I got in for money.
That didn't work out.
When I joined Hive back in 2017, I did it for the money. And I thought it was money, as I had zero direct experience with crypto prior, other than trying and failing to buy some bitcoin back in 2011. What a failure... But when I joined we had recently a baby with complications in the delivery for my wife, and issues with our child which left us strapped for money and with monthly bills almost twice that of our mortgage to cover. It was pretty stressful times and a friend said that he had heard about writing for a bit of money, and perhaps I should try. So I did.
It didn't make me anywhere near enough money - or crypto.
But it did introduce me to crypto and the potential.
So, instead of cashing out a few dollars to buy a coffee or two, I kept writing and started to learn about what was actually happening here and elsewhere, and falling in love with writing. I learned how to trade a little (mostly poorly) and how to buy a bit. But what I think was the most surprising part, was that I started enjoying the writing process so much that I kind of got addicted to it, as well as engaging with people on Hive. The largest rewards have come through the changes in me as a person, and my understanding of the world.
What became clear is, the most valuable thing we have in our experience, are our relationships.
Relationships are more than just interpersonal relationships with other people, but healthy relationships are vital for a good level of wellbeing. Yet, we have relationships with everything in our lives, whether we have them or not. A single person has a relationship with a partner, whether they want a partner or not. Money is an easy example, where whether we have it or not, we have opinions and feelings about it, and it affects us, pulls and pushes us, and can make us feel good, or bad, depending - and that doesn't just depend on having or not, as there are a host of other conditions that affect our relationship with money. Like guilt. Or longing.
As my journey progressed through writing and engaging, I also started getting more involved in the economic side of things. While always interested in economics and studying it a bit at university, I never really put anything into practice, but here there is an ecosystem that blends economics, as well as social relationships, and if paying attention, most of human behaviours can be observed here. Good and bad.
Over the years, I have shifted more and more toward a position where financial economics shouldn't be about making money, but improving wellbeing for humanity. This doesn't mean that money can't be made, but doing so should come through building a healthy society, healthy people, and healthy environment. However, most of the ways that make wealth today run counter to a healthy humanity, and many of them do not do anything at all and are just wealth-making mechanisms that don't create any value for humans. Just a tool to print wealth, unavailable to most people, but a cost to everyone.
Last night I was a grateful guest on Hive Thrive and a lot of the conversation after the recording was about the price of Hive, which is understandable, because it is in the gutter. But as people were talking, I was scrolling through the list of cryptos by marketcap and the majority of them are just more financial instruments, not unlike the traditional economy.
The economy thewy were meant to replace.
I didn't dig too deeply, but I don't know of many cryptos that are actually doing something to make life for humans better, other than promising to make people rich. But the problem with "rich" in this context is, it means getting out of crypto to realise it. And the people participating seem to not care about the mess that the current world is, nor the brokenness of the economy or the disparity in wealth - they are just trying to buy a better position on the ladder, using some financial tool to do so. They attract people with APR promise and highest returns, but there is nothing to actually keep people there once another offers a better deal.
And this is the problem, because there is always going to be a better deal offered by some group who will use it to make a fortune themselves, while the majority will make a loss. Other than promise of an APR, there is nothing keeping anyone there or interested. There is no ideology, no improvement of society, just more greed. The same greed that has led us into this highly-broken economy we have globally today.
Of course, it is too much to expect people to behave differently than they are conditioned to behave, which is why all these projects keep attracting users, but Hive does not. People don't want to really understand the issues of the world, their own issues, or how to deal with them - they just think that if they can find a way to make more money, everything will be okay. It will not, because money doesn't equate to wellbeing, even for the people who have it. But when the majority of people don't have it but need it, it is going to create many problems for those with it also.
Yet no one cares.
It is easier to keep doing the same thing that doesn't work, than try do something different and risk it not working also. It is easier to watch all the conflict in thee world and wish something would change it, than actually do the things that need to be done to change it. It is easier to do nothing, than do something. An d that is what most of these financial tools do for humanity - nothing.
Well, that is not true.
They do nothing good.
And like it or not, we all have a relationship with the world we have created.
An abusive relationship.
And we stay.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
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Ah man, how did I not know you were the guest. That would have been awesome. I am sorry I missed it now. I think one of the best things HIVE has taught me about crypto is how to hold. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing... I think it is easier to hold BTC after being forced to hold HIVE due to the long unstake period.
Not so awesome, and you likely are lucky you missed it. It was fun though.
This is a really good point.
