Why Crypto and Web3 Face a Skeptical Audience in Tech Communities

An intriguing "Ask HN" post recently questioned why crypto and web3 links are rarely seen on Hacker News, wondering if there's an explicit rule or a general community aversion. The responses quickly illuminated a strong sentiment of disinterest and, in many cases, active opposition towards these topics among HN readers.

Prevailing Skepticism and Negative Associations

Several commenters expressed their negative stance. One user, ggm, bluntly stated, "Strong elements of disinterest and active opposition, yes. I am oppositional, I don't think I'm unusual amongst HN readers in that regard." This sentiment was echoed by wmf, who described most crypto as "just speculation wrapped in regulatory arbitrage and decentralization theater," adding that many "Web3 stuff doesn't need a token at all."

The negative perception is further fueled by associations with "apes and people loosing money," as noted by theGeatZhopa, who also pointed out that despite the hype from a few, crypto/web3 "was not accepted by the masses" and a clear use case beyond Bitcoin and similar cryptocurrencies has yet to emerge. Thruway516 highlighted a common fatigue, stating, "If yes [it involves a token, nft, or getting rich quick] my curiosity will probably be very very low since it sounds like 99% of crypto projects."

The Crucial Advice: Prioritize Utility Over Infrastructure

The most constructive feedback came from rfarley04, who advised builders on how to approach the HN community (and likely other tech-focused audiences). The core message was to shift the focus from the underlying technology to the tangible benefits of the product:

• Emphasize what your product does: "The concept that 'sells' what you're pushing should be its utility or usefulness, not its infrastructure. Tell HN what the thing you're building does and the community will decide based on those merits."
• Downplay the crypto aspect if it's not central to user interaction: "If you're building something cool that uses blockchain in the underlying framework but doesn't require owning/buying/trading crypto, chances of getting attention and traction here is 10x IMO."
• Avoid leading with "crypto" or "web3": If the project is primarily about interacting with crypto itself, HN is unlikely to be interested. However, if blockchain is merely a backend component for a useful application, it has a better chance.

Other Factors: Hype Cycles and Tribalism

Beyond the core issues of utility and speculation, other factors contribute to the cool reception. TheGeatZhopa mentioned disinterest in "gang-wars or religion-safeguarding when it comes to crypto/web3," highlighting the often polarized nature of discussions in the space. Additionally, bigyabai wryly commented on the current tech hype cycle, suggesting, "AI is the slop du-jour, you'll have to wait your turn until VCs are sufficiently bored of ChatGPT first," implying that community attention is often captivated by the latest trend.

In conclusion, the Hacker News community's apparent aversion to crypto/web3 content stems from a deep-seated skepticism born from past hype, perceived lack of real-world applications beyond speculation, and negative associations with financial risks and misleading marketing. For developers building in this area, the path to engaging such a community lies in transparently demonstrating undeniable utility and value, independent of the buzzwords or the speculative allure of tokens.