Even Satoshi Nakamoto Would Kowtow to the God of Wealth

深潮2025-12-25 tarihinde yayınlandı2025-12-25 tarihinde güncellendi

Özet

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the author visits a temple in Hangzhou and observes a surprising number of cryptocurrency insiders—KOLs, community builders, and tech elites—praying for wealth, abandoning algorithmic consensus for incense and devotion. The piece notes the rising influence of metaphysics in crypto circles, where traditional analysis is increasingly supplanted by astrology, face-reading, and feng shui. A trader’s astrological prediction warns of Bitcoin’s “darkest hour” in 2026, while a VC partner admits that assessing founders’ facial traits is now part of due diligence. Anecdotes illustrate this trend: a listed company CEO’s devotion to feng shui reportedly led to massive Bitcoin gains, while a frog-avatar KOL ignored his advisor’s warning and lost everything trading futures. The author frames this not as mere superstition but as a psychological response to extreme volatility. Just as maritime cultures turned to deities like Mazu for safety in uncertain seas, crypto participants seek spiritual anchors amid market chaos. When tweets from figures like Musk or Trump can swing prices 50% in a day, belief systems—whether in code or cosmology—become a necessary comfort. The question isn’t whether the God of Wealth understands blockchain, but whether faith helps traders sleep at night.

Author: Xiaobing, Deep Tide TechFlow

Every year on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Xiaobing wakes up early to visit the Number One Temple of Wealth at Beigao Peak in Hangzhou.

I thought I would be jostling with aunties and uncles, but when I arrived, the scene was filled with familiar faces amidst the swirling incense smoke.

To the left was a well-known爆料KOL, to the right someone involved in community schemes, and a few tech elites who usually preach "decentralization" were devoutly kowtowing with loud thuds. In that moment, algorithmic consensus and Federal Reserve moves were no match for the three sticks of incense in their hands.

Over the past two years, mysticism has become the "mainstream study" in the crypto world. If you’re still looking at K-line charts, you’re a classical rookie; the real OGs are now reading birth charts.

A crypto trader familiar with various macro indicators eventually turned to mysticism, recently calculating Bitcoin’s八字 (Bazi). The result was alarming: Fire clashes with the wealth vault, making 2026 (Bingwu Year) Bitcoin’s darkest hour. I quickly checked my wallet—good thing there were no coins in it anyway.

Remember when Alen, a crypto VC at y2z Ventures, bluntly stated that one of their fund’s core competitive edges was "reading面相" (face reading)? Due diligence (DD) used to involve code audits and business models, but now it’s different. First, check if the founder has a "wealth-draining face," then see if the project’s name clashes with风水 (Feng Shui).

On a recent trip to Shenzhen, I noticed that traders and KOLs’ standard setup isn’t data terminals—they all have a "Feng Shui consultant" backing them.

Don’t laugh; this actually works in the crypto world. Xiaobing knows a listed company boss in Hong Kong who is a devout believer in Feng Shui, donating real money to temples—possibly more than the company’s R&D budget.

And the result? Call it Feng Shui bringing noble help, but starting in 2023, he began buying Bitcoin, made hundreds of millions from hoarding, and later caught the wave of the DAT (Crypto Treasury Reserve) narrative, doubling the company’s stock price... Although everyone knows this is "survivorship bias," you can’t argue with the fact that he really made a fortune.

There are counterexamples too. A frog-avatar爆料KOL also had a Feng Shui consultant who advised him not to trade recently, but he couldn’t resist playing with contracts and ended up getting liquidated.

This isn’t entirely superstition.

Our traditional land-based civilization emphasizes farming—sow one seed in spring, reap ten thousand in autumn—focusing on certainty. But what does maritime civilization face? Storms and unknown waters.

Why do people in the southeastern coastal areas worship Mazu? Not out of ignorance, but because on the vast, unpredictable ocean, besides experience and technology, you need something else.

The crypto world is essentially a modern version of the "Age of Exploration." It faces deep, unfathomable waters and sudden storms. Humans are like this: the greater the randomness and volatility, the more we seek supernatural spiritual anchors.

When K-line charts fail, and a single tweet from Musk, Trump, or CZ can sway the market, Feng Shui becomes the last psychological defense. This isn’t ignorance; it’s an instinctive stress response to massive wealth fluctuations.

After all, when your assets can swing 50% in a day, you have to believe in something to sleep at night. As for whether the God of Wealth understands blockchain—does it really matter?

