Breaking into Web3 can feel like needing a secret handshake, a connected team, or decades of experience you don't have. Here's the truth: the barriers are lower than you think, especially if you're willing to just start.
Melanie Carstens proves this daily. A Bitcoin-native creator, writer, and host, she built genuine impact with lean resources. Her story reveals how hustle, community spirit, and willingness to learn trump initial capital every time.
The Clean Slate Advantage
Melanie didn't begin in crypto. For twenty years, she worked in advertising, marketing, music management, and fine art, always passionate about creators. She witnessed firsthand how difficult creative careers could be. When NFTs offered solutions for creators, her interest sparked.
But here's the key: Melanie approached Web3 as a clean slate. She didn't expect past successes to automatically translate into crypto stardom. This mindset shift is crucial for anyone looking to break in.
Past success? It doesn't guarantee future wins here. Everyone starts fresh, and that's liberating.
FOUNDER LESSON #1: Embrace the clean slate.
Don't assume your real-world status gives you advantages in Web3. Everyone builds new reputations here, which levels the playing field beautifully.
Example: You're a successful graphic designer offering NFT art commissions? Your portfolio helps, but you'll need to prove you understand on-chain provenance, engage crypto art communities, and grasp token standards to build a new Web3 brand.
Learning Beats Spending: The Non-Financial Investment Strategy
When Melanie started, money was tight. Her investments were non-financial: learning, connecting, engaging.
"Just learn, do some reading, research what blockchains are about. Why are builders choosing particular blockchains?" she advises. This deep dive into Bitcoin and Stacks was her foundation.
Next came community immersion: not barging in, but moving slowly, understanding the ethos, discovering platforms, wallets, and creative spaces.
FOUNDER LESSON #2: Your biggest initial investment isn't money. It's time spent learning the ecosystem and genuinely connecting with communities.
Before launching your NFT collection or token, spend months listening in Discord, lurking in Twitter Spaces, reading documentation. Understand the culture, jargon, and pain points. Think ethnographic research, but with more memes.
Example: Content creator wanting to tokenize work? Don't immediately start minting. Spend time in creator DAOs, artist communities on NFT platforms like Opensea, Magic Eden, or Gamma. Listen to creator economy podcasts. Understand what creators and collectors truly value.
The Reputation Grind: Two Years of Pure Value
Melanie's strategy was elegantly simple: provide value before asking for anything.
For months, she observed the Stacks ecosystem, learning, then creating content. Artist releasing on Gamma? She'd thread about them. Platform update? She'd write it up. She offered skills freely, expecting nothing immediate.
"You want to build an on-chain reputation so people know who you are as a person as much as they know you as an artist," Melanie explains.
This consistent value creation led to transformation. Trust built. Community formed. Reputation solidified.
FOUNDER LESSON #3: Build reputation through consistent value, without expecting immediate rewards. This establishes trust and positions you as a long-term player.
Don't just shill your project. Share insights, amplify others' work, participate in discussions. Become known for contributing, not just taking. Your proof of work isn't just code; it's consistent helpfulness.
Example: Podcast host entering Web3? Don't immediately push token sales. Dedicate episodes to ecosystem builders, interview NFT artists, discuss important space topics. Build credibility like Melanie did with "Bitcoin and Beyond."
Your Roadmap: From Idea to Impact
Ready to apply Melanie's insights? Here's your step-by-step approach:
1. Establish Your Presence
Create a personal Twitter account focused on the space. Use it to connect with founders and platforms, join conversations. Show genuine interest and willingness to contribute. Opportunities emerge when brands need help and you're positioned to offer services.
2. Leverage Skills for Community Value
Consider what you can offer freely, even if small:
- Musicians: Create theme tracks for Twitter Spaces or host live shows
- Artists: Write threads about other creators or protocol updates
- Writers: Contribute to influential ecosystem voices
Start your own Twitter Space to unite community members, like Melanie and Nietta (an NFT artist on Stacks) did with "Art on Stacks."
3. Cultivate Intimacy Through Ownership
The space remains small, making visibility easier. Think campfire conversations—intimate story sharing.
Invite people into your world. Give back to those who engage. Mint small collections and send free NFTs to connections. When someone owns your work, relationships deepen.
4. Harness AI as Your Strategic Partner
Melanie strongly advocates using AI (specifically paid ChatGPT versions) as an invaluable artist tool.
The Process:
- Initial Prompt: "I am a musician/artist. I want to release music in Web3. What do you need from me to help me succeed?"
- Iterative Development: Copy AI questions to a document, provide detailed answers, feed back information. Keep asking "What else do you need?" until complete
- Foundation Building: Generate press releases, bios, social media profiles ensuring brand consistency
- Content Creation: Develop social media strategies and weekly articles for platforms like Substack
FOUNDER LESSON #4: Don't underestimate AI as a strategic partner. It helps define your brand, create content, and plot your Web3 entry with precision.
Use AI for compelling project narratives, social media content, even tokenomics brainstorming. It's like having an on-demand marketing team that never needs coffee breaks.
Example: Web2 blogger transitioning to Web3 Substack? Use AI for article outlines, tweet thread generation, and community engagement suggestions. This frees you for deep research and original insights.
Playing the Long Game: Commitment Over Quick Wins
Melanie's journey emphasizes that Web3 success isn't overnight; it's long-term commitment. While she hasn't monetized Web3 directly yet, she views her experience as invaluable education.
"Do you want quick money you'll spend quickly, or do you want to build something sustainable? That means developing a core audience of supporters who understand your brand," she reflects.
This longevity vision excites Melanie about the Bitcoin Creative Economy. Bitcoin offers the closest thing to perpetual art substrate, allowing artists to own work, profit directly, and build intimate communities without complex contracts. It fundamentally shifts how creatives operate.
FOUNDER LESSON #5: Play the long game. Focus on building loyal audiences and sustainable brands over quick profits. True rewards lie in relationships and fundamental shifts in creative ownership.
Resist chasing the next pump. Focus on genuine connections and lasting community value. This resilience differentiates you in volatile markets. Plant oak trees, not weeds.
Example: Building Web3 education platforms? Instead of rushing token launches, create high-quality courses, foster supportive learning communities, build partnerships. Strong educational reputations attract long-term users and sustainable growth.
Connect with Melanie Carstens
Melanie works at the intersection of media, culture, and Web3. She hosts "Bitcoin and Beyond," a weekly series spotlighting founders across Bitcoin layer 2, DeFi, NFTs, and open digital systems. She's also a "Let's Go Morning Show" panellist, contributing writer for The Edit, newsletter author, and partner curator at Gamma Active in the Stacks ecosystem since 2021.
Find Melanie:
- X (formerly known as Twitter): @melbelle_btc
- YouTube: Melanie Carstens
- "Bitcoin and Beyond": Thursdays, 12 p.m. ET on X and YouTube via DeOrganized Media
Ready to Just Start?
Melanie's story isn't just inspiration, it's a blueprint. The creative economy is shifting toward true ownership, direct relationships, and sustainable communities. You don't need perfect timing or unlimited resources.
You need courage to begin.
The space rewards authentic contribution over polished presentations. It values genuine community building over aggressive marketing. Most importantly, it offers second chances to everyone willing to learn and contribute.
Your Web3 journey starts with a single step: engaging authentically with one community, offering value to one creator, or sharing insights about one project you find interesting.
Don't just dream it. Start it.
When you're ready to build, visit boom.money to learn more or follow us on X @boom_wallet.
