OKX Friends Issue 03 | Dialogue with Ni Da: From 0 to 1 of Chinese Influencers, Methodology Revealed

Guest Message: The growth of OKX is visible to the naked eye, and its efforts in product development have always been at the forefront of the industry. In terms of compliance, OKX has also been pursuing excellence. We hope that in the future, OKX can continue to uphold a user-centric and non-malicious attitude to serve the cryptocurrency community.

Ni Da (Phyrex_Ni), a prominent figure in the Chinese-speaking community, focuses on macro and on-chain data content, while also paying attention to the ETF and exchange rate markets. Over the past three years, he has consistently produced content with his own style, growing from zero to one and amassing 250,000 followers.

We are curious about what drives a person to transition to Web3 and persistently share content on social media. Therefore, OKX has specially invited him to be a guest speaker in the "Friends of OKX" series, hoping that his journey of transformation, understanding of the current industry situation, and methodology for becoming a prominent figure in the Chinese-speaking community will be helpful to you.

The "Friends of OKX Series" is a special column produced by OKX, hosted by OKX official community ambassador Mercy (@Mercy_okx). It aims to provide new users with learning references by exploring the stories, industry insights, and lessons learned from KOLs with different backgrounds.

I. Discussing the Opportunity of Crossing into Web3

1. Mercy @Mercy_okx: What prompted you to enter the Web3 field? How has your past work experience helped your current development?

Ni Da @Phyrex_Ni: My career began at a traditional television station, where I produced China's first online gaming program. Since then, I have been deeply involved in the gaming industry, particularly focusing on the children's gaming market. Between 2017 and 2018, I was responsible for a company's investments and acquisitions in the gaming sector, concentrating on children's games.

We collaborated with several well-known toy companies like Aofei and Lingdong to develop many licensed games. Despite having many quality IPs, the overall results did not meet expectations because we mainly launched web games at a time when the market was transitioning to mobile internet.

In 2017, the company's cash flow started to tighten, and the boss suggested we try the blockchain field. Unfortunately, due to a lack of experience, we suffered significant investment losses. This failure prompted me to start seriously studying blockchain technology and the cryptocurrency market.

In 2019, we shifted our focus to the Cosmos and Polkadot ecosystems, betting on this track. We invested in several Polkadot ecosystem projects and acquired a large amount of Polkadot tokens. During this process, I gained a deeper understanding of the blockchain industry.

By 2021, I realized that small institutions found it difficult to access quality project investment opportunities, so I began to consider a transition. Our team held weekly sharing sessions, initially just posting in our friend circles, but later, at a friend's suggestion, we gradually moved the content to public accounts.

On October 12, 2021, I officially began sharing content on Twitter. Initially, I tried to create English content but found my English skills insufficient, so I shifted to focusing on Chinese content creation.

Thus, I embarked on the journey of content creation on Twitter. As the company scaled down, I devoted more energy to content creation. Now, I primarily focus on posting tweets while managing other affairs.

This is my journey into the Web3 industry and the starting point for sharing content on social media. Through continuous learning and sharing, I gradually established my influence in this field.

II. Using Myself as a Sample, Discussing the Methodology of Becoming a Prominent Figure

2. Mercy @Mercy_okx: As a Twitter influencer with 250,000 followers, how do you consistently produce high-quality macro content?

Ni Da @Phyrex_Ni: Initially, I didn't have a strong desire to express myself; it was more about my need for personal growth and learning. After the market crash on May 19, 2021, I felt confused about market judgments and began studying data analysis to find direction.

I initially explored some on-chain data analysis tools and found that, compared to candlestick charts, data analysis is more objective and intuitive, which suited me. I studied these data deeply every day and recorded my analysis results as a means of self-review and learning.

As time went on, I realized that relying solely on on-chain data was insufficient. The news of the Federal Reserve's interest rate hike at the end of 2021 made me aware of the profound impact of macroeconomics on the market, prompting me to start studying macroeconomics and combining on-chain data, macroeconomics, and technical analysis to form a more comprehensive analytical framework.

