Bribes Don’t Build Communities: Rethinking Incentives in Web3

In Web3, you don’t tell your story, your community does. The real question is whether you’re designing incentives that make them want to.

In this solo episode, I break down why most projects get incentives wrong (think mercenary users, airdrop farmers, and short-lived hype) and what it takes to design systems that actually stick. From Ethereum’s early days to Reddit’s Collectible Avatars, I explore real-world examples where incentives went beyond money, tapping into identity, status, and belonging.

If you’re a founder or marketer, this is your blueprint for rethinking incentive design and creating narratives your community will spread without being bribed to.