Smart people get rich through algorithms; trustworthy people get through cycles —

Trust is the fundamental logic behind all cooperation —

The book *Xue Zhaofeng's Economics* is excellent,
and one part left a deep impression on me:
it's about "trust relationships."

Humans are social animals,
solo achievements are always limited.
Truly creating enormous value,
has never been the work of gifted individuals alone,
but of groups that trust each other and work together.

Therefore, whether in traditional industries or Web3,
"trust" remains the highest leverage productivity.

Especially in the rapidly fluctuating and fast-changing Web3 industry,
as we go through round after round of bull and bear markets,
we gradually understand a simple truth:
what can truly pass through cycles are people, circles, and trust.

1️⃣ The prerequisite for wealth in circles is reliability

A few days ago,
Brother Jinma @jinma_li mentioned a point,
which I strongly agree with:

We can get rich through circles,
and we really need circles to get rich.

The core of "getting rich through circles" is not about banding together for warmth,
but about finding like-minded, value-aligned peers
who can support each other.
Meeting offline more often,
co-creating projects,
sharing risks, and sharing results —

this is the "compound interest relationship" of long-termism.

Of course, the premise is: you must first recognize people.
Otherwise, circles will only become pits.
How to recognize people? Look at a person's "low points."

Xue Zhaofeng reminds us in his book:

When assessing someone, don’t look at how good they are,
but whether you can accept them at their worst.
Observe how they treat people they dislike, not just those they like;
see how they evaluate former bosses, partners, or colleagues;

Check if they can maintain basic decency and kindness
during emotional lows.
That’s the true "bottom line" of genuine character.

Another simple criterion:
whether they have long-term friends around them.

Maintaining old friends requires sincere effort and time,
which is a high-cost signal that cannot be faked.

Conversely, giving flowers, being attentive, and politeness,
are low-cost performances.

2️⃣ The shortcut to wealth for ordinary people

For ordinary people aiming for financial freedom,
the most critical factor is often not "being too smart,"
but "making fewer mistakes."

Avoiding pitfalls is more important than finding opportunities.
The biggest pitfall in avoiding pitfalls is
identifying those who are truly beneficial to you,
and removing toxic people.

People are always more important than things!
Avoid those who will worsen your emotions, judgment, and values,
and get close to those who are sincere, stable, and reliable.
Trust is a scarce asset;

and judging who is trustworthy
is the most important investment skill each person has.

3️⃣ Final words

Smart people rely on algorithms and information gaps;
but ultimately, those who pass through cycles are always the "trustworthy" —
they stay committed when others are restless, and trust when others leave.

Times have changed, technology has evolved, but the logic of trust has never changed.
When you start learning to recognize people, understand how to screen them, and cherish them,
you are already approaching the most stable wealth model.

It’s not the curve of coin prices, but the curve of trust,
that determines how far you can go and how much you can accumulate.