I'm sure you did great!
I think that even those who are in Hive just for the money should stay and maybe buy more instead of cashing out. Many people who are powering down have very little HP. Like you said it is barely enough for a coffee or two. I don't believe that all the people powering down need that money in their life. It certainly not gonna change their lives for the better. So I recon that they would be better of keeping(and increasing their if possible) their HP. If hive will go to 0 they will miss a cup of coffee. But if Hive will recover they could change they lives. The choice seems very simple. I have put maybe a 1-1,5k eur in Hive(?). Probably more than several of those people combined. And I already made my peace with the possibility that it all could crash out. I have no intention of powering down/cashing out of desperation to get my money back. I will wait till the end. either my stake will one day be worth cashing out(something in the tens- hundreds of thousands or it will keep going down to 0. In that case I will just have to keep money in bank account. But that would be boring way to live. I trust Hive more than I trust banks. Either way I refuse to spend my HP on a coffee.
The APR on curation is better than a bank at least.
Exactly.
Indeed, most crypto projects do not provide real value to people, do not better people's lives in any significant way outside of the promise of great wealth.
As is known, a set of people getting rich from crypto, also means another set losing great fortune. Just like early sellers after a bull run crash the prices so that later sellers incur losses. It's much like survival of the fittest.
That makes me wonder, what if majority of btc holders, who are whales, decide today to pocket some profit? We might see BTC kissing $2k. Imagine how distablizing an effect that would have on the cryptoshere or even global finance. A bit scary.
Or the quickest. Or the most ruthless. Or the least humane... something.
I would buy.
The truth is that the majority of us got in because of the incentive and the money that was attached to it. Why would people want to join many social media platforms when they are already used to one like Facebook and Twitter and nobody has to pay for onboarding on those platforms unlike Hive where you at least need an insider to recommend you for free account which won't work unless you have a support or delegation from other other which is known as Hive power as without it most of someone activities will be limited if not impossible so we all come in for the money and when the money doesn't come many are frustrated and give up easily especially for people from this side of the world that depend heavily on whatever comes their way. Someone who doesn't have a job will have to eat for the chosen Hive platforms.
Money, they say, is the root of all evil. And if you look at it closely you will certainly realise that it is not actually far from the truth. Money is why many are involved in illicit and illegal engagement and some even go to the extent of money rituals.
But I believe people actually get it wrong as money is just a tool of exchange for a value offer. If you render a service then be sure that you will be paid which is the 'money' not many see it that way and some would claim you can make a certain amount of money if you engage in a particular venture or business which might be true.
Relationship matters more on Hive especially for someone who wants to thrive and make a meaningful connection.
Money is just money - the evil is our relationship we build with it. Money is no different to a pile of bricks, or a forest of trees - just things in our environment. Weird though, isn't it?
As I say regularly- the price of hive doesn't impact the utility it provides.
Exactly. Even when it is low - people still use it.
well that's true, most of other crypto projects what are about? earn and quit, that's their point, buy low, sell high and back to the usual fiat
on the other hand here you can build apps, relations, etc... it's not just about money
Even when the price is low here, people are still interacting socially, talking, writing about their lives etc.
You are a shining example of a good Hiver. I came on the platform to have somewhere to publish my writing. I believe in the future of crypto - still do - as a developing technology. I can't say I understand the technicals of Hive very well, but I am learning that if I want more people to see me then I have to see them too. It's all about building relationships and I've made a few friends whose work influence me and bring me joy in this world.
Relationships should be more two-way again. The mainstream social media is only one way.
In general, maybe the real challenge isn’t fixing crypto or replacing the old economy, but redefining what we’re actually optimizing for. If systems are built only to maximize returns, they’ll naturally reproduce greed and extraction. But if they’re designed to strengthen relationships, agency, and long-term wellbeing, profit becomes a side effect not the goal. That kind of shift is slower, less flashy, and harder to market but it might be the only path that doesn’t lead us right back to where we started.
Yes. The old economy is made to centralise wealth. What we need is an economy that promotes health.
:) thanks again for ur talk yesterday. it was cool to hear u and all the discussion. relationships, huh? well, i am in this to get filthy RICH! .07 at a time!
actually, for me it was an FB replacement.. and yea, in my first half of life it was much more about chasing $$$, but now.. well, other relationships matter way more to me.
Good luck!
I want the value to increase significantly too. One day?
