From oil rigs to Web3: KOL spotlight on V2Chenz and his take on crypto culture

In this edition of the KOL series, we catch up with V2Chenz, an influential figure in the crypto space observing, building, and sharing thoughts that usually age better than most timelines.

V2Chenz shares with us how he got into crypto and his views on the culture that has formed around it. With roots in oil and gas, a deep respect for digital privacy, and a radar for real work, Chenz has become a trusted voice in the crypto space.

From oil rigs to working in crypto

Q: Let’s start from the beginning – what’s your background, and what first pulled you into crypto? Was it a specific moment, project, or idea that made you want to stay?

A: My background is essentially oil and gas. I spent years on and off rigs and working on large-scale pipelines. I had always had an attempt at currency markets and day trading. I came across crypto for the first time in 2015 and fell in love with the ideology of unbanking the financial industry.

Q: Do you remember when it clicked – when you realized crypto wasn’t just a trend?

A: I never looked at crypto like a trend. But I think after the 2017 run and the depression of 2019, we saw how fundamental this industry could be with the state of the global economy.

Q: You’ve always taken a more grounded, fundamental approach to the space. What’s your take on meme culture and how it has shaped crypto today?

A: The meme culture, I’ve always enjoyed is the lore, not just a flash-in-the-pan concept or viral trend. The stables. PEPE, DOGE, the characters that are iconic within this space 

Why Web3?

Q: You’ve spent much time around serious builders — privacy, infrastructure, and DePIN. What made you gravitate toward that side of crypto instead of trading or short-term plays?

A: I’ve always been fascinated with how telling our digital footprint can be. Crypto’s foundations are for a private, sovereign internet, taking the power away from gatekeepers and expressing our right to freedom without being restricted or governed.

Q: When you look at the current privacy stage in crypto, what’s missing? Why do you think users still don’t take it seriously?

A: Seamlessness. Blending privacy infrastructure in an easy-to-use platform. Like Synk has built, it is as easy to use as a browser and as private as needed to keep safe.

Regulations and crypto trends

Q: Regulations vs. privacy – do you think we’ll ever find a middle ground that works?

A: With regulation comes data. I personally think a true privacy infrastructure will always go against the grain of regulations

Q: DePIN’s been gaining traction lately, but most people still don’t fully get it. How would you define it in your own words? And what do you think are the most realistic use cases we’ll see go mainstream first?

A: Depin will always keep its market share. To expand this space, trustworthy physical infrastructure, including miners, satellites, and routing equipment, is needed. Most of these are easy to configure and pay rewards for uptime or network proofing. 

Q: You’ve worked closely with many strong teams and top-tier KOLs. What have you learned from being on that side of the space – what separates hype from real work?

A: This changes as the markets do. We used to see many educators spending time breaking down their niche expertise. We’ve seen a change as many try to rise to fame to extract teams and the space. 

Working at Synk

Q: After years of incubating projects and collaborating across the industry, you recently decided to take a different route – joining a team instead of staying on the outside. What pushed you to make that move and step into a lead role?

A: After being in the space, helping incubate, and working as a connector. I found a deep love for this side. When the Synk team approached me, I couldn’t refuse. I aligned with what was being built and could see this application’s future. A Privacy First operating System was the first of its kind and has worked well alongside such a talented developer.

Q: Is there one project you feel most connected to or inspired by? Not necessarily because of price action but because of what they’re building or the vision behind it.

A: Yes, this project would be Synk. The developer behind this project has kept my interest in this space going. Kard shows up daily and keeps rewriting history, regardless of the market.

Q: Being in a lead position now comes with pressure, especially when the market doesn’t always reflect the work being done. How do you personally handle that responsibility? And what advice would you give communities or KOLs when it comes to posting and supporting projects healthily?

A: Always operate with integrity. This isn’t a highlight reel or a cumulative of who prints the best profits. KOL’s work is to educate people on the gaps in tech. Price action generally aligns. But innovation is rare and should be commended.

The Cryptopolitan KOL (Key Opinion Leader) series highlights influential figures shaping opinions and trends in crypto and translating its concepts into deliverables that people can act on—honest, short conversations with voices worth listening to.