My motivation to consistently produce content comes from two aspects: first, being responsible for myself by organizing my thoughts through writing and improving my analytical skills; second, hoping to help other investors who have felt confused. I understand the confusion in investing and hope my sharing can provide references and assistance to others.

The key to long-term persistence lies in sincerity and passion. Each analysis is based on my trading decisions, and this sense of responsibility naturally conveys sincerity. At the same time, my ongoing exploration of the field keeps me passionate; even in a sluggish market, I can still find growth and enjoyment.

3. Mercy @Mercy_okx: What do you think is the difference between personal IP and ordinary KOLs? How do their content output methods differ?

Ni Da @Phyrex_Ni: The difference between personal IP and ordinary KOLs lies in the positioning and utilization of influence. Personal IP focuses more on achieving long-term goals through influence, while KOLs tend to focus more on traffic monetization.

As a personal IP, I emphasize building influence in public traffic, focusing on Twitter, and not managing other social platforms or paid groups. This allows me to concentrate on improving content quality and expanding influence.

In terms of content output, I always create with a sense of responsibility to myself; each article is based on my trading decisions and thoughts, ensuring the authenticity and practicality of the content while continuously producing high-quality content.

I believe that a valuable personal IP should strive to create long-term value for the industry and users, rather than merely pursuing traffic monetization. My collaboration with Solana is based on ideological resonance rather than monetary transactions, aiming to help quality projects and communities create real value.

A personal IP should have a long-term perspective, focusing on promoting industry development and continuously creating value for users, rather than concentrating on short-term benefits.

4. Mercy @Mercy_okx: From 0 to 250,000 followers, what methodologies can newcomers learn from?

Ni Da @Phyrex_Ni: For newcomers, there are several key points worth referencing:**

First, sincerity is the most important. Whether to yourself or your followers, you must remain sincere. Every piece of content I publish is based on my investment decisions, and this attitude makes the content more valuable and easier to gain trust.

Second, choose a path that suits you and do not blindly follow trends. Find the area you are genuinely interested in and have some accumulation in, and delve into it to continuously produce high-quality content.

Third, patience and perseverance are crucial. Success cannot be achieved overnight; I spent three years publishing 180,000 tweets, investing a lot of time and energy. If you only pursue traffic or profit, it will be hard to persist.

Fourth, continuous learning and growth are essential. The market is changing, and knowledge needs to be updated constantly. I have moved from on-chain data to macroeconomics and then to multidimensional integration, always learning new methods.

Fifth, actively interact. In the early stages, you can gain exposure through the comment sections of prominent figures, but ensure that your comments are constructive. Also, take feedback in the comment section seriously and treat interactions kindly.

Finally, content is key. While traffic is important, if you cannot continuously produce valuable content, the traffic will eventually dissipate. Therefore, focus on improving content quality rather than purely pursuing numbers.

In summary, building a personal IP requires time and passion. Find a field you love, continuously learn and share to establish long-term value.

5. Mercy @Mercy_okx: Has being a prominent figure in the Chinese-speaking community brought you certain benefits?

Ni Da @Phyrex_Ni: Becoming an influential figure has indeed brought me many opportunities and conveniences, but I value more how to use these opportunities to create greater value rather than simply pursuing personal interests.

For example, in my collaboration with Solana, there is currently no monetary transaction between us. My involvement in the Solana community, such as video production and attending meetings, is all self-funded because I believe in the potential of the Solana project and hope to help more people understand and participate in this ecosystem.

I believe that after gaining a certain level of influence, the most important thing is how to use that influence to make a positive contribution. For me, this means introducing quality projects from the Chinese-speaking region to more people and changing their stereotypes about these projects.

At the same time, I also strive to bring quality overseas projects into the Chinese-speaking community. My goal is not simple promotion but to help community members better understand these projects and make independent judgments through in-depth analysis and introduction.

