Author: TM
Translation: TechFlow
This is a modern masterclass in psychological tactics.
I probably shouldn't be writing this article—there's just too much information. Honestly, this is also my superpower. But whatever, let's dive deep into marketing strategies in crypto: a masterclass in psychological tactics.
If you still don't know what "psyops" are, it means you've been manipulated your entire adult life.
Welcome to the Meme War.
Milady
Case 1: Kalshi Enters the Crypto Market
Let's talk about @Kalshi. This isn't about spreading FUD—I actually admire their execution. These are just some personal opinions, nothing conclusive.
After the memecoin hype faded, prediction markets started gaining attention. Some KOLs began pushing this narrative, one of whom is @j0hnwang.
Prediction markets are indeed fairer than memecoins. Memecoins are a brutal "1 vs 1000" game, while prediction markets at least offer more balanced odds. But to be honest, degens in crypto have a deep-rooted love for coins—it's always been that way.
So here's the question: how do you capture market share from the memecoin sector without issuing a coin, while also attacking dominant players like @Polymarket?
The answer: psychological warfare.
Here's how the events unfolded:
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John Wang had already signed with Kalshi before the official announcement.
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In the following months, engagement farms and researchers started building hype for his account.
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When the signing was officially announced, the entire release process was meticulously coordinated: news outlets, influencers, and "research" pages all reported the news—about a KOL signing.
News pages reporting on a crypto KOL signing?
This was treated as a milestone event, as if Kalshi had just poached an executive from Google or Apple.
This is a simple yet brilliant psyop: turning a personnel change into a full-blown marketing campaign.
Kalshi didn't just enter the crypto space—they made it look like a paradigm shift.
They paid these sites, researchers, and influencers to talk about the announcement. This hiring event caused a huge stir. Kalshi officially entered the crypto market. As if it were a FAANG stock.
A very simple but effective psychological tactic: they carefully orchestrated the announcement and turned it into a large-scale marketing campaign.
So, is John Wang Kalshi's marketing manager?
Case 2: The ai16z Flywheel Effect
Next, let's talk about ai16z.
This move was nothing short of genius. For a while, it made people (myself included) genuinely hopeful about the future of "crypto x AI."
Here's how they operated:
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They launched a meme DAO around the concept of "tokenizing a16z (the famous VC giant)."
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Marc Andreessen (one of a16z's founders) personally engaged, giving the meme authority.
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Instantly, the entire industry focused on this "new AI fund."
Then, they launched their product: the Eliza AI agent.
It quickly became the top-ranked platform on GitHub. The timing was perfect. The hype was unstoppable.
Shaw flexing
But what about the reality? Technically, it's just a wrapper for GPT. Simply put, it connects an existing LLM API to a frontend interface. Nothing disruptive or innovative.
But does anyone care? Almost no one. The product works, the vibe is right, and that's enough.
The key to psychological tactics is not just technology, but narrative.
Being part of the ai16z DAO became a status symbol. Like wearing a Rolex in the early days, being an "ai16z partner" meant you were impressive. It attracted elite university developers and wealthy believers.
The DAO's market cap reached 2.5 billions USD (with laughably thin liquidity). The flywheel effect formed: hype attracts liquidity, liquidity attracts investors, investors create more hype.
But the next question is: how do you cash out without wrecking the price chart?
The answer: you don't have to cash out directly. Instead, ai16z "sold" their technology to other AI crypto projects, securing up to 10% of pre-token launch allocations in exchange for market support.
The result? A wave of half-baked AI projects emerged. These projects were supported, hyped, and then quickly dumped.
After dumping the AI projects they got for free from him.
In the end, the psychological tactics worked. Liquidity was drained. And now, ai16z is preparing for their next comeback.
The Essence of Crypto Psyops
Here's the point: no trick can be reused.
Once people see through the ploy, it stops working. The crowd quickly moves on to the next shiny thing. That's why so many projects keep recycling the same clichés:
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Airdrops
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Roadmaps
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Buybacks
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Flywheels
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Tokenomics
If you hear these words, it means the team hasn't realized the market has changed. Today's marketing is no longer about empty announcements. In this market, only actual product delivery matters.
Welcome to the Meme War
Crypto marketing today is not just advertising—it's a war.
Narrative is the weapon. Engagement is the ammunition. Every announcement, partnership, or dispute is a battle for "mindshare."
The winners aren't just the projects selling technology, but those teams that can run coordinated psychological operations: telling stories, creating memes, strategizing, and getting their target users to believe in their narrative.
Of course, not every project plays by the same rules.
If you want to capture market share in this industry, you have to arm yourself. Build your team like a Roman warlord preparing for conquest.
Because in crypto, this is a war.
"Si vis pacem, para bellum."
If you want peace, prepare for war.
My victorious pose after defeating my opponent.
Your competitors are the ones you fight—not your community. Supporting your allies is where your true comrades lie.
