The Legend of Creators and Destroyers: The Creators and Destroyers of the Community

Written by: Decentralized Finance Dave

Compiled by: Block unicorn

A legend is a story, symbol, and collective memory shared by a community that binds it together. Lore cannot be bought, and for lore to be long-lasting, it is necessary to have a community that is fully committed to its evolution. The most powerful lore is an open invitation to the community to create a mission and destiny together, and the unsung heroes who guard it all are the lore builders. Their motivations vary; Some people just do it "for fun", while others have a strong sense of purpose deep down that drives their actions. What all lore builders have in common, for whatever reason, is that they see the lore they create as a contribution to something greater than themselves.

At the same time, there are also Legend Destroyers, who are the opposite of Legend Creators. Legend Destroyers are self-driven and see legends as a resource to be exploited for energy, rather than something to contribute to. They may outwardly appear similar to Legend Creators, but over time, their true motives will be laid bare. Legend Destroyers do not see themselves as part of the story, but rather believe they are the story itself, and if they can further their personal interests, they will not hesitate to betray the legend.

As the concept of legend crafting is newly proposed, we must remain vigilant and clearly distinguish the boundaries between legend crafters and destroyers. By setting these boundaries, we can more easily differentiate between the two when the boundaries are crossed, which is also the main motivation for writing this article. Among all the characteristics that make up these two opposing forces, it is most important to remember that successful legend crafters are guardians of culture, creating enduring cultural memories; whereas legend destroyers are parasites, unable to see the end of their desires, draining the vitality of legends until they lose their life force.

What is Legend Maker

Legend-makers are individuals who listen, embody, and work with the community to expand myths. As I said in my last article, legend makers "identify emerging ideas, understand their historical context, and absorb collective emotions to weave these into a coherent and engaging narrative that invites others to contribute." They are prophets of legends. Skilled legend-makers don't dictate directions; They listen, acting as stewards of the legend, while remaining responsive to the natural evolution of the legend." It's important to emphasize here that the legend maker is not the loudest or most prominent person in the room; They are very careful about what they say and do, often working quietly behind the scenes, keeping the flame burning when no one is looking. Their words and deeds are different, but they are all rooted in some common characteristics.

Legend creators are born with a strong sense of perception and intuition. They understand the historical context of legends and the past forces that make them relevant and powerful. They can read the emotions and feelings of those around them, which provides information for their next actions, and they can discern what motivates them to take meaningful action. Legend creators intuitively perceive the essence of myths, identifying profound moments and actions, both big and small, and amplifying them. The perception of legend creators is essentially driven by a vision, as they see legends as a vibrant story playing out over a long arc of time.

The legendary creators are inherently selfless and possess noble character. They set aside their egos and act as humble stewards of the community, serving the legend rather than letting the legend serve them. The legendary creators understand that the legend is a collective effort shaped by many people, constantly changing under the influence of broader narratives and emotional currents. They know that actions speak louder than words; fame is not important, and they let their contributions speak for themselves.

Legend creators take initiative. They act without needing direction from others, feeling a sense of responsibility for the development of the legend. Proactive actions can take many forms, possibly symbolic (creating memes, solidifying icons), narrative (writing, recording important moments, creating characters), ideological (public stances, values), or ritualistic (events, habits, repeated gestures). Skilled legend creators are very aware of when to take active steps and when to step back. Being proactive does not mean forcibly pushing the legend; it means stepping up at the right moment. The more proactive actions created, the denser and richer the legend becomes.

Legend creators possess patience and resilience, recognizing that legends take time to take root in the hearts of the community. Any good legend stems from experiences that connect us to one another, whether through laughter, struggles, or victories. There are no shortcuts to crafting a legend; it is by no means accomplished overnight. It must be built brick by brick, step by step, over time, to form a fortress capable of withstanding the harshest conditions.

Ultimately, no matter what they do or how they act, the legends creators see themselves as part of the legend, just like a note in a grand symphony or a stitch in a mythical tapestry, which may seem insignificant on its own but is crucial to the overall form.

Satoshi Nakamoto: The Archetype of a Legend Creator

Satoshi Nakamoto is not only the founder of Bitcoin, but he also set the standard for subsequent legendary creators. No matter how technologically impressive Bitcoin is, without the legend that attracted a group of staunch believers after its birth, Bitcoin would not have been able to survive.

