Early adopters who jumped into crypto before 2020 had a serious edge — but probably not for the reason you're thinking.

It wasn't about having access to better opportunities. The real advantage? Way fewer people fighting over the same plays.

Think back to 2017–2019, the wild ICO days. You could literally toss funds at random projects, drop a tweet about it, and watch things unfold. The barrier to entry was laughably low. The competition? Almost nonexistent compared to now.

Today's landscape is a completely different beast. Thousands of traders, funds, and degen communities are all chasing the same alpha. Information spreads in seconds. By the time you spot something interesting, ten other groups have already positioned themselves.

The opportunities haven't disappeared — they've just gotten way more crowded. That's the shift most people miss when they romanticize the "good old days" of crypto.