This bull run taught me something real. If I had to pick the two things that actually mattered:

First, the gains. Obviously. Nobody gets into crypto to lose money, and watching your portfolio grow hits different. But here's the thing—it's not just about the number in the wallet.

Second, and honestly this one sneaks up on you—the people. You connect with others who are equally obsessed, equally skeptical, equally broke at 3 AM checking charts. You build something with them. You argue about narratives, celebrate their wins, feel their pain when their bags get wrecked. That's the stuff that sticks around after the cycle peaks.

The money? It comes and goes. But the community you build? That's the real wealth.