I love chatting about cryptocurrency on Hive. Everyone here is a cryptocurrency holder. I love hearing different opinions on cryptocurrency and seeing different investment strategies. I love seeing how tokens with tiny market caps grow or die. I love seeing stable and unstable communities.
And people who never knew they wanted to be, start to learn.
That was an awesome interview! It was lovely to hear your voice. You were just as thoughtful on air as you are when you write your posts.
I apologise for the croaks and sniffles!
That's right, mate, @tarazkp. It's vital to distinguish between those who build community and those who only see the ecosystem as a tool for extraction. Financial abuse not only affects rewards, but erodes the collective trust that sustains Hive. Thank you for putting your finger on the problem so clearly. I've done so myself, but I always get silenced, hehehe. Cheers!
Have you been silenced here? Getting tiny DVs isn't exactly being silenced. :)
If the only glue is APR, people will leave as soon as something shinier appears. Community and shared purpose are much harder to build and much easier to overlook.
So people pass on the opportunity.
What stood out to me most is the idea of our relationship with money. It’s true money is not just something we have or don’t have it shapes our emotions, decisions, and even our identity. Sincerely speaking to me, the real transformation is not about escaping struggle, but becoming wiser and stronger through it.
And if people remembered how they struggled, perhaps they would be more willing to help others overcome theirs.
This really resonates. It’s funny how many of us come for the money but stay for the growth, the writing, and the people. The shift from chasing price to valuing relationships and wellbeing is powerful and honestly, that’s where the real value is.
A strong community needs people willing to add value to it.
Well if a system requires participants to lose so a few can win, it’s not empowerment it’s just extraction and if we are keeping it real crypto didn’t invent that model. Wall Street and the stock market invented and mastered it long ago🤷
So where is the innovation in these crypto projects?
Don't need that to share and comment on this one. Just what you said hear, hear and *claps
Typos because it is too good to not fix:
NAILED IT <3
All of my work has typos and even wrong words at times. Part of the effects of having a stroke :) Sometimes I catch them and correct, sometimes not.
Agree, the allure of quick money often hides the true importance of forming real relationships in the Hive community.
And if people took the time, they would do better.
You know that politics-economics and their interaction with our lives and behavior is not only my fav topic but I believe my day job and my academic research have been at the intersection of these elements.
I have gathered over my time and my travels, which is extensive, that just making money can only help us build walls, but improving the financial future of others by showing them financial freedom can help us break the walls.
Unfortunately, in todays world, the conventional narrative, at least in the media, is about building walls. Yet, if you talk to the common people, even those in the jobs of building those walls, will sometimes tell you that they in fact want to be on the other side of those walls.
My wife used to visit Moscow a lot and still have a lot of business in Russia, and even the most dire Putin supporter, deep down, just wants a small cabin in Montana. Why Montana? It's more the conceptual myth as opposed to anything else.
If you just become rich, and your surrounding remains poor, very quickly you will have to move away from the neighborhood. However, if the whole neighborhood slowly become prosperous then its called 'gentrification':)
PS: I will watch the video when @buttcoins release it. I have met him on a live stream once, seems like a great guy to hang out with.
Exactly. These walls are built to protect wealth, but are limitations on our potential as a species, as well as our wellbeing. We are not more secure with them either, we are less.
Or is gentrification when rich people move away from one place to own another too? :D
GettoFication
I'm pretty sure most if not all of us got in for the money XD
Nah that's too hard.
I have been in hurdles of sticking to what works or go out of my zone. Chasing other things, has humbled me. There are things that I don't get.
Often new interests are found.
That is what we live for! no!
Well, eventually it would have been nice if Hive became a major social media platform the size of Facebook. In that case everyone in the top 1000 Hive stakeholders would be able to cash out half of their stake and make some substantial money...
But this is a fun place to try all kinds of stuff whatever interests you. For example I am playing with GPT 5.3 Codex and seeing how it codes against JS API for Hive...
I think I was also fascinated by the idea of making money at the start. But over time I realised it was more meaningful to not be so uptight about the monetary aspect since voting is something that was not within my control, and just learn and enjoy the process. And since then, I think there's lesser/no stress about about this hobby, and it's been more fun.
The people who are here to avoid money, are the ones who'll be successful.
Yup, using the exact same values to escape a system that broke due to said values is a pretty deep problem. When money is the only glue, there's no deeper values like community or loyalty, there's only positioning.
I joined Hive for both reasons - what I can write AND earn some crypto (which I knew very little about, but thought it was cool and alternative) ? The relationships - well, that was an added bonus.