The past year nearly broke me. There were periods where stepping away from crypto seemed like the only rational choice—the market swings, the portfolio hits, the relentless pressure. Everything pointed to one direction: quit.

But I'm still here. And that's not because I'm stubborn or delusional. It's because of the people around me. These aren't just collaborators or network connections—they're the ones who showed up when things got dark, who understood without needing explanations, who believed when the charts looked impossible. When volatility tested every ounce of resolve, when losses stacked up faster than wins, when exhaustion felt like the default state—they kept me grounded.

That kind of support? It changes everything. It's the difference between burning out and pushing through. In this space, where isolation can hit hard and doubt creeps in quietly, having your people matters more than any market rally ever could.