September 23, 2023

TOKEN2049 From My Own Lenses by 0xJeff

𝐓𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧𝟐𝟎𝟒𝟗 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐲 𝐎𝐰𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐬, Covering

1️⃣ My 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 & 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 Across Token2049
2️⃣ Top Projects That I 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞
3️⃣ Top Projects That I 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞
4️⃣ Honorable Mentions

I Rate this Token2049 at 11/10 ➔ See if Yall Agree with Me 👇

0️⃣ Prelude — Token2049 from Spartan Perspective
During the last year's Token2049, I walked around the side events wearing The Spartan Group shirts. Every step I take, someone would stop me and be like "Spartan!" and pitch me his/her projects — Everybody sees Spartan as Top VC

Fast-forward to this year's Token2049 from 0xJeff Perspective
I walked around the side events wearing whatever shirts (that I find cool). Every step I take, nobody gives a rat-ass — I intro myself to a lot of people and they respond with "Oh cool" or just simply don't care.

So many people have their own agenda, especially people who aren't really in Web3 or Defi. I might be biased here but I meet so many Web2.5 / Institutions and NFT / Gaming projects that are simply rude — I'll share a few of these today in 3️⃣ Top Projects That I Dislike.

Despite all the mishaps, the good, and all the wholesome people I've met far outweigh the bad I've met Defi projects that I aped and rooted for for the first time IRL, I've met projects that I publicly roasted several times on CT but turns out they're cool people IRL.

Met people who saw my name and went "0xJeff! You're Jeff!?" "Big fan of your content!" Met projects and people who I literally sat down and talk with them for hours on the Market, Narratives, Value, Growth, KOLs, Marketing.

With that sob story out of the way, let's get to

1️⃣ My 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 & 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 Across Token2049
Best day was last Thursday, I started the day off with a bang
• Attended Rising Capital Event in the Morning, met the team and got an idea for my upcoming podcast

• I couldn't finish my GM Digest before the event so I had to attend the event first and finish up after
• While writing the newsletter on Notion at the venue (after the event) @Abhi_0x came over and I ended up briefing him about what's happening in Defi on Thursday

• Started to realize that there are people who don't have time to read and that I've already written GM Digest out everyday already. Why not just do a quick roundup by talking about it after?

• That's where I got the idea from, the First Podcast GM Digest starts on Friday

During the same day at the evening, I got a chance to meet many of the KOL / People who I vibe with on CT
⇢ @2lambro is even more unhinged IRL. He's a GigaBrain and super funny IRL. So much energy & super big personalities (Bro you better do Youtube soon)

⇢ @Rightsideonly, a lot of respect for this guy. Top-tier Growth Guy in the Defi space (Learnt a lot from him on this trip)
⇢ @JiraiyaReal looks like a ninja. Pretty impressive how he's running his agency, traveling, and living the digital nomad life. Cool dude

⇢ @stakedqueen is a super sweet & nice lady who actually laughs, giggles at my lame-ass jokes, and compliments my hair. Thanks Queen, you're the only girl besides all the 1000 guys who complimented me
⇢ @0xFinish is a hard-working and young student with lots of passion

⇢ @arndxt_xo looks exactly like his pfp but way taller (was scared he's gonna eat me when I met him)
⇢ @CryptMoose_ met Moose earlier in the week, thought the guy was an old man based on his voice. Turns out he's a young student trying to break into the space

⇢
@Alvin0617 & @degen606 two Youtubers who scaled their channels to 5 figs subscribers each (Learnt a lot from these guys)
⇢ Feiko @rebase_vc & Jinheng (Head of Research) @pendle_fi both GigaTechnicalBrains
⇢ @archipelabro @TimeswapLabs Mentally & Physically Jacked

Thursday alone made it so worthwhile to attend Token2049 but that's not all. Shoutout to all these people
➱ @KMagcap, my Best Web3 BFF who can make anything happen. Ken always connects great people together. I've learnt so much from him and would marry him if I was a gurl)

➱ @0x_Specter, my Original Web3 BFF who ghosts me these days (ANSWER MY GODDAMN MSGs). Best friend from Spartan
➱ @Defi_Maestro, Top Ex-Spartan Bro who's got a gf & a great job now
➱ @tethrees & @sharmssie Top Ex-Spartan Guys, Tristan at @DezyFinance
and....