Although this approach may not yield direct economic returns in the short term, I believe it can create longer-term value. This not only helps me build deeper industry insights but also allows me to meet more excellent project parties and investors, which are resources that money cannot directly buy.

In summary, I focus more on how to create value with this identity rather than how to profit from it. I firmly believe that only by genuinely creating value for the industry and users can one gain sustained support and recognition in the long run.

6. Mercy @Mercy_okx: How has the ecological position of KOLs changed compared to the last cycle?

Ni Da @Phyrex_Ni: Indeed, the ecological position of KOLs has undergone significant changes in this cycle, which is a positive development trend.

First, the influence of traditional media is weakening, while the influence of personal KOLs and self-media is increasing. Personal KOLs can provide more timely, professional, and in-depth content, especially in the field of on-chain data analysis, where their response speed and professionalism often surpass traditional media.

Second, there is a gradual increase in expert KOLs in niche fields. As the market becomes more complex, single-dimensional analysis cannot comprehensively explain the market. KOLs who can provide deep insights in specific areas, such as macroeconomics or specific technology fields, are becoming increasingly popular.

Third, the value of KOLs is not only reflected in information dissemination but also in the interpretation and analysis of information. In an era of information explosion, content that helps users understand information and provides insights is truly valuable.

Fourth, the collaboration between project parties and KOLs is also evolving. Cooperation is no longer a simple paid promotion but seeks deep collaboration to genuinely reach and educate users through KOLs.

Finally, truly quality KOLs are more likely to stand out in this cycle. As the market matures and users' discernment improves, only KOLs who continuously provide valuable content can gain users' trust and support in the long term.

In summary, the KOL ecosystem is moving towards a more professional, segmented, and in-depth development, which is a positive signal for the entire industry, indicating that information quality is improving and users can access more valuable content.

7. Mercy @Mercy_okx: The noise in the KOL circle is still quite loud, making it easy to lose one's original intention. How do you adjust your mindset and stay true to yourself?

Ni Da @Phyrex_Ni: I always maintain a mindset of "I am just an ordinary person doing my job." I understand that what I do does not have a high technical threshold; many people can achieve it if they are willing to invest the same time and effort. This awareness keeps me humble and prevents any sense of pride or complacency.

Secondly, I am very clear that my current influence is hard-earned, given by many supporters. This influence is not my personal achievement but a responsibility. I know that if I engage in any overstepping behavior, I could quickly lose this support. Therefore, I constantly remind myself to cherish everything I have now and to avoid any actions that might deplete this trust.

Furthermore, I always insist on doing the right thing. Once you have a certain level of influence, you will find that doing the right thing becomes easier. For example, I often use my influence to help those with smaller funds who genuinely need assistance. These actions may not bring me direct benefits, but they make me feel that I am doing something meaningful.

Additionally, I maintain a passion and curiosity for the industry. I continuously learn new knowledge and study new phenomena, and this state of ongoing learning keeps me humble and allows me to continuously provide value to the community.

Finally, I believe that the key to staying true to oneself is to always remember why you started doing this. For me, the initial motivation was to better understand the market and make better trading decisions. Now, although my role has changed, this core goal has not changed. I am still striving to improve my analytical skills while hoping to help more people understand this market.

In summary, staying true to oneself requires constant self-reflection and vigilance. It is not something that can be achieved overnight; it requires daily reminders to stay humble, cherish what you have, and always be committed to creating value for others. Only in this way can one maintain influence and credibility in this rapidly changing industry over the long term.

Risk Warning and Disclaimer

This article is for reference only. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the position of OKX. This article does not intend to provide (i) investment advice or recommendations; (ii) offers or solicitations to buy, sell, or hold digital assets; (iii) financial, accounting, legal, or tax advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of such information. Holding digital assets (including stablecoins and NFTs) involves high risks and may fluctuate significantly. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding digital assets is suitable for you based on your financial situation. Please consult your legal/tax/investment professionals regarding your specific circumstances. You are responsible for understanding and complying with applicable local laws and regulations.