1 Introduction
The crypto industry suffers from a unique paradox: those with the deepest knowledge often have the strongest incentives to obscure rather than illuminate. This troubling reality became clear to me during a technical debate I witnessed on Twitter. Both participants made valid points, yet instead of building understanding, they resorted to personal attacks. What struck me wasn’t just the hostility, but the absence of a shared framework for discussion – a common language that could bridge their perspectives.
This observation rekindled an idea I’d been considering for years: creating a comprehensive blockchain taxonomy. But as I began mapping out the technical architecture of various networks, I realized the scope needed to be much broader. The same knowledge gaps that hindered technical discussions were even more pronounced in everyday conversations about cryptocurrency investment and usage.
I thought about the countless conversations I’ve had with friends and family seeking crypto advice. These weren’t developers or traders – they were curious individuals trying to understand a complex new technology. Despite years of experience in the industry, I struggled to give them guidance that was both accessible and comprehensive. The existing resources seemed to fall into three troubling categories: those that oversimplified to the point of uselessness, those that drowned readers in technical jargon, and most concerningly, those designed to exploit newcomers’ curiosity to pump the authors’ own cryptocurrency holdings or use unsuspecting readers as exit liquidity.
This last category was particularly insidious – educational content that masqueraded as objective guidance while subtly steering readers toward specific tokens or platforms that benefited the content creator. What appeared to be helpful tutorials often turned out to be sophisticated marketing funnels, designed not to educate but to convert readers into buyers of whatever cryptocurrency the author needed to sell.
This Almanack aims to solve these issues. Drawing inspiration from Henry Varnum Poor’s Manual of Railroads, which brought transparency to America’s railway boom, we’re creating a resource that serves both technical and non-technical audiences. Just as Poor’s manual helped investors understand the revolutionary technology of his time, this Almanack aims to demystify the crypto industry for everyone.
The name “Trollip’s Degen Almanack” might seem unusual. Initially, I considered calling it a blockchain taxonomy or a Web3 guide. But these terms felt too limiting. The word “degen” – short for degenerate – carries special meaning in crypto culture. While often used ironically to describe risk-taking traders, being a degen also implies deep engagement with the technology and markets. It’s through this engaged experimentation that true understanding emerges.
What sets this Almanack apart is its commitment to intellectual honesty and practical utility. We’re building it as an open-source, community-reviewed resource that will evolve alongside the technology it describes. The documentation uses version control through Git, allowing readers to track how understanding changes over time. As the industry matures, we plan to integrate real-time data sources, transforming this from a static document into a dynamic tool for decision-making.
The Almanack is organized into distinct paths catering to different needs:
- The Path to Independence guides those seeking financial sovereignty
- The Technologist’s Path provides deep technical understanding
- The Financial sections offer frameworks for analysis and investment
Each section builds upon the others, creating a comprehensive resource that grows with your understanding. Whether you’re a developer looking to understand economic implications, an investor studying technical fundamentals, or someone simply seeking financial independence, you’ll find your path forward here.
This is an ambitious undertaking, and like any first edition, it will contain errors and omissions. But by maintaining rigorous standards for evidence, encouraging community contributions, and staying true to the open-source ethos, we aim to create something valuable: a trusted guide through the often confusing world of cryptocurrency and Web3.
The journey begins here. Welcome to your guide to digital independence.