At a Token2049 side event tonight, someone asked if I’m a crypto OG. I said “sort of.” Here’s the truth: a lot of people technically became “OGs” without even knowing it. Back in my late high school and early college years, my entire friend group was buying Bitcoin. Not because they saw the future of money. Not because they were early investors. But because they needed fake IDs. In 2012, Bitcoin wasn’t a thesis - it was a tool. And for my friends, it was cheaper than getting someone’s older brother to drive to the liquor store. By today’s definition, that makes them OGs. The only problem? They didn’t HODL. It’s a funny story, but also a reminder: being early only matters if you have the conviction to stay in. Some people stumbled into Bitcoin and lost it. Others studied it, believed in it, and held on. That difference is what built the foundation for the industry we’re all here talking about at Token2049. So, congrats to my friends - crypto OGs by accident, broke by graduation. And congrats to everyone who stuck around. You didn’t just get in early. You stayed. That’s what makes you an OG.