Bankless: A Guide to 8 Types of Players in the Crypto Industry

Author: David Hoffman

Compiler: MK, MarsBit

Crypto™ brings you hundreds of new chains, thousands of new tokens, and countless ways to immerse yourself in the game. In this challenging and opportunity-filled world, choosing a character class will determine your adventure. Different character classes have unique skills and paths that allow you to stand out in the realm of Crypto™. The following content is compiled by MarsBit.

The newly launched Crypto™ presents you with hundreds of new chains, thousands of new tokens, and countless engaging ways to play!

Endless wealth and opportunities await those brave warriors who can successfully navigate the frontiers of Crypto™. Don't forget to accumulate some profits along the way! You need to ensure you have enough to pay taxes for 2026-2027, while also being able to afford the 2028-30 version of Crypto™ to continue your adventure.

Good luck!

Choose Your Character Class

To delve deeper into the world of Crypto™, you first need to choose a character class.

In Crypto™, each character class symbolizes a unique gaming strategy and path to success. While you are free to create a custom build and forge your own path, your journey is likely to intersect with these existing character classes.

As you browse through this Crypto™ character class guide, pay attention to which class resonates with your interests and passions.

In this guide, we will explore the eight fundamental character classes in Crypto™:

• Token Degen
• Technical Analysis Trader
• NFT Collector
• DeFi Farmer
• Twitter Influencer
• Content Creator
• Airdrop Hunter
• Silent Holder

Remember, Crypto™ players are not limited to a single character class. The abilities of different classes can complement each other, significantly enhancing effectiveness. Full-time Crypto™ players can cultivate multiple skill trees simultaneously, and diverse character classes provide players with more options when facing challenges or difficulties, along with an additional boost in "luck" status.

Players who complete specific achievements and honors can also unlock new character classes, such as:

• TradeFluencer, a dual role designed for players who deeply explore the Trader and Twitter Influencer character classes.
• Special roles unlocked through the Content Creator character class, such as Researcher.
• Venture Capitalist, a role that can be achieved through the evolution of various foundational character classes.

Token Degen

When first entering the crypto world, most players tend to choose Token Degen as their starting role. This is because tokens are the core mechanism of Crypto games, and almost everyone defaults to being a Token Degen until they explore other alternative character classes.

Token Degens are dedicated to exploring the forefront of Crypto, striving to find valuable tokens earlier than other players. While this process is fraught with dangers and traps, the hidden treasures and potential high returns make it all worthwhile.

Although many players choose to become Token Degens, many miss out on potentially more suitable roles simply because they are unaware of the other available character classes and their respective skills and specialties.

Toolbox:

• DEX Filter
• Gecko Terminal
• TokenSniffer

Evolution and Common Classes:

• Community Leader --- Token Degens sometimes find tokens they are very fond of and transition from nomads to settlers. They stop roaming and settle in a welcoming place, forming a community with others who choose that token, sharing insights and knowledge.
• Twitter Influencer --- Token Degens can share their discoveries and analyses on Twitter, becoming guides for new players, showcasing essential skills for exploring the token frontier.

Examples:

• Eric Conner
• James Trautman
• mixbymatt.eth

TA Trader

Traders may be one of the most traditional character classes. Technical Analysis (TA) traders are not limited to the cryptocurrency world; they often view Crypto games as a platform to earn virtual currency to purchase new players with "real-world currency."

However, many traders find the game to be quite enjoyable, and after in-depth exploration, they may choose an additional character class to refine their skill path, transforming from a player merely pursuing profit into a more engaged and focused player.

Toolkit:

• TradingView
• DEX Filter
• Dune Analytics
• DefiLlama
• Parsec

Evolution and Common Roles:

• TradeFluencer ------ When traders choose Twitter Influencer as their common role, they evolve into "TradeFluencers." These individuals begin to publicly share their trading dynamics and gain influence when their trades succeed. They attract a following of traders who replicate their trades or check their technical analyses.
• NFT Collector ------ Sometimes, after trading a significant amount of Crypto, traders may begin to trade digital art rather than just tokens. They often reach this point after realizing that most assets are essentially meme-based. After all, the market is always the market; why not enjoy and trade JPEGs?

Examples:

• Ledger
• Andrew Kang
• Light
• GCR

NFT Collector

NFT Collectors are art enthusiasts in this world who purchase digital artworks they admire directly from artists or through secondary markets like OpenSea. Whether it's a 1/1 unique piece or an algorithmically generated art series, they can see the value behind the works of both new and established artists, seeking crypto artworks they believe will appreciate in value in the future. A good collector collects out of passion, but they also understand that wise choices may yield higher value in the future.

Toolkit:

• OpenSea
• Art Blocks
• Foundation
• Zora

Evolution and Common Roles:

• NFT Influencer ------ When NFT Collectors choose Twitter Influencer as their common role, they become "NFT Influencers." These individuals begin to showcase their collections and trading journeys, accumulating influence when they successfully trade. They attract a following of replicating traders and collectors with similar tastes.

