My Life On The Internet

I started working in online gaming in 2008 where I was doing campaigns for VIP players to encourage them to spend more and play more. Then I started doing email scraping, building lists for email marketing purposes and had lots of these clients from Australia in 2011 – hello Linkedin. But before all of these, SEO is what I’m passionate the most. I am always fascinated with search engines and rankings. While I was a freshmen in the university, I did Yahoo Answers and earned my allowance through clients who found me on Yahoo – I was earning around $300 and that was huge in early 2007. Thanks Yahoo for starting my career on Search.

Navigating Acquisition and Branding in the ever changing internet world:

Over the years, I’ve built my career in the digital landscape, focusing on acquisition and branding. Some clients understand the importance of thoughtful strategies and precise execution, while others come in with their own ideas, convinced they know how to “get to the top.” It’s a mixed bag of collaboration, creativity, and, at times, frustration.

The Bitcoin/Fintech Scene: Lessons from 2016

In 2016, I ventured into the Bitcoin and Fintech industry, where innovation and hype were in full swing. Cashless payments, Bitcoin transactions, and blockchain technology were buzzwords at every conference. But behind the scenes, there was chaos. Despite the revolutionary ideas being pitched, the marketing strategies were anything but revolutionary.

Clients and bosses struggled to stabilize the customer journey, let alone retain users. There was a glaring lack of understanding of how to create seamless marketing experiences. Instead of building sustainable systems, many were focused on mimicking competitors or chasing trends without understanding their target audience or long-term goals.

I worked with three different Fintech companies during this time, all claiming to have the next big idea. But the reality? They didn’t know what they were building toward. Strategies were thrown together, but there was no follow-through, no defined objectives, and no endgame. It felt like being caught in a loop of unfulfilled potential.

The Conference Circuit: More Noise Than Substance

As part of my role, I attended numerous conferences and conventions across the UK, Malaysia, and Thailand. These events were eye-opening, not because of groundbreaking ideas, but because they revealed a pattern: everyone was saying the same thing. The pitches were interchangeable, the visions uninspired. It was clear that many companies were simply jumping on the Bitcoin bandwagon without truly understanding the technology or its market implications.

The frustration of working in an industry that was moving fast but going nowhere made me rethink my career path. I didn’t want to be part of a cycle that lacked clarity, purpose, and innovation.

Crypto in 2020: A Familiar Story with a New Name

By 2020, cryptocurrency had exploded into the mainstream. Startups and established companies alike wanted to be the next big name in crypto. And then came the rise of blockchain-based gaming, with names like Axie Infinity leading the charge. The pitches I began hearing sounded eerily familiar to my Bitcoin days.

A company would claim they had the next Axie Infinity, throwing big promises and even bigger budgets into the mix. While the pay was often hard to pass up, the déjà vu was undeniable. It felt like history repeating itself: ambitious ideas with no clear roadmap, a focus on hype rather than substance, and a lack of understanding of what it takes to build lasting success.

Moving Forward: Staying True to What Matters

As tempting as it might be to chase the next big paycheck, I’ve learned to prioritize projects that align with my values and skills. Acquisition and branding aren’t just about attracting customers or increasing visibility—they’re about creating meaningful connections and building sustainable growth.

For me, the internet world will always be full of opportunities, but not all opportunities are worth pursuing. I’ve come to realize that success isn’t just about being part of the latest trend; it’s about working with clients and companies that have a clear vision and the willingness to follow through on well-thought-out strategies.

The question isn’t whether the next Axie Infinity or Bitcoin story will emerge—it’s whether the companies chasing these dreams are prepared to back them up with real substance.

See some of my works for crypto and online gaming here.