We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” As cliché as it sounds, this rings true more than ever when it comes to the fast-paced crypto industry. Even if you have outstanding skills, game-changing ideas, or the next hot crypto product, you need the right connections to get it off the ground.
Key contacts open doors, make introductions and lead to opportunities you’d never uncover on your own. The partnerships and relationships you build can easily make or break new crypto projects overnight. This industry moves at lightning speed, so having that network is crucial.
But how do you start assembling your own web of crypto connections? Here are some practical tips to organically grow your network within the crypto community.
Get Comfortable with Putting Yourself Out There
Before we get into a few strategies, it’s important that you realize networking will likely require some sort of mindset shift, especially if you’ve never actively tried to do it yet.
Speak up even if it’s uncomfortable. Networking events can feel intimidating. The impulse might be to clam up in fear. But push past the nerves to put yourself out there anyway–a short chat could spark game-changing connections.
Come more from curiosity, less from selling. People sniff out quickly if you want to pitch and sell to them. Instead, come genuinely wanting to get to know them. Ask thoughtful questions, fully listen to what they share, and mainly talk about yourself only as it relates organically.
Remember, it’s a two-way affair. Networking isn’t just “What can you do for me?” and “How can I help you.” Keep your eyes open for little ways to add value–introduce people with common interests, share an insightful article, and offer thoughtful feedback.
Follow up, and don’t let promising connections fade. Too often, promising conversations die because people don’t follow up. The ideal next steps are to connect on LinkedIn, have a 1:1 call or coffee, or a warm email intro to someone in their network.
When you shift to this generous service mindset focused on mutual benefit over “what’s in it for me”, you’ll discover how eager prominent crypto folks are to support you.
Attend Both Online and In-Person Crypto Events
The crypto community is still small enough that many key players attend the same events. Both large conferences like Consensus, as well as small local meetups, can help you build great connections:
Look up blockchain events. A blockchain events calendar will reveal conferences, seminars, networking events, and pitch competitions happening in your area. Traveling to a larger event will be worth your time if the people/businesses attending fall within your area of interest/expertise.
Smaller meetups are still great for networking. With fewer people, you can have deeper conversations and more intimate networking.
See if there are any university crypto clubs nearby. Campus groups dedicated to blockchain education attract professors/researchers, ambitious students, and accomplished guest lecturers who are all interested in the industry.
Attend virtual events as well. Many crypto networking occur online via virtual conferences and meetup groups. This allows you to expand your connections globally without too much upfront expenditure.
Strategically Grow Your Crypto Social Media Presence
As well as in-person networking, build out your brand and connections in the crypto space online:
Clean up your Twitter profile. Crypto Twitter is massively influential and can yield great connections. Make sure your profile looks professional – great header, professional bio, profile pic, etc. Tweet insightful commentary, share articles and engage with key players.
Publish educational content on LinkedIn. Establish yourself as a thought leader by posting LinkedIn articles, commentary, or videos on crypto topics. Attract an audience and connections in the space.
Join crypto Discords and Slacks. Look for invite-only groups focused on blockchain projects, NFTs, DeFi, investing, etc, where you can have 1:1 conversations with experts. Provide value to the group through thoughtful engagement.
Connect with Crypto Founders & Investors
LinkedIn can be seriously valuable, specifically when fundraising a crypto startup or searching for an investment deal:
Look up the founders of crypto projects on LinkedIn. Smaller projects, especially, often have founder LinkedIn profiles. Politely reach out via LinkedIn, expressing interest in their project, offering helpful insights, or proposing a meeting.
Connect with crypto VCs. Look for Partners, Analysts, and Associates focused on crypto Investments at VC & investment funds. Brief intro messages can spark productive conversations.
Pay attention to crypto connections in common. If you and a prominent crypto investor share several connections, ask for warm introductions from your mutual connections. A referral intro can massively increase response rates.
As you connect with founders and VCs, suggest casual conversations rather than formal pitches first. Go in curious rather than demanding. Bond first over shared interests and values. People are always looking for the next big thing to invest in, and having these conversations will help opportunities to emerge organically.
Follow Up Regularly with Your Expanding Crypto Network
As you put these networking tips to work, you’ll start building meaningful relationships with tons of influential blockchain folks. But to turn those initial meetings into rewarding collaborations and opportunities, you’ve gotta keep the conversation going:
Manage contacts in a CRM. Log all your connections in a CRM to track how you met and when you last spoke. Set reminders to follow up regularly.
Connect on social media, especially LinkedIn. Link up on social media, especially LinkedIn, to stay at the top of your mind. Like and comment on their updates for steady, passive engagement.
Add new contacts to targeted email nurture tracks. Add new contacts to targeted email lists to share relevant articles, tools, and offers based on their interests. Warm up cold connections over time.
Make it a dialogue, not a sales pitch. Spend 80% of the time listening and asking questions. Share opportunities or connections that may benefit them.
Even contacts that started casually at events can activate down the road into profitable projects, investors, or partners. You just need consistent, thoughtful follow-up to spark those possibilities.
Final Word
As you build authentic relationships and demonstrate genuine commitment to moving the blockchain ecosystem forward, you’ll be shocked at the types of invites, hot deals, and career-making opportunities that come your way.
Just be willing to put in the work, and don’t expect anything from your efforts immediately. Networking is usually a medium to long-term play, and you’re unlikely to know what will come out of it until the opportunity finally presents itself.