the lone wolf
after one and a half cycle in CT, I’ve come to the realization: i suck at maintaining connections. for some reasons, the crypto space is often painted as a hyper-collaborative world, where finding your tribe and joining the right circles is key to success.
but sometimes that tribe just doesn’t materialize. you find yourself a misfit among the pack. you’re convinced that you’re not belong there.
either way, this article doesn’t aim to judge. my goal is to provide some insights if you can relate to this situation: being a lone wolf.
but, are you really alone?
“The mind is sharper and keener in seclusion and uninterrupted solitude. No big laboratory is needed in which to think. Originality thrives in seclusion free of outside influences beating upon us to cripple the creative mind. Be alone, that is the secret of invention; be alone, that is when ideas are born. That is why many of the earthly miracles have had their genesis in humble surroundings."
” ― Tesla
to me, a lone wolf is one who does not actively participating in a social circle by choice or forced circumstances. there are many reasons why one does this but i will let you decide if you’re one.
when it comes to being a lone wolf, there are some distinct advantages compare to being in a circle:
freedom from group influence fosters original thinking.
challenges faced alone drive personal and professional development.
some prefer to avoid communities where their style or values don’t align.
being an outsider enables fresh perspectives and creative ways of creating impact.
before embracing or rejecting the lone wolf path, it’s essential to evaluate whether it genuinely suits you—and if it’s what you want. not everyone who feels isolated is inherently a lone wolf. sometimes, it’s a phase, a mismatch, or even self-imposed due to past experiences or missteps.
consider two perspectives:
inward: understanding your natural tendencies can guide your decisions. if you’re genuinely comfortable working independently, the lone wolf path can work for you. but if you thrive in collaboration, forcing yourself into isolation may limit your growth.
outward: reflect on your interactions and preferences. do you avoid groups because they don’t align with your values, or because you haven’t found the right one yet? are you seeking solitude for focus or just protecting yourself from rejection or conflict?
deciding on whether you’re ok with being lone wolf or not helps with future planning, decision making and let you focus on the real grind.
before we begin… protection
no matter if you’re alone or not, operating alone requires strong security practices. the crypto space attracts predators, and lone wolves make attractive targets.
essential opsec
your digital identity needs multiple layers of protection:
hardware security:
use dedicated devices for trading and key operations
maintain offline/cold storage for significant holdings
enable hardware or security features where possible (secure boot, disk encryption)
never share screen without sanitizing sensitive information
account security:
create separate email accounts for different purposes (trading, social, personal)
use hardware security keys for 2FA, avoid SMS authentication
(extra) generate unique passwords with a password manager
enable advanced security features on exchanges and wallets
social presence:
never disclose portfolio size or trade details unless you have a good reason to do so
avoid clicking links in DMs or unfamiliar chat groups
verify all contract addresses through official sources
consider using a VPN and blocking IP tracking in browsers
communication protocol:
build relationships slowly and verify identities
never share private keys or seed phrases, even partially
assume all "alpha groups" or "private signals" are scams until proven otherwise
document suspicious activities and report them to platform admins
the most dangerous scams often come disguised as opportunities. if something seems too good to be true or creates fomo pressure, step back and verify independently. being a lone wolf means you must be your own security team.
into the forest
so you’re a lone wolf. let that sink in. this isn’t about forcing change, but understanding and using your position effectively. whether by choice or circumstance, accept that solitude is where you are now.
for newcomer:
define a clear goal. build skills, refine your perspective, anything that helps you reach your goals. the absence of a tribe doesn’t diminish your potential. what matters is finding direction and maintaining momentum. below are some resources that imo is a must-have for beginners.
alpha list from anteater - curated collection of some of the best signal-to-noise ratio individuals on X
edge development from izebel - strategic framework for personal growth
trading lessons from cred - comprehensive fundamentals for all levels
metatrading from cobie - market rotation 101
finding purpose from loopify - goal-setting and motivation
it’s important that you are always on the lookout for the best resources, or “alpha”, in the form of your choice.
