The cryptocurrency industry, like other emerging fields, is undergoing the inevitable process of maturation from its infancy. This process includes rapid growth in the early stages, stable development, market saturation, thin profits, and potentially a phase of decline.

Looking back at the development history of cryptocurrency, the bull market of 2017 can be regarded as a true golden era. Prior to this, although the market had also experienced a complete bull market cycle, the scale was relatively small, and major exchanges had not yet been established. If one wants to view market data from 2013 to 2016, only a few foreign trading platforms like Bitfinex are able to provide it.

2017 was a crucial period for cryptocurrency to reach the masses. During this process, various investment projects played an important role, attracting a large number of ordinary investors into the market. The characteristic of this period was that even those who knew very little about the industry could potentially gain considerable profits when the market rose, as long as they participated. At that time, there were about 100 types of currencies circulating in the market, while today that number has exceeded 10 million.

In the bull market of 2017, almost all cryptocurrencies experienced significant growth, with increases ranging from 10 times to 20 times. Some outstanding projects even achieved 100 times or even 1000 times growth, such as EOS and NEO (formerly known as AntShares). This growth did not require in-depth industry knowledge; it primarily relied on market enthusiasm.

By 2021, the encryption currency industry entered a new stage of development. Developers began to explore more possibilities on the Ethereum platform, giving rise to innovative applications such as decentralized finance (DeFi), which sparked a new round of wealth growth. However, the characteristics of this wave of growth were different from those in 2017, and investors needed more specialized knowledge and judgment.

As the industry continues to develop, the market is gradually maturing. Investors and developers need to take a more rational view of the future of encryption currencies, focusing on technological innovation and practical applications, rather than just short-term price fluctuations. Although this process may slow down the pace of wealth accumulation, it also contributes to the long-term healthy development of the industry.

In the face of such market changes, participants need to continually learn and adapt. It becomes increasingly important to pay attention to the fundamentals of projects, technological developments, and team strength. At the same time, one must also be vigilant about market risks and manage asset allocation and risk. Only in this way can one find their place in this rapidly developing yet challenging industry.