limo/2026-why-I-remain-in-web3.md

# 2026 - Why I remain in Web3

2026 02 26

By the time I write this post, the crypto-economic is not doing well. We are back-to-back on red zone for few months. To be short, it's bear market. Many left for better income. VC moved to a place where the attention are present. The hyperbolic way to illustrate the situation right now, we are in desert. 

I've been here in the space for a year and almost half. Not long, feel short but actually not that short. But to be frank, I was away for 4-6 months. To tell you the truth, it was not easy to come back here, but I am back!

Who am I? What made me move here? Why did I left? Why staying now?

I've been working on and off as a software engineer for 5 years across startups and agencies in my country. And I hated it. I appreciate all the knowledge given to me. But that is it. Discussions were never a discussion. All the stake and blame are on us, no one is protecting anyone but them self. Hoping a 9-5 but always get 7-7. Salary is just enough to live for a month and half. Why do I keep to stay?

I heard that the person are different in this space. I met one DevRel from a L2 chain one day, and really appreciated it. I felt like, yes, its what I'm looking for. The technology, the person, the vibes, the discussion, everything!

At first I was learning to be a Security Researcher (SR), because I happen to know someone with SR background. I don't know anyone other than that DevRel who has been working in the web3 as a dev at that time. So I rely on the SR friend to teach me, and I keep asking him questions daily.

Finished with learning as SR in Cyfrin. I tried to compete in public audit contests while participating in web3 hackathon as well. For 6 months, I won 2 hackathon and got 1 valid high from an audit contest. Got the opportunity as well to launch my own product through Incubator, but it was where all the domino started to fall.

As someone who prefer to do anything by myself, I joined an Incubator alone. I had the idea to invite someone over, but I was not sure if I had to pay them or not. Basically I had no experience with such a thing. Since not everyone are happy to work voluntary. So for idk how many week it was, I finally was falling over. Hackathon looks no longer fun, audit contest looks overwhelming, my own product looks intimidating and traumatic, so I did nothing.

Few months later, I decided to join a hackathon that was my starting point a year ago. Yes, apparently its a yearly async hackathon. Not sure if I enjoyed it or not, but at least I tried, but for 3-4 days it was tough that I couldn't even continue my work. But at the end I submitted it anyway, because I don't want to lose my staking.

Felt lose, I tried to take revenge by re-learning the protocol that I was used during hackathon, yes it was Uniswap V4. I learn from V1 up to V3 (currently). While studying for Uniswap, I found [Ethereum Protocol Fellowship](https://blog.ethereum.org/2025/02/05/ethereum-protocol-studies) (EPF) Study Group. I immediately registered and participated. Currently I am actively taking EPFSG and learning it. My head been blown away with all the core stuff happening in Ethereum, including how Execution Layer and Consensus Layer works.

During EPFSG, it shows me again the joy of learning, exploring, and "hacking". It reminds me why did I started all of this. I hate centralized authority so much at my previous jobs. And now I hate more centralized stuff. I can't even opened a bank account when I have no job. 

I feel like, in Ethereum, I am in the right space with the same kind of people that I aspire to be, and have the similar motivation. People who against a certain kind of authority. People who against censorship. People who want freedom. The more I dive deep into the ecosystem, the more I meet these kind of people.

I don't know what kind of future it will be for me. But I think I will spend my time here, studying the core, and contributing back. Making the true platform or place that not discriminate anyone.