Satoshi Nakamoto keenly realized the historical context of creating Bitcoin. The cypherpunk movement of the 1990s provided the ideological foundation for Bitcoin, sowing the dream of achieving freedom through code and the belief that cryptography is a tool for individual and collective sovereignty. From that era, projects like b-money and Bit Gold laid the conceptual groundwork for digital currency; however, it wasn't until the double-spending problem was solved that Bitcoin became economically and computationally viable. By combining all the advancements in cryptography and distributed systems while remaining true to the cypherpunk spirit, Satoshi had all the elements needed to create a trustless, self-sustaining digital value transfer protocol. All he needed next was the right catalyst.

The financial crisis of 2008 became an opportunity. The government rescued financial giants instead of ordinary people and printed trillions of dollars through quantitative easing. These actions triggered widespread disillusionment and distorted incentive mechanisms; profits were privatized while losses were socialized. The systemic failure of the financial system and public trust in broader institutions created ideal conditions for Satoshi Nakamoto to release the white paper on Halloween in 2008.

Satoshi Nakamoto's vision is clear: to create a peer-to-peer, decentralized alternative to state-controlled currency. No banks, governments, or intermediaries, only people transacting through cryptographic trust. No central server, no individual bearing responsibility, only an open-source network that transcends borders, where anyone can participate.

This participation is not limited to running full nodes or contributing code; it also includes actively engaging in the community and social aspects of Bitcoin. For example, the Bitcoin forum Bitcoin Talk is where Satoshi Nakamoto began, not only sharing his thoughts and reasoning but also starting to guide the surrounding community to collaboratively establish cultural norms and refine the core principles of Bitcoin.

In the forum, the philosophical foundation promoted by Satoshi Nakamoto and the degree to which it was accepted by the community is as important, if not more so, than his code. The hard cap of 21 million bitcoins instilled a culture of scarcity, forever protecting the community from the tyranny of fiat currency and central bank printing without public consent. Furthermore, principles such as trustlessness, sovereignty, permissionlessness, neutrality, antifragility, and pragmatism were ingrained in Bitcoin culture early on, laying the groundwork for its evolution in the years to come.

By holding himself to the highest standards, Satoshi Nakamoto became a role model for others to follow. Satoshi remained anonymous and never sought attention for himself. "We are all Bitcoin" became a common slogan not by coincidence; this is exactly what Satoshi hoped for: that everyone would participate in its development, making Bitcoin greater than any individual. When he handed Bitcoin over to the community, he created space for new legends to emerge, allowing them to drive Bitcoin into the future.

The 1 million unused bitcoins in Satoshi Nakamoto's wallet are the strongest declaration of Satoshi Nakamoto; regardless of whether they are worth billions of dollars, it is irrelevant because it is determined in relation to the escape pod he created—a fiat currency system. If these 1 million bitcoins are sold, it will be contrary to Satoshi Nakamoto's philosophy, destroying bitcoin and making him a legend destroyer.

Since Satoshi Nakamoto quietly left Bitcoin and society, he has become a mythical figure for millions of people worldwide, from whose actions they seek guidance, ultimately becoming the model followed by all subsequent legends.

The Legend Destroyer and Its Consequences

Legend destroyers are individuals who exploit and distort legends for their own gain, manipulating their communities to achieve their goals. They are false prophets, disguising themselves as saviors, presenting themselves in a near-mythical manner, yet ultimately falling dramatically. The cryptocurrency space repeatedly shows how easily people can be influenced by legend destroyers. Human nature yearns to follow a "savior," and everyone is looking for someone to follow, a tendency that is often exploited. If we want the industry to grow and evolve, we must be more keen in identifying legend destroyers and have the courage to expose them.

Legendary destroyers are self-centered, prioritizing their own interests. They are driven by personal glory and care most about how others perceive them. Their thinking is centered around "I" rather than "we," and their language is filled with self-reference. For example, they might say, "Look at me, I am a visionary," instead of "Look at what we are building together."

Legend destroyers are short-sighted opportunists and toxic mercenaries. They only follow legends when it benefits them, and once a better opportunity arises, they quickly betray. Legend destroyers have no principles or firm beliefs and can speak nonsense to please the crowd. They do not build on myths, but rather exploit them, hijacking legends for their personal gain.