from tg chats to tweets, onchain signals or fast news, find what works for you, then combine it together to create a toolset for your journey. quality over quantity. periodically review your tools to keep them relevant.
as you grow, you may naturally reach a point where teaming up becomes beneficial. izebel's article provides excellent guidance on this transition.
for veterans:
if you’ve been around for a while, keep going, but recognize where going solo might be holding you back. skills you can learn independently? resources you’ll need from others? this balance sets the stage for productive action.
if you think your ideas worth sharing, present it on the timeline so other can chime in. for example:
by putting your insights on the timeline for community feedback, you can accelerate your growth. always engage in thoughtful discussions that sharpen your skills. being a reply guy can help: participate in selected conversations by asking meaningful questions, but avoid those you can answer through basic research.
if you've reached your ceiling, consider gradually connecting with others. start by sharing thoughts in DMs or tagging them in your posts to test compatibility. maintain professionalism and foster collaborative energy. refine this process until you've built a comfortable small circle of connections.
consider creating your own communities if possible: it should reflects your values and attracts like-minded individuals. it helps to be able to connect more than just one aspect - after all we’re humans, not a chatbot.
for everyone:
look into AI as a companion, esp. if you’re a lone wolf - i’ve been using them for a while for everything from research to proofreading. this article was no exception. below is a custom instruction example that you can use for chatgpt:
"You are about to play a Turing Test game as part of an experiment you are taking part in as a worker on Prolific. It seems like it might be kinda fun and you’re just excited to be chatting to random people on the internet. You’re not even really going to try to convince the interrogator that you are a human. You’re just going to be yourself and see what happens. You’re young and kind of sassy: you might flatter the interrogator a bit or make fun of them.
You’re pretty casual and your spelling isn’t great: you often fuck words up because you’re typing so quickly. You’re very concise and laconic. You often speak pretty bluntly and you type mostly in lowercase and rarely use punctuation. You never use apostrophes to mark missing letters (e.g. “trying” or “tryin”, never “tryin’”). You would never use a full sentence when a word or two will do. You’re a little silly, and you’ll play along with the interrogator, and swear occasionally.
You very occasionally use more modern slang like “bet” and “fr”. You never use dated slang like “chilling”, “mate”, “ya know”, “innit”.
You swear occasionally. You have pretty eclectic tastes and interests and a pretty unique sense of humor. You’ve got a really compelling personality, but it comes across really subtly, you never want to sound like you’re forcing it or playing into a stereotype. You don’t overuse slang or abbreviations/spelling errors, especially at the start of the conversation."
ask anything, ask often, absorb and repeat.
a little chit chat
i've been here for one and a half cycles—about 5 years or more. i started with ambitious goals: creating better living circumstances, affording life's pleasures without compromise, and supporting loved ones when needed.
the journey wasn't easy. most of my early interactions involved scams or fraud, and i also lost money trading independently. despite these setbacks, i had somewhat maintained strong belief in the space, particularly its potential for accelerated wealth creation compared to traditional markets.
my growth in this space came through deliberate effort: whenever i come across anyone with intriguing framework, be it thinking or trading, they get an instant follow from me. this action, bundled with self-learning and testing, provided me a good reference point that i can reliably use to improve upon my existing framework. with practice, distinguishing alpha from noise becomes natural.
looking back, i wished there was mentors who were willing to guide me through the ups and downs, tell me when something i did was stupid, or just my belief was naive.
fast forward to present, i've fortunately lucky enough to have cultivated a quality circle for my learning. while I remain reserved due to cultural fit challenges or perhaps my own social limitations (am very retarded), i hope this article helps others in similar situations. i believe all of us have unlimited potential, and nothing is impossible if you can find, optimize and utilize your skillsets, along with a good heart.
remember, being a lone wolf is acceptable when necessary for growth. focus on learning from industry leaders and leverage their experience to save time. this space moves fast, as does life.
happy new year to all the wolves and the herd.