İlgili Sorular

QWhat is the main theme of the article regarding the crypto community's behavior?

AThe article highlights that mysticism and fortune-seeking practices, like worshipping the God of Wealth and using feng shui, have become prevalent in the crypto community as a psychological anchor amidst extreme market volatility and uncertainty.

QHow does the article describe the crypto space in comparison to historical contexts?

AIt compares the crypto space to the 'Age of Exploration' or maritime civilizations, where people face vast unknowns and storms, leading them to seek supernatural beliefs for stability and mental comfort.

QWhat example does the article give to show the effectiveness of feng shui in crypto success?

AIt mentions a Hong Kong-listed company boss who devoutly donated to temples and followed feng shui, leading to massive profits from Bitcoin investments and a surge in his company's stock price during the DAT narrative wave.

QWhat counterexample is provided about ignoring mystical advice in the crypto world?

AA frog-avatar KOL ignored his feng shui advisor's warning to avoid trading, engaged in contracts, and ended up getting liquidated.

QWhy does the article suggest crypto traders turn to mysticism instead of traditional analysis?

ABecause extreme market randomness, influenced by factors like tweets from figures such as Musk or Trump, makes traditional analysis like K-line charts less reliable, leading traders to seek psychological comfort through superstition.

İlgili Okumalar

Anthropic and OpenAI Have Single-Handedly Severed the Logic of Pre-IPO Stock Tokenization

The pre-IPO stock token market is experiencing significant turmoil following strong statements from AI giants Anthropic and OpenAI. Both companies have updated their official policies, declaring that any transfer of their company shares—including sales, transfers, or assignments of share interests—without prior board approval is "invalid" and will not be recognized in their corporate records. This means buyers in such unauthorized transactions would not be recognized as shareholders and would have no shareholder rights. A major point of contention is the use of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), which are legal entities commonly used by pre-IPO token platforms to pool investor funds and indirectly acquire shares from employees or early investors. The companies explicitly state they do not permit SPVs to acquire their shares, and any such transfer violates their restrictions. They warn that third parties selling shares through SPVs, direct sales, forward contracts, or stock tokens are likely engaged in fraud or are offering worthless investments due to these transfer limits. This stance directly threatens the core model of many pre-IPO token platforms, which rely on SPV structures. The announcement revealed additional risks within this model, such as complex "SPV-within-SPV" layering that obscures legal transparency, increases management fees, and creates a chain reaction risk of invalidation. Following the news, tokens like ANTHROPIC and OPENAI on platforms like PreStocks fell sharply (over 20%). The market reaction highlights a divergence: while asset-backed pre-IPO tokens plummeted, purely speculative pre-IPO futures contracts, which are bilateral bets on future IPO prices with no claim to actual shares, remained relatively stable as they are unaffected by the transfer restrictions. The industry is split on the implications. Some believe the fundamental logic of pre-IPO token trading is broken if leading companies reject SPV-held shares, potentially causing a domino effect. Others, like Rivet founder Nick Abouzeid, argue that buyers of such unofficial tokens always knowingly accepted the risk of non-recognition by the company. The statements serve as a stark risk warning and a corrective measure for a market where valuations for some AI-related pre-IPO tokens had soared to irrational levels, far exceeding recent funding round valuations.

marsbit37 dk önce

Anthropic and OpenAI Have Single-Handedly Severed the Logic of Pre-IPO Stock Tokenization

marsbit37 dk önce

Anthropic and OpenAI Personally Sever the Logic of Pre-IPO Crypto-Stocks

The pre-IPO token market has been rocked by strong statements from Anthropic and OpenAI. Both AI giants have updated official warnings, declaring that any sale or transfer of their company shares without explicit board approval is "invalid" and will not be recognized on their corporate records. This directly targets Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), the common legal structure used by pre-IPO token platforms. These platforms typically use an SPV to acquire shares from employees or early investors, then issue blockchain-based tokens representing a claim on the SPV's economic benefits. Anthropic and OpenAI's position means that if an SPV's share purchase lacked authorization, the underlying asset could be deemed worthless, nullifying the token's value. Anthropic explicitly warned that any third party selling its shares—via direct sales, forwards, or tokens—is likely fraudulent or offering a valueless investment. The crackdown highlights risks in the popular SPV model, including complex multi-layered "Russian doll" SPV structures that obscure legal ownership, add fees, and concentrate risk. If one layer is invalidated, the entire chain could collapse. Following the announcements, tokens like ANTHROPIC and OPENAI on platforms like PreStocks fell sharply (over 20%). In contrast, purely speculative pre-IPO prediction contracts remained stable, as they involve no actual share ownership. The move is seen as a corrective measure amid a market frenzy where some pre-IPO token valuations (e.g., Anthropic's token hitting a $1.4 trillion implied valuation) far exceeded recent official funding rounds. Opinions are split: some believe this undermines the core logic of pre-IPO token trading if top companies reject SPVs, while others argue buyers always assumed this legal risk when accessing unofficial channels. The statements serve as a stark warning and a potential catalyst for market de-leveraging and clearer boundaries.

