We take a hard look at the current state of crypto and why so much of it feels broken. From scam tokens and insider trading to fake engagement and deceptive marketing, the noise makes it nearly impossible to separate real projects from the endless stream of grifts. We share our own experience with $NAT, a project built to solve real problems but held back by industry “standards” like inflated social metrics and bought followers—tactics we refuse to use. This puts us at a crossroads: do we play the dirty game to gain traction, or stick to a cypherpunk ethos of organic growth and community-first building? In this episode, we wrestle with that tension and argue for a shift toward substance, sustainability, and real community-driven initiatives—drawing inspiration from how companies like Apple built enduring value over decades, not hype cycles. Topics: First up, look at the current state of crypto and why so much of it feels broken. Next, From scam tokens and insider trading to fake engagement and deceptive marketing, the noise makes it nearly impossible to separate real projects from the endless stream of grifts. and Finally, we wrestle with that tension on real community-driven initiatives Please like and subscribe on your favorite podcasting app! Sign up for a free newsletter: www.theblockrunner.com Follow us on: Youtube: https://bit.ly/TBlkRnnrYouTube Twitter: bit.ly/TBR-Twitter Telegram: bit.ly/TBR-Telegram Discord: bit.ly/TBR-Discord