Sharmaine is at @alkimiya_io (Gas Derivatives project that I mentioned today in my GM Digest)
➱ Ego-san @BetBitX, so many things sad happening in his life but still remains joyful & positive (fighting ser)
➱ @AGoodGirlCrypto, a creator who wants to create more content

➱ Keith @ThetanutsFi, one of the best person that I enjoyed talking to in this trip. Spent 3-4 hours on 1:1 conversation on Options & the Markets (Thank you ser)
➱ Tram @KyberSwap, one of the first few to notice & compliment my contents <3

➱ Harish @fxdxdex, one of the only few founders who realize the power of community & the power of KOLs
➱ Bjorn @FlagshipFYI, banger conversation on the topic that I enjoy "easy-to-invest" products / farms
➱ Hombre & the BD person at @PlutusDAO_io ....

Even though I lost money on plsARB and was sad at how things were executed, I had a good conversation with Hombre and the BD person (Sorry forgot the name)
Feels more bullish on the Arbitrum Ecosystem overall from the 2 recent proposals — ARB Budget & ARB Inflation

3️⃣ Top Projects That I 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞
Oh man oh man oh man — This happened on the second day that I've arrived on Singapore. Met a junior at Spartan that I interviewed before leaving Spartan. We were literally doing a proper catchup. Then, a rude Turkish founder appeared!

Out of the blue! Said hi, completely hijacked the conversation, and destroyed the vibe. The guy asked me what I do, so I talked said Defi Advisor, KOL, and Investor. He then asked me what was the recent investment that I made. I talked about one TG bot project and...Explained that it's a Gambling TG Bot that works by putting commands and gambling inside TG chat room. Then the guy said "Oh it's TG Application, I know the COO of TON, that's how it is". I said "That's not how the project that I invested work". Then he kept arguing lol. The guy (Couldn't get his name or the project name) then proceeded to dismiss me entirely and pitched to my junior. He then walked out to bring his founder friend "Burak" from @nerfitAPP and that's how I got yeeted out of catching up with my junior entirely. These mfkers.

The other moment of rudeness came from my own brethren. Met a Thai founder while going up the elevator to a side event. He immediately handed me his physical business card which says his name, Beam from @lightnetgroup. Like a normal human being, I asked what's Lightnet..You know what he said?

"You can Google it"......
Then he proceeded to ask if I know P Tai — CEO of SCB10x (Top Crypto VC & VB in Thailand). He said he's a really good friend with her...Even though I know her, I just shut up at this point lmao.

4️⃣ Honorable Mentions
• Archie @Hansa_Network
• Ian @GSR_io
• Mackenzie @BlockchainFF
• @benhwx & John @cryptocom
• Everybody at @TheSpartanGroup
• @cryptomindgroup
• @BigBrainVC
• @Mori_Finance
• @AgnosticFund
• @0xvanillacream @HailstoneVC
• Kai @MEXC_Official

• @Swifto @HailstoneLabs
• Bruce @FusionX_Finance
• @CJCJCJCJ_
• O @SCB10X_OFFICIAL
• Joanne @RADIANProtocol
• Matt @openspacevc
• Yinliang @realMatrixport
• Patrick @merkle_trade
• @LynexFi
• @Louround_ (Didn't get to meet!)
• @defi_mochi (Didn't show up)

Most importantly, thanks @tooooooonii1 for all the motivational speech that gets me hyped for Token2049. Toni is a great friend that I met at @CoinfestAsia Bali. She's a fellow content creator, an entrepreneur who's working with a Bali artist....

Bringing her painting to life in the form of an NFT Collection (of 155 NFTs). Toni documents her NFT journey at "freeth.art" on Instagram. You can find Tips on How to Start NFT Project, Challenges, and her Weekly Progress on her IG.

Token2049 this year is probably the best event that I've attended
✅ Got loads of meaningful relationships at the event
✅ Potential advisory gigs on interesting projects
⚠️ Everything Good Except the Diarrhea & Rude Founders

Thanks everyone for making this the best event!

Aaaaaand that's a wrap

Sorry if I forgot to mention anyone here. Met too many people

I'm split between ETH Hong Kong or ETH Vietnam for October event. Haven't been to HK so leaning toward it

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