Examples:

• 6529
• DeeZe
• Vince Van Dough

DeFi Farmer

DeFi Farmers have been a leading character class since joining the metaverse games in 2020. Their strategies are diverse and varied in scale, and their ability to adapt flexibly to changes in the crypto market is their hallmark. Their yield strategies can be adjusted based on the current atmosphere of the crypto market, ranging from risk-averse to risk-seeking, or any form in between.

This is how Yielders play in the Crypto market—constantly finding the optimal balance between risk and reward. They all hope to accumulate more tokens; some are satisfied with collecting governance tokens, while more ambitious individuals prefer to sell rewards quickly in exchange for their preferred cryptocurrencies.

Toolkit:

• Index DeFi
• DefiLlama Yields
• vfat.tools

Evolution and Common Roles:

• Silent Staker ------ Risk-taking DeFi Farmers find a natural harmony when they choose Silent Holder as their common role. Their ETH staking deposits provide a reliable foundation to rely on while exploring deeper layers of DeFi yields. They can convert DeFi yields into ETH gains to ensure their profits continue to grow. It's all about compound interest, baby!
• Protocol Administrator ------ If you've accidentally mined too many governance tokens, or your "bag" has become too large to easily take to market, congratulations, you are now a Protocol Administrator! You now have significant voting power over the DeFi farm you've been cultivating, and it's your responsibility to ensure its health and longevity; otherwise, you'll never be able to cash out your yields.

Examples:

• Patrick Scott
• 563

Twitter Influencer

Twitter Influencers are the bards of the cryptocurrency realm, eager to be heard and loved. While everyone has their own tone and style, their common goal is to build a personal brand. For many deeply entrenched in the crypto world, becoming a Twitter Influencer is a stepping stone to more professional fields such as venture capitalists, research analysts, or social media managers.

However, choosing this path requires caution, as "likes" and "retweets" can be addictive, leading one to indulge in an illusionary reality. Maintaining one's original intent while pursuing goals is an art. Without clear objectives, individuals may inadvertently fall into spam and engagement farms, hindering progress in other areas.

Toolkit:

• Twitter
• Typefully

Evolution and Shared Classes:

• Content Creator -- Sometimes a perfect tweet isn't enough; Twitter Influencers may turn to longer-form content, such as newsletters or podcasts. While this means more effort and challenges, it also brings deeper exploration and expression.
• Venture Capitalist -- The VC profession is not just about having a large Twitter audience; it focuses more on possessing excellent investment skills and vision, but having some influence undoubtedly enhances competitive advantage.
• Researcher -- Some Twitter Influencers may choose to deepen their analytical skills, becoming a source of "alpha," which often means they are striving to become top researchers.

Examples:

• DeFi Edge
• Thread Guy
• Gabriel Haines

Airdrop Hunter

Airdrop Hunters have patience as their core skill; they participate in protocols without tokens, steadfastly seeking unknown rewards, often without clear guidance to steer them. They are typically active in Web3 projects, hoping to earn tokens through their efforts.

However, this strategy is not chosen randomly; they need excellent research skills to identify promising projects. Through such efforts and focus, they can not only discover valuable airdrops but also further develop their research skills.

Toolkit:

• Bankless Airdrop Hunter
• Bankless Claimables
• DeFi Llama Airdrops

Evolution and Shared Classes:

• Researcher -- Airdrop Hunters have the potential to evolve into Researchers, confidently trading and doubling down on finding "alpha," identifying valuable and attractive projects in tokenless protocols.

Examples:

• Jack Inabinet
• OlimpioCrypto
• wagame.eth

Content Creator

Content Creators possess a unique skill: capturing and maintaining the attention of the cryptocurrency community. They diligently produce high-quality content and can choose from multiple evolution paths. They can deepen their research and analysis, paving the way to becoming Researchers or Venture Capitalists; or they can choose to focus on a specific application or field, moving towards becoming Community Leaders.

However, becoming an outstanding Content Creator is not easy; it requires time and effort to hone and perfect this skill.

Toolkit:

• Substack
• Mirror
• Podcasting Setup
• Midjourney

Evolution and Common Classes:

• Venture Capitalist -- By skillfully utilizing narrative and argumentative skills, Content Creators can become highly regarded Venture Capitalists.
• Community Leader -- Content Creators can choose to delve into a specific topic or project, becoming experts and leaders in that field, highly recognized by fans and the community.
• Researcher -- Content Creators and Researchers make a perfect combination, as they can blend in-depth research with high-quality content, providing audiences with richer and more diverse perspectives.

Examples:

• Anthony Sassano
• William Peaster
• Carly Reilly

Silent Holder

Silent Holders are a unique type of participant in the cryptocurrency realm, quietly and steadily accumulating assets they desire. They are not in a hurry to see results but use time to prove the correctness of their strategies.

They may be investing in this field during their spare time or on weekends, but they maintain a steadfast belief and patience regarding the opportunity to accumulate generational wealth.

Toolkit:

• LST Tokens
• Rated.network
• Beaconcha.in

Evolution and Common Classes:

• DeFi Farmer -- Sometimes, over time, Silent Holders may be attracted by opportunities realized by risk-averse DeFi Farmers. They can also use both classes to diversify and adjust their risk preferences. After deciding they want to invest more time and effort into Crypto™, they may also take the plunge into this class.

Examples:

• RSA DCinvestor Nixo