Crypto KOLs have flipped from being a nobody to changing their lives
Five-star hotels, business class in the UAE
Why do so many people want to be crypto KOLs
Because the threshold is low, time is free, favored by exchanges, and pampered by project parties,
Seasonal gifts, fruit mooncakes, New Year's gifts are all available~
High-end dinner, five-star chartered flight wine learning camp (travel)~
In addition to promotional fees, there are even opportunities for financial freedom~
In the era of traffic monetization, why are so many people willing to engage in abstraction, borderline activities, and adult content... Because making money is faster than working as a regular employee from 8 to 6!
First, let's talk about the glamorous part.
Some KOLs originally had no education or jobs; they might have just been social misfits—using some dubious methods to become KOLs (during the early period when the thresholds were even lower). They might not have flown on a plane, gone abroad, or stayed in high-end hotels—then suddenly, they are invited to charter flights for international travel every month, attending various high-end dinners and events.
Ultimately, this world is just a makeshift troupe.
The so-called KOL does not mean having high recognition or a great education.
Being able to strip, suck up, and attract attention has already put you ahead of a large portion of people.
What capabilities do these KOLs have? What influence do they possess?
In fact, sometimes the opinions or viewpoints they provide may be sourced from AI.
Then why do some people want to foot the bill?
KOLs gain trust and followers through information asymmetry and information gaps.
This world has always been governed by a small group of people who set the rules of the game, while others blindly follow like a herd, with FOMO emotions brainwashing you, making you have faith, thereby better controlling your emotions and actions.
Some industries have emerged in the market where female internet celebrities or 'medical beauty teams' from outside the incubation circle come into the crypto world as KOLs. The script they are told is: the threshold for becoming a KOL in the crypto world is low, and the big shots in crypto have money that's easy to grab. This has led to a series of incubation services... and a large number of 'crypto KOLs' with 'cosmetic faces' (more common on Xiaohongshu), who don't need to understand the crypto world or know about K-lines, they just need to perform well in the script and establish a character.
Low entry threshold: As long as you can continuously produce content (text, video, live streaming) and establish a certain level of trust, you can become a KOL. There's no need for strict qualification certification like in traditional financial industries (although regulation is tightening now). The content can be copied from others or scripted by the company...
Direct monetization of traffic: Followers accumulated on social platforms like Twitter, Telegram, YouTube, and Weibo can quickly be converted into real money through various channels mentioned above. This logic of traffic equating to money is especially direct and efficient in the crypto world.
Dubious method of gaining followers:
Level 1 of shamelessness: Mutual following with blue V (mutual following with ordinary users to increase the proportion of verified users), leaving comments or private messages to get big V to follow (some KOLs may feel empathy or awkwardness and will follow back; moral coercion can sometimes lead to a certain chance of follow-back).
Level 2 of shamelessness:
Suck up!! Be a shameless sycophant; as long as the big shot makes any move, you suck up in various ways. Network at meetings, dinners, parties... and get familiar. Flatter the big shots and mix in the circles. You might even unexpectedly gain 'startup funds'.
Level 3 of shamelessness:
Strip! Flirt on the edges—get abstract! People in the crypto world are quite repressed; as long as you're eccentric enough and don't care about others' views, just feed the audience what they want to see, grab attention, create topics, and make people remember you quickly.
However, this dubious method can lead to a tarnished reputation. Some people stop at nothing to achieve their goals, and some believe that 'black-red' is still a form of red, thinking they'll consider transforming into monetization after gaining traffic. There are already many successful cases in the crypto world, so I won't go into detail.
I advise you not to learn from this; those who can endure are definitely capable and content-rich individuals.
Overall, in the crypto world, being shameless and heartless can earn you more.
After gaining trust, transfer money from your pocket to theirs—some big V make a fortune by cutting their fans.
However, it's worth mentioning that although crypto KOLs seem glamorous, the legal and ethical risks behind them are enormous. Not only in China, but globally, there is increasing regulation on cryptocurrency marketing, and everyone needs to be cautious!
I suggest that people just entering society should be down-to-earth, first intern and work at big companies or institutions, gain some experience in society, learn the 'rules' in organizations and teams, and learn how to 'be a person.' This is what I see many young people in the crypto world are lacking.
I believe that the education of a true KOL should teach you how to think and judge independently, rather than directly telling you what to buy or sell. DYOR!