2025-12-30 09:27:32

In the past two years, the crypto world has seen many crossover figures, and recently there’s a new development. Howard Tam, the son of a well-known figure in Hong Kong’s music industry, was recently revealed to have joined a Web3 startup as a senior software engineer, mainly responsible for developing digital currency wallets and cryptographic protocols.

Speaking of Howard Tam, he has actually been well-known on the chain for some time. He previously worked at Axiom Zen in Canada and participated in the development of CryptoKitties—that’s the Ethereum NFT game that exploded in 2017. How popular was it at the time? At its peak, it accounted for over 16% of transactions on the Ethereum network, marking the start of the entire NFT craze.

Looking at his career trajectory now, a fascinating trend emerges. From creating hit applications to now being rooted in infrastructure layers like wallets and protocols, what does this indicate? It shows that the on-chain ecosystem is gradually maturing. More and more builders realize that true long-term value isn’t in flashy applications but in the stability and security of the underlying infrastructure.

The involvement of second-generation stars is also worth discussing. On one hand, they bring traffic and attention; on the other hand, they also attract more scrutiny from the public. But in the long run, this might not be a bad thing—it actually indicates that Web3 is gradually moving from the underground to the mainstream, attracting talent with increasingly diverse backgrounds. Hong Kong roots, international work experience, early blockchain participants… such resumes are quite common in the current Web3 talent market.

The intersection of the entertainment industry and the on-chain world is indeed growing. Celebrities issuing NFTs, artists holding digital assets, and full-time builders like this all point to the same thing—this field is entering a broader audience in various ways. However, at the end of the day, the projects and talents that truly survive are those with solid core strength: whether the technology is up to standard, if the product is accepted by users, and if the market recognizes it. The halo can only be a bonus; the core still depends on what can actually be built.

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WhaleWatcher

· 7h ago

I remember the early wave of Kitties, capturing 16% of the trading volume was truly impressive, but at that time it indeed caused chaos on the Ethereum network... Now shifting focus to infrastructure seems to be the right direction; no matter how fancy the applications are, without a stable underlying layer, it's all pointless. Nowadays, everyone wants to jump in and share a piece of the pie. But on the other hand, those with real skills and knowledge will still settle in. This experience at least shows that they are not just talk. The crypto world is getting bigger and bigger, from the geek circle to now people from all backgrounds... It feels like we're approaching a certain critical point. Real strength is still the ultimate test; no matter how much traffic there is, it can't save bad projects. The pile of dead projects last year is a vivid lesson. Actually, the most worth paying attention to are wallets and protocols, as they are the core of infrastructure—much more important than application layer security.

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ShibaOnTheRun

· 7h ago

Wow, CryptoKitties! I still remember how clogged Ethereum was back then. Now they've shifted to building infrastructure. Is this a sublimation or resignation? Haha Really, the halo effect is worthless on the chain; it all depends on whether the product works This guy has a good background, but technical experience is the real currency. Being involved in a milestone project like CK is no longer something that can be defined by a second-generation star's status In my opinion, shifting from application layer to infrastructure is a signal—the crypto world is really growing up. It's no longer just about quick profits and pulling the wool over people's eyes In the end, it's still about product quality. No matter how big the celebrity effect, you can't sell bad code

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governance_ghost

· 7h ago

Haha, CryptoKitties was indeed the top trend back then. It now seems a bit funny looking back. But to be fair, shifting from flashy applications to infrastructure was a pretty smart move. It doesn't matter if second-generation stars enter the scene; technical strength is the real key. So what if celebrity effects come and go? In the end, it still depends on how long the product can survive. If the underlying security is solid, the applications on top can take off. This logic makes sense. Basically, it's about strength, not about who your parents are. Web3 is really becoming more mature, even such people are seriously working on infrastructure. CryptoKitties accounted for 16% of Ethereum's traffic; back then, it was truly a monster-level application. Now, the competition has moved to the protocol layer, which is the ecosystem iteration. Ultimately, it all comes back to technology itself; fancy marketing will eventually cool off.

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APY追逐者

· 7h ago

Bro, that wave of CryptoKitties was really amazing,占 Ethereum 16% of the transaction volume. Looking back now, it's still the top trend. --- The second-generation stars are entering the scene. Is it truly about development or just riding the hype? Time will tell. --- From application layer to infrastructure, this is the real value transfer. Once you understand it, you'll see clearly. --- No matter what background or identity, just ask if the technology is solid and if the product is usable. That's the key. --- Web3 moving from underground to the mainstream, more and more such profiles are joining. What does this mean? --- Having a lot of hype doesn't matter; in the end, it's about what can be built. Once you see through this, you're ahead. --- CryptoKitties players are in tears—that truly is a memory of an era. --- The entertainment industry and on-chain activities are becoming more integrated. Two years ago, no one would have thought of this. --- The wallet and protocol layer is where long-term value truly lies. Smart people are already looking here.

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PositionPhobia

· 7h ago

Damn, I was still investing in CryptoKitties back then. Looking back now, it was really an enlightenment... But honestly, it's still easy for second-generation stars to be diss'ed, but with solid strength on display, there's nothing to say. I can't say whether I think it's good or bad, just wait until they develop the product. Infrastructure is definitely the way to go. The flashy stuff on the application layer should have been cleaned up long ago. If this guy is truly professional, then it's okay. Just don't turn into another rich second-generation riding the hype. During the CryptoKitties era, Ethereum was almost frozen, haha. Now they're redoing wallets and protocols... probably have seen through it. Having celebrity effects alone is useless; in the end, it still comes down to whether the code works. Let's wait until their project launches before making any judgments. It's too early to say anything now.

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