" of AI × Crypto.
Agent, on-chain data, decentralized computing power, AI payments, stablecoins......
Leaving now might mean missing out on the early stages.
Is the Crypto World Really Over? History Has Already Given the Answer
The "crypto is dead" slogan has been cried wolf many times, for example:
After the 2018 ICO crash and global regulation, many left, thinking the industry was dead.
But in 2020, DeFi Summer emerged,
and Wall Street and regulators began truly embracing crypto.
Although BTC is under pressure now, the trend of traditional finance being revolutionized by blockchain is already irreversible:
- Nasdaq is advancing stock tokenization,
- SWIFT is exploring blockchain solutions,
- Stablecoins already account for about 15% of cross-border payments.
AI Must Be Learned, But Don't Mythologize It
Not learning AI will inevitably lead to being left behind.
But AI itself is not a money printer; it's just a tool.
AI lowers the barrier to entrepreneurship,
but also raises the bar for success.
Just like the mass entrepreneurship wave in 2015:
Super individuals will definitely emerge,
but the vast majority will just be more efficient workers or small business owners.
The reality is harsh and must be recognized: AI will accelerate wealth inequality because the biggest beneficiaries are centralized companies.
AI Stocks Must Be Watched
Deepseek data:
NVIDIA has risen 200–300 times in 10 years,
comparable only to Bitcoin's 300 times and Ethereum's 1200 times.
A domestic example: the previously hot Moore Threads. Early investor Peixian Qianyao achieved an investment myth of 6000 times returns and 12 billion in paper gains. However, such opportunities are inaccessible to ordinary retail investors. For the average person, early investment opportunities are still more accessible in web3.
Summary:
In 2026, continue learning Web3 + AI, while researching AI stocks, with a focus on the intersection opportunities of AI × Crypto.
It's not about fleeing the crypto world, but about upgrading your cognition. What do you all think?
