IOSG Founder: Please Tell Vitalik the Truth, May the OGs Who Enjoyed the Industry's Dividends Illuminate the Young
**Summary: An Urgent Call for Leadership and Renewal in Web3**
In a candid and urgent article, the founder of IOSG Ventures voices deep concerns about the current state and future of the Web3 ecosystem, framing it as a critical turning point. The author's recent experience at a global tech conference highlighted a concerning trend: many former crypto professionals are now rebranding as founders in AI, biotech, and robotics, representing a "great self-rescue" but also a potential exodus.
Key problems identified include a broken feedback loop within the ecosystem, a mass departure of developers to AI, and a severe lack of positive societal recognition for Web3, making it difficult for practitioners to take pride in their work. The author expresses worry that Ethereum, despite its foundational role, missed crucial windows for building mainstream applications by over-focusing on technical narratives like ZK and L2 during the last bull market. A significant concern is that **Vitalik Buterin might be living in an information bubble**, shielded from the community's real struggles by those with vested interests, hindering necessary reforms.
The piece draws a stark contrast between U.S. and Chinese "OGs" (industry veterans). While many American OGs continue to reinvest their wealth and efforts into building the ecosystem, the author observes that a significant portion of Chinese OGs have cashed out or pivoted to other sectors like AI, leaving the Asian Web3 ecosystem with a severe funding crisis and weakened "blood-making" capacity.
The central appeal is a call to action. The author urges **OGs who have benefited from the industry's growth to "light the way" for the next generation** through mentorship, grants, and direct support—not just large investments, but practical help like referrals, mailing list access, or small grants. Buterin is asked to re-engage with the grassroots, break out of his information bubble, and lead the community through this challenging bear market, which is described as the best time to build the next foundational product.
For current builders and founders, the advice is to find their "why," build alliances for mutual support, continue learning (including about AI), and maintain personal well-being without letting token prices define self-worth. The author concludes that the industry's survival depends not on any single leader, but on every remaining believer becoming a "lighthouse" to guide others, ensuring the ecosystem has a future worth building for.
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