9 years on this block chain what I've learned

In June 2026 I got a message from @hivebuzz that I had been on this chain for 9 years!

9 years is a very long time in any technology's lifespan. In crypto it's an eternity.

We will have to talk about the token price of course but that can wait.
Not that it isn't important as some people need a decent token price to keep the lights on. E.g node operators et al.

Back to the learning story.

We have had oodles of drama (not me personally) but I've witnessed many popcorn worthy skirmishes.

Of course not forgetting that monumental hardfork that created hive itself.

It was truly amazing and inspiring to see what a small group of determined people could achieve against the seemingly overwhelming power of a malignant narcissist (JS) who was backed illegally by some crypto exchanges. We won the war.

Although I have spent most of my life in computer programming, technology innovation and teaching when it comes to hive I am at a bit of a loss of what to do with my skills.

Everything is being built by very capable people many of whom I have met personally plus I'm not keen on getting another job.

I started my journey into this project with zero money via an invitation from @oldguyphotos

The weird thing was that I had run across several other people on previous blogging sites that were now on here.

Like many people on here I had built and run my own websites and contributed to many other projects in the 1990s and 2000s.

We were all looking for something new and sustainable and a project that may have the durability to survive an ever changing technological landscape.

Then along comes web3. Block chains are not new btw. The 'way' the block chain was being used was the innovation.

I'd spent many years working on databases and so for me it wasn't that novel an idea but as time passed it became apparent that this was no ordinary block chain.

The speed, feeless transactions, true ownership yadda yadda yadda.

Hive is not like Bitcoin. If Bitcoin is a horse and cart Hive is a jet powered rocket ship and it scales almost effortlessly.

I have nothing against Bitcoin but it cannot compare to Hive in terms of speed and functionality.

Look at what you are reading. Imagine trying to do this with bitcoin?

Over these 9 years I've been to two #Hivefest functions one in Lisbon and one virtually. Both were great experiences.

I've been to many meetups up and down the country (England) and met some great people with so much enthusiasm that it really puts a spring in your step.

I haven't been actively posting for some due to life events. I lost 3 siblings within months of each other. That kind of thing makes you take stock and consider your life choices.

I'm currently on holiday and feeling pretty much refreshed after quite a while.

Hive price. I said I'd get there. I have blogged and curated my way to dolphin rank in the last 9 years.

I had been buying HBD for a long time and was making about 30 dollars a month on interest.

During my down time when I wasn't posting I managed to do some trading hive for hbd and have enough to now sell for hive and rank up to orca level.

I invested time into this project in the form of blogs etc I also invested fiat currency.

With the fiat money that I spent on the Lisbon Hivefest, camera equipment and trips around England (hotels etc) I think I may have reached a breakeven point although I'm not sure if I have. Probably not. I don't really care to be honest.

People may be drawn to money. I am not. It doesn't motivate me at all. I know because I have made plenty of it. Controversial hey?

The learning points for me.

Marketing hive as a way to make money is possibly the stupidest way to convince people to join this chain.
We've seen the results. They come,see how much work and time is required and promptly leave and probably bad mouth hive to anyone who will listen.

Look at that number on the first image 136534 people (or accounts) have been here for 9 years!? Where are they now?

My view of Hive

You will not make money here at least not for a long time unless you invest a ton of money.

If you do that and then start to withdraw any earnings you can be sure of a visit from someone that doesn't want you to withdraw 'your' money?

Hence the drama...popcorn is available in the foyer.

Personally I find hive to be a group of good friend's that I can share ideas with or just have a catch up chat about anything and everything.

It's a form of technological pen pals. I know. Not very business oriented but look how YouTube and Facebook started. Friends and families keeping in touch with one another.

Both of those platforms evolved into the hellscapes we see today. Hive will evolve into who knows what?

We do have a common interest. Hive of course. In fact we have many common interests from fitness to photography and everything else that the human mind can think of.

Finally we got to where we are now with sheer persistence and determination. It was reassuring to come back after a lengthy absence and see hive still ticking over.

The low hive price is an opportunity to raise your profile and rank. Many people are possibly worried that the whole thing may tank? At this point anything is possible but I'm voting with my stake and trebling down.

Don't worry about the 5% inflation rate. If you are here for the long haul things will even out eventually.

Remember if things get tricky it's not difficult to spin up your own node.