Which Way the Fish Head Points, There's Also Shandong-Style Learning in the Crypto World
The article "Where the Fish Head Points: The 'Shandong Rule' in Crypto" uses the metaphor of a Shandong dining custom — where the fish head is oriented towards the guest of honor — to critique the culture of influence and favor-seeking in the crypto industry, particularly around Binance.
It highlights how a casual New Year’s tweet by Binance co-founder He Yi, saying “我踏马来了” (I’ve arrived), quickly led to the creation and listing of a meme token with the same name on Binance Alpha — without any direct instruction from her. The author argues that this reflects a deeper cultural issue: instead of transparent, rule-based processes, success increasingly depends on anticipating and pleasing key decision-makers.
The piece contrasts this with sectors like AI, where technical merit drives advancement, and suggests that crypto’s reliance on insider access and social signaling — rather than innovation — may signal industry decline. While He Yi may not be directly involved, the system incentivizes sycophancy and information asymmetry, making “reading the room” more valuable than building value.
marsbit01/08 09:41