The performance of the legend destroyers appears rigid and insincere. Their words are robotic, hollow, and superficial, lacking substantial content. They overly optimize metrics and dramatic effects, rather than focusing on substance or naturally listening to the direction of the legends. Ultimately, the legend destroyers attempt to quickly extract resources from the myths, leaving the community in ruins and chaos. Meanwhile, the legend creators build myths over a long period, allowing those in the community who are patient enough to grow and elevate together.

SBF: The Ultimate Legend Breaker

One of the most notorious legend breakers of recent years has been Sam Bankman-Fried, or SBF for short. From the framework of lore-making, he did a lot of the right things to build lore for himself and FTX/Alamaeda. Coming from prestigious schools at MIT and Jane Street, he initially entered the crypto space by arbitraging Bitcoin in Asia. He presents himself as an unkempt genius founder, sleeping on a bean bag chair and living frugally, but it's all a well-choreographed show. SBF's philosophical framework of effective altruism emphasizes doing the greatest good in any way, placing him and his actions on the moral high ground. The lore that follows him and the lore he constructs is accompanied by various memes and iconic events, such as him "saving" Sushiswap from Chef Nomi's crisis, or declaring that "he wants to buy all SOL for $3" and so on.

SBF raised hundreds of millions of dollars from venture capital firms such as SoftBank, Sequoia Capital, Paradigm, Temasek, and Blackstone to gain external recognition for FTX, establishing himself as a legitimate spokesperson for power institutions. He met with regulators and testified in Congress, positioning himself as the "acceptable face" of cryptocurrency. Crypto Twitter was captivated by his myth, with accounts like Autism Capital beautifying his image and efforts over the years.

However, the signs of legendary destruction have long been apparent. First, SBF has rebuilt the system that Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are designed to disrupt in its business and political activities, and has shaped a cult of personality with itself at its core. Ironically, he was close to the institution that Satoshi Nakamoto was trying to break away from, but many chose to ignore it because they were attracted to him by his charisma or out of self-interest. SBF's transactions and structure are opaque, especially the relationship between Alameda and FTX, which is effectively the same entity.

From the venue naming in Miami to his face plastered on advertisements in San Francisco, claiming "investing in crypto is for a positive global impact," SBF mimics legitimacy while undermining the mythos built around cryptocurrency. He wraps himself in the language of altruism, Decentralized Finance, and ethics as a guise to advance personal and political goals.

As a legend breaker, SBF sees crypto as a resource-extracting industry rather than a space to be built. He used the legend to empower himself and his cronies, only to put many people in bankruptcy when FTX filed for bankruptcy in November 2022. SBF has been convicted of multiple crimes and is currently serving a 25-year federal prison sentence and has been ordered to confiscate more than $11 billion in assets for misappropriating billions of dollars in FTX customer deposits to support Alameda, buy real estate, make political donations, and more. We were lucky that he was caught; If SBF continues, he could become a Trojan horse that destroys everything this space has built.

Conclusion

Communities are born from legends and perish by them, and the survival of legends depends on those who bear the heavy responsibilities of advancing them, the legend creators. Legend creation has always existed; it is just that now we are beginning to define it and are still distinguishing between legend creators and destroyers. Legends are the lifeblood of the community, legend creators are the sages who invigorate it, while legend destroyers are the vampires that drain its vitality.

Legends are never neutral; they are always in a state of being shaped and molded by the community. Without excellent legend creators to defend the legend, it is easily exploited. The future of any project is not driven by code or the funds raised, but by those committed to building its mythology.

Today, the image of entrepreneurs is romanticized, much like athletes. But we don't need more entrepreneurs raising huge sums of money or trying to fund their ventures with venture capital. What we need are more caretakers and legend weavers, myth guardians and humble shepherds, who do their duty to keep the legends alive and fend off external forces that seek to plunder them. To do this, you don't need to appear in the most dazzling way, and I don't even encourage that; to be a legend maker, you just need to care and take on your role accordingly.

Ultimately, the continuation of each legend is not because it is spoken loudly, but because enough people silently choose to pass it on and protect it from the damage of legend destroyers. Like a pulse, the legend continues to beat through its community, memes, icons, symbols, and classics, extending into the future.