The Unwritten Rules of Crypto Networking That No One Tells Beginners

Crypto networking doesn’t quite work as it would in more traditional corporate industries. After being a fringe space—and, let’s face it, a somewhat unusual corner of the internet for many years—the blockchain world has developed its own unique social norms and ecosystem. 

As such, there is no welcome packet or formalized introduction into the community. And there is no rule book on how to do things correctly. Come from a more traditional business background. You may feel that one day, you’re launching your crypto project, and the next, you’re trying to figure out why nobody’s responding to your perfectly professional LinkedIn messages.

The disconnect makes sense. This industry wasn’t built by MBAs in boardrooms—it was built by developers, visionaries, and even financial outsiders who wanted to rewrite the systems. They seem to have also created their own social norms along the way. 

And while you’re busy focusing on building your crypto business, these unwritten social rules might be the difference between finding valuable partners or feeling permanently stuck on the outside looking in.

The DM Dilemma

One of the main differences between the crypto industry and more traditional spaces usually catches many people off guard: how surprisingly accessible people are—even those with hundreds of thousands of followers. 

Crypto Twitter is a very active place (both in a good and a bad way), and this can be taken advantage of. However, before you slide into someone’s DMs with “gm” and a pitch for your new NFT collection, take a moment to pause and consider your approach.

Crypto veterans and key influencers in the space receive hundreds of messages daily. That means that your “quick question” or attempt to connect will compete with hundreds of others. 

To stand a better chance of success, try engaging with their content first instead of going straight for the ask. Take some time to comment thoughtfully on their posts or some of the content they have put out. Share their work with your insights added. Build recognition before requesting their time.

When you do reach out, be specific and brief. “I loved your thread on Layer 2 solutions and have been experimenting with them. Would you mind if I asked you two quick questions about my experience?” 

Another key takeaway is that public conversations often beat private ones in the crypto space, especially on Twitter. Replying to someone’s tweet with a thoughtful question not only gets you an answer but also allows others to see and appreciate your curiosity. It also gives you a chance for more engagement and multiplies your networking effect with minimal effort.

The Reality of IRL Meetups

Despite the blockchain space being an inherently “online” world, at some point, you will want to meet people face-to-face at a crypto event—these range from massive conferences to small local meetups, each with its vibe.

One thing that people don’t often tell you is that the best connections are the ones that typically happen outside of scheduled sessions – whether that’s in hotel lobby bars, in the queue for a coffee, in the hallway, or during impromptu dinner groups. When you attend a real-world event, make space for these moments. Don’t pack your schedule with back-to-back meetings. 

Keep a close eye on the blockchain events taking place this year. Major events and conferences, such as Consensus, ETH Denver, and Token2049, are announced many months before. However, plenty of smaller, more focused gatherings often appear with just weeks of notice. These intimate events offer better networking opportunities than massive conferences.

Even if you can’t attend, following the event hashtags on Twitter makes sense. Many meaningful conversations happen online in parallel with physical events. Jump into these discussions from wherever you are – people respect the initiative.

Another good tip is not to overlook local meetups, either. They might seem small compared to international conferences, but you can still build deep connections nonetheless.

Discord: Where Communities Actually Live

Okay, let’s switch back to the digital world. If you want to get to the heart of crypto projects and connect with influential people in the space, then you need to learn something about Discord. 

For those who aren’t up to speed, Discord is a communication platform that allows people to connect over chat, video, audio, and through community channels. It can be a little overwhelming if you’re just getting started with it. Channels everywhere, conversations moving at light speed, and strange bots popping up with commands you don’t understand.

First rule: lurk before you leap. It’s a good idea to spend a bit of time reading before you start posting. Each server has its own culture and inside jokes.

Second rule: ignore the FOMO. You don’t need to join 50 servers. Pick 2-3 projects you genuinely care about and focus there. Quality contributions in a few communities will always beat out a spray-and-pray approach. 

Most importantly: never, ever respond to DMs offering help, especially from “support staff.” Scammers target Discord heavily; that friendly message is probably trying to steal your crypto.

If you haven’t already, you could also consider building your own Discord server to host your own community. 

The Trust Equation

Finally, an important point to remember is that crypto operates on trust, which seems ironic for an industry built on “trustless” technology. As such, your reputation is everything. Build it carefully:

• Keep your word, especially about small promises
• Admit when you don’t know something
• Give credit generously
• Protect others’ private information
• Be consistent in your values
• Consider crypto public relations and blockchain PR relations to build your profile. 

You could argue that this is all common sense and applies to any setting, and you would be right. Yet, crypto has more than its fair share of shady characters and scammers. As a result, people are fairly skeptical and diligent when making new connections and deciding who they can trust. The community has a long memory of both generosity and bad behavior.

Final Word

After all is said and done, crypto networking comes down to showing up consistently and bringing genuine value wherever you go. The technical jargon and market volatility might change overnight, but the relationships you build will carry your business through bull and bear markets alike.

Don’t try to network everywhere at once. Find the corners of the community that align with your values and business goals, then plant roots there. The most successful crypto founders aren’t necessarily the loudest voices or the ones with the most followers – they’re the ones who’ve earned trust by being helpful, honest, and human.