Here's the uncomfortable truth about influencer culture in the crypto market:

Paid promotions and KOL endorsements became a shortcut. Instead of projects building genuine products that earn organic attention, the industry normalized paying personalities to manufacture fake conviction.

When did we decide this was acceptable? The answer is simple - when money was flowing and hype replaced fundamentals.

Influencer culture didn't accelerate crypto adoption. It replaced real value creation with manufactured narratives. Projects hired voices instead of earning credibility. Communities followed personalities instead of believing in vision.

This isn't criticism of individuals - it's a systemic problem. The incentive structure broke. Followers became commodities. Truth became negotiable.

Crypto deserves better than this.