Odaily星球日报40 dk önce

Anthropic and OpenAI Personally Sever the Logic of Pre-IPO Crypto-Stocks

Odaily星球日报40 dk önce

The Waged Worker Driven to Poverty by AI Subscriptions

"AI Membership: The Hidden Cost Pushing Workers Toward 'Poverty'" The widespread corporate push for AI adoption is creating a hidden financial burden for employees. Companies, from giants like Alibaba to small firms, are mandating AI use, often tying token consumption to KPIs, but frequently refuse to cover the costs. Workers are forced to pay for subscriptions out of pocket to stay competitive and avoid being replaced. Front-end developer Long Shen spends up to 2000 RMB monthly on tools like Cursor and ChatGPT Plus, seeing it as a necessary 3% salary investment to handle 90% of his coding tasks. While it boosted his performance and led to promotions, he now faces idle time at work, pretending to be busy. Designer Peng Peng navigates strict company firewalls by using personal devices and accounts for AI image generation tools like Midjourney, spending hundreds monthly without reimbursement, while her boss demands faster, more numerous revisions. The pressure creates workplace anxiety and suspicion. Programmer Li Huahua, after a friend's experience of raised KPIs following AI success, fears being branded a "traitor" for using it yet worries about falling behind if she doesn't. The dynamic allows management to demand results without understanding the tools or covering expenses, treating employees like AI "agents." While some, like entrepreneur Jin Tu, find high value in paid AI, building entire systems and winning competitions, for most, it's a trap. Free tools like Kimi and Doubao are introducing fees, closing off alternatives. The initial efficiency gains individual advantage, but as AI becomes ubiquitous, the personal edge disappears, workloads increase, and a cycle of dependency begins. Workers like Long Shen realize they cannot maintain AI-generated code without AI, making stopping harder than continuing to pay. The tool promising liberation is instead becoming a compulsory, costly chain in the modern workplace.

marsbit1 saat önce

The Waged Worker Driven to Poverty by AI Subscriptions

marsbit1 saat önce

SK Hynix's Trillion-Won Empire: The Successors

"SK Hynix's Trillion-Won Empire and Its Heirs" explores the unconventional succession narrative within SK Group, South Korea's second-largest conglomerate, following SK Hynix's dramatic market rise. Unlike traditional chaebol scripts prioritizing the eldest son, ownership, and political marriages, Chairman Choi Tae-won's three children from his first marriage are charting distinct paths. The eldest daughter, Choi Yun-jeong, is considered the most visible candidate. With a background in biology, consulting, and a PhD, she holds executive roles at SK Bioscience and SK Inc.'s growth strategy unit, focusing on biopharma and new businesses. Her marriage is to an AI infrastructure entrepreneur, not a traditional chaebol heir. The second daughter, Choi Min-jeong, took a unique route by voluntarily serving as a South Korean naval officer, including a tour in the Gulf of Aden. She later worked on policy and strategy for SK Hynix in Washington D.C. before co-founding an AI-driven healthcare startup in San Francisco. She married a former U.S. Marine Corps officer, connecting the family to U.S. defense and policy networks. The son, Choi In-geun, who has Type 1 diabetes, followed a more classic preparatory path with a physics degree and a stint at SK E&S but left to join McKinsey's Seoul office. He remains publicly silent and holds no SK shares, defying the traditional "crown prince" archetype. Their paths unfold against the backdrop of their parents' high-profile, contentious divorce and a record-setting asset division lawsuit. The article argues that as SK Hynix becomes a geopolitical asset in the AI era, the conventional rules of chaebol inheritance are changing. The heirs are being groomed not simply to take over, but to navigate a complex global landscape defined by AI, biotech, geopolitics, and policy, forging legitimacy through their own expertise and networks rather than birth order alone.

marsbit1 saat önce

SK Hynix's Trillion-Won Empire: The Successors

marsbit1 saat önce

İşlemler

Spot
Futures
活动图片