From 100 to 6k+: The Art of Playing the Long Game on X

Introduction

What if I told you that my Twitter account sat dormant for over a year before I ever posted anything meaningful?

Most growth gurus will tell you to post daily, chase trends, and optimize every tweet for virality. But that’s not how I grew from 100 followers to over 6,000. My journey wasn’t about gaming algorithms—it was about genuine curiosity, honest documentation, and finding my tribe in the chaotic world of crypto Twitter.

Between November 2020 and today, I’ve witnessed Bitcoin surges, NFT mania, DeFi explosions, and memecoin madness. Through it all, I learned that sustainable growth doesn’t come from shouting louder—it comes from building trust, one authentic conversation at a time.

Let me share the four distinct phases of my Twitter evolution and the hard-won lessons that actually moved the needle.

Phase 1: The Silent Observer (November 2020 - March 2022)

Just Watching, Not Creating

I had a Twitter account long before I considered using it. After stopping my WeChat blog, I needed somewhere to consume information—not create it.

My initial purpose was purely selfish: I wanted to track Bitcoin’s rise and follow Cardano developments to protect my investments. I followed maybe 100 people, mostly real-life friends. I never imagined building an audience.

Looking back, this “lurking phase” was more valuable than I realized. I was:

• Learning the platform’s culture
• Identifying voices I respected
• Understanding what resonated with communities
• Absorbing without the pressure to perform

The unexpected lesson: Sometimes the best foundation for creation is extended observation.

Phase 2: Finding My Voice Through NFTs and DeFi (April 2022 - End of 2023)

When Curiosity Became Content

The 2022 lockdown changed everything. Trapped at home, I dove deep into NFT projects—AquaFarmers, Clay Nation, Spacebudz. An airdrop profit showed me that Web3 was genuinely transformative.

I started writing not to build an audience, but to document my thinking. This was crucial.

My critical analysis of The Ape Society became my first “viral” post. I hadn’t engineered it for engagement—I simply shared an honest perspective that resonated with holders who felt the same way.

The Power of Community Immersion

By engaging authentically with NFT communities, I:

• Connected with fellow holders who became mutual followers
• Learned community psychology and token economics
• Built credibility through consistent, thoughtful participation

From mid-2022, I wrote daily crypto diaries for an entire year. By year’s end, I had maybe 500 followers.

That might sound discouraging, but those 500 people actually cared about what I had to say. They weren’t vanity metrics—they were real connections.

Shifting to DeFi and Memecoins

As 2023 progressed, smart contracts launched on Cardano, and I pivoted to DeFi research. Discovering Snek and various memecoins opened my eyes to the power of shared belief systems and community faith in projects.

I maintained my core strategy: documenting growth, changes in thinking, and money-making opportunities as I discovered them.

Through these community interactions, I established credibility. My follower count reached 1,000+—not through growth hacks, but through genuine value.

Phase 3: Investing in Myself (January 2024 - August 2024)

The Premium Plus Decision

In early 2024, I made my biggest strategic decision: I subscribed to Twitter Premium Plus.

This wasn’t just about features—it was a commitment to taking my presence seriously. I also:

• Relaunched our “Top Alliance” initiative
• Explored blockchain gaming content
• Committed to true, intentional creation (not just casual posting)

Doubling Down on What Worked

After the market cooled in March, I refocused on Snek and began creating Chinese-language content from June through August. This represented a major strategic shift—I was creating for a specific community with specific needs.

The lesson? When you narrow your focus, you deepen your impact.

Phase 4: The Badge Era and Strategic Amplification (October 2024 - Present)

Earning Recognition, Then Multiplying It

Receiving the Snek badge validated my efforts and motivated me to push harder. But the real breakthrough came from studying the Dog community’s energy and virality mechanics.

I spent four hours manually translating the viral “Runestone” and “Dog” history pieces into English. That single article continued generating exposure for months—and taught me invaluable lessons about content that transcends language and culture.

When the November 2024 bull run hit, Snek surged, and I’d positioned myself perfectly. My follower count jumped to 4,000+ as my content caught the momentum wave.

The 2025 Pivot: Personal Brand Over Hype

Moving forward, I’m focused on:

• Personal brand development rather than project shilling
• Demonstrating investment principles through action, not just words
• Creating educational content that provides genuine long-term value

The 4 Principles That Actually Drive Growth

After four years of gradual, sustainable growth, here’s what truly matters:

1. Embrace Controversy, But Control Your Voice

Controversial topics drive exposure—that’s undeniable. But you must carefully manage your writing style because you cannot control how people interpret your words.

Accept this truth: “Misunderstanding is the fate of those who express themselves.”

Write clearly, stand by your perspective, but don’t let criticism derail you.

2. Find Your People, Then Go Deep

Identify what you genuinely love, then immerse yourself in that community. Talk with holders, engage with community members, and build influence through consistent presence.

Your credibility compounds over time. When prices rise, your followers will celebrate your insight. When prices fall, they’ll appreciate that you didn’t abandon ship to shill the next hot thing.

Loyalty beats virality every time.

3. Authentic Communication Trumps Trend-Chasing

Be yourself. Don’t just jump on whatever’s currently exploding.

Yes, there are endless narrative rotations and new trends emerging constantly. You could chase them all. But would your followers actually get lasting value from that approach? Probably not.

Depth beats breadth. Consistency beats opportunism.

4. Think in Endings: Reverse-Engineer Your Future

What does success ultimately look like for you on this platform?

If you had 10,000 engaged followers tomorrow, what content would you create? What value would you provide? What would your voice sound like?

Figure that out now, then work backward. Create that content today—don’t wait for permission from a larger audience.

You might not have perfect clarity on your five-year vision, but spend time thinking about it. Use AI tools to explore possibilities, refine your thinking, and develop your strategy.

My pinned tweet reflects this principle—it’s designed not for today’s audience, but for the audience I’m building toward.

My Ongoing Evolution

I still have so much to improve. Most people come to crypto Twitter to make money and find opportunities—and there’s nothing wrong with that.

But my focus is different: Am I better today than I was yesterday?

This might sound idealistic in a space driven by profits and pumps, but it’s proven remarkably effective. When you develop genuine skills and authentic expertise, everything else follows naturally.

Your Turn: Building Your Own Path

You don’t need to copy my journey—your path will be unique. But consider these questions:

• What are you genuinely curious about (not just what’s trending)?
• Who are the people having conversations that energize you?
• What would you create if follower count didn’t matter?
• Where do you want to be in 12 months, and what content would that future-you create?

Start there. Document your journey. Engage authentically. Trust the process.

Growth might come slowly at first. You might spend a year with just 500 followers. But if those 500 people genuinely value your perspective, you’re building something sustainable—something that can explode when the right moment arrives and you’ve positioned yourself perfectly.

Final Thought: The Compound Effect of Consistency

My growth from 100 to 6,000+ followers took four years. That’s not a viral success story—it’s a compounding one.

Each authentic post, every genuine community interaction, and all those hours spent deeply understanding topics I cared about created small deposits in a credibility account. When the opportunities came—the viral post about The Ape Society, the Snek surge, the translated Dog history—I had the foundation to capitalize on them.

You’re not building for today. You’re building for the moment when preparation meets opportunity.

Start now. Stay consistent. Be authentic.

Your tribe is waiting to find you.

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What’s one topic you’re genuinely curious about that you could start documenting today? Share in the comments—let’s start building your growth story together.