In the cryptocurrency market, success relies not only on innovation but more importantly on attracting attention and hype narratives. This article explores how to drive project development through effective marketing strategies, particularly the influence of Generation Z, which has become key to supporting this wave of enthusiasm. This article is derived from a piece by Milian, organized and translated by Shenchao TechFlow. (Background: Generation Z survey) Expectation of average monthly salary of 40,742 yuan, 62% have investments, favorite meme coins and contracts) (Background Supplement: Excited kid Pump.fun live streaming meme coin $Quant made $30,000, but missed out on 100x profits due to early liquidation) The fact is simple: the best ideas do not always win — getting attention is the key. The success or failure of a project depends on whether it can attract, inspire, and leave a lasting impression on people. Ultimately, success is not only reliant on innovation but also on the storytelling and the strength of dissemination. Polymarket is not the first cryptocurrency prediction market; Augur launched as early as 2015. Uniswap is also not the first decentralized exchange; EtherDelta achieved this in 2017. How about OpenSea? RareBits entered the market ahead of time in 2018. The point is clear: while first-mover advantage is important, it is not a decisive factor. Execution, narrative ability, and timing are the real keys. Of course, an excellent user experience is also indispensable. This article discusses how to drive the survival and development of cryptocurrency projects through marketing, not just technology. I will combine my insights and experiences to analyze founder-led marketing, team-driven strategies, the cultural dynamics of Generation Z, and the influence of meme culture, exploring how projects can stand out in a competitive environment. Founder-led Marketing This point is now very clear to us. In this field, the voice of the founder often determines the project's image. Leaders like Vitalik, Anatoly, Mert, Keone, and CZ are familiar with this. The ability of founders to clearly express their vision, interact genuinely with the community, and tell compelling stories is often more important than a strong technological foundation. Why? Because human connections are key. Audiences are more easily moved by genuine expressions rather than carefully packaged promotions. A friendly and charismatic founder can turn an idea into a movement, transforming followers into loyal supporters. People follow not the logo, but the person behind the logo. This is not just about technical expertise; it is about humanity. Founders who build emotional connections with the audience by sharing insights, ideas, and everyday life become the core of the project. They are not just leaders but storytellers. Team-Driven Momentum While founders set the tone, the role of the team is to amplify and disseminate this information. Actively participating team members can provide new perspectives, making the project's value easier to understand. Teams that encourage creativity and open discussion are more likely to attract and retain users. Recently, I noticed that the OmniFDN and EclipseFND teams excel in this regard. They attract many builders in the cryptocurrency field by sharing profound educational content about marketing and business development. At the same time, they also release thought-provoking content that resonates with the broader crypto community, effectively expanding their influence. Special thanks to @0x Matt 1, @grahamfergs, and @akachacolate for their impressive performances. Team diversity can create a multiplier effect by connecting different communities and reaching new audiences. For example, although the Milady and Pudgy Penguins communities are culturally very different, an excellent team can connect these independent groups, driving growth and interaction. I find that many team members only talk about how great their project is on Twitter. While there's nothing wrong with this, it limits their influence. To expand reach and attract more attention, consider diversifying content. Share insightful, educational, or entertaining content to attract a broader audience, not just a specific niche of the project. Discuss industry trends, share personal insights, or explore unrelated topics to keep content lively and engaging. Use X Analytics to find out what content resonates most with the audience and further amplify it. Be the protagonist of your unique story. As the audience grows and their interest in your content increases, they will naturally become curious about the project you are building. The definition of a protagonist lies not in the importance of their role but in the change they bring. What resonates most are the impacts you create and the journey you share. Generation Z Perspective Paying tribute to Milady, 21 e 8, Urbit, Kinode, and other mysterious things Let’s talk about Generation Z — my generation. We are becoming an emerging force in the cryptocurrency space, and we have our own set of rules. Authenticity, humor, and relevance are more important to us than traditional corporate promotions. Polished, serious marketing approaches do not work; we value fresh memes, unique brand identities, and transparent, direct communication. If you want to capture our attention, you must communicate in a language we understand. We can easily identify inauthentic expressions and cannot tolerate boring or outdated content. Brands that dare to use humor, bold narratives, and open interactions tend to succeed more. It’s not about perfection; it’s about relatability. Make us laugh or resonate with our culture, and you will stand out. We have experienced a lot, growing up in meme culture. We know what creative content is. To stay relevant, projects need to understand what we like: the visuals of movies, the music we listen to, the memes that make us laugh, the emojis we use. To connect with us, you need to stay at the forefront of culture. We all appreciate Teamspeak's efforts in this regard... you know what I mean. Don’t think you can take shortcuts. If you rely on tools like ChatGPT to communicate with Generation Z, you will ultimately fall behind the times. A poorly made meme will embarrass us and may push us away. The core language of Generation Z is meme culture, which is key to connecting with this digital-native generation. Meme Culture: The Language of Generation Z Image source: @BasedBeffJezos Meme culture is not just for laughs; it is a powerful cultural force. Excellent projects leverage meme culture to simplify complex concepts, making them easy to spread and hard to forget. When a project masters meme culture, it means they know how to amplify their influence. Meme culture can create a snowball effect. Once mastered, people will share and remix your content out of enjoyment and value. This is not just about motivation; it’s about having fun, which is the reason for community thriving. Meme culture is not just about Wojak or Pepe-like 'memes'. It is reflected in animation, visuals, and writing styles. Meme culture is the music that builds hype for your important announcements, the font and color combinations that make your brand instantly recognizable. It’s the subtle wording in your tweets that people can’t help but repeat. It’s the hand-crafted merchandise that people genuinely want to show off...