The Ethereum Reality Check: Why OG Crypto Investors Got It Wrong

March 13th, 2025

Let’s be real—many so-called “OGs” in crypto completely misread Ethereum this cycle. And here’s why.

Before you get defensive, understand that these are my observations, not personal attacks. This is about learning.

A lot of you, especially those who’ve been around for multiple cycles, still hold large ETH bags or were banking on Ethereum hitting new all-time highs. Instead, ETH has been underwhelming, lagging behind the broader market. But why did so many people get it so wrong? It boils down to one simple truth: you don’t fully understand the product you’re investing in.

Yeah, I said it. And if that stings, good—it should. Most investors don’t take the time to critically assess what they’re actually buying. Instead, they cling to projects out of nostalgia (because they made money last cycle) or blindly trust outdated advice (like “just buy the top 10 cryptos”). But when was the last time you truly analyzed Ethereum?

  • Have you tracked its network performance—TPS, fees, user activity?
  • Have you actually used Ethereum DeFi apps, or do you just shuffle ETH between exchanges and cold wallets?
  • More importantly, have you tested alternatives like Solana, BSC, or Sui to compare experiences?

Crypto valuation has always been tricky. Unlike traditional markets, where we use metrics like P/E ratios, most crypto projects don’t generate revenue or operate like businesses. So, how do you justify their valuations? If your strategy is just “buy what’s hot” or “follow the market cap rankings,” you’re not an investor—you’re just gambling.

Now, let’s be clear—Ethereum changed crypto forever. It introduced smart contracts, decentralized finance, AMMs, and yield farming. We owe a lot to Ethereum, no doubt. But being first doesn’t mean being the best.

Ethereum fell behind because it didn’t innovate fast enough. While it focused on endless L2s that fragmented liquidity, chains like Solana, BSC, and Sui captured market share by delivering what users actually wanted—speed, low fees, and a smooth experience. Ethereum’s approach drained its own ecosystem in favor of centralized, copy-paste L2s that nobody asked for.

And the truth is, many of you didn’t notice because you don’t use the products—you just read headlines and assume you’re making “smart investments.”

The real edge in crypto comes from understanding why a token is valuable, not just assuming it is because it used to be. That’s why we have put together a step-by-step document that breaks down 10 key factors to identify investment-grade tokens and evaluate them correctly and we will be using this as the gold standard for our research process for coins, tokens and NFTs moving forward.

Stay tuned!

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