Recently, I’ve been thinking about an interesting phenomenon. Many people are full of longing for Web3 jobs—especially that kind of remote, high-paying, freedom-filled work style. It’s truly attractive. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that behind it there are many legal pitfalls that many people haven’t fully thought through.

To be honest, the temptation of Web3 jobs really is strong. No 996 schedule, no squeezing onto the subway, salaries that are pretty impressive compared with traditional industries, and the ability to write code at the foot of snow-capped mountains while holding meetings by Erhai Lake. This sense of freedom really does draw many people in. But here’s the problem: behind this freedom, there are some risks you might not have considered.

So what’s the biggest issue? It’s that the legal boundaries of projects are often very unclear. Since most Web3 work is remote and distributed, the boss and the project entity are often overseas. Once a legal issue arises with the project, the boss may be able to walk away unscathed, but the worker has to bear the consequences. If the project touches on criminal matters, the income you worked so hard to earn could be recognized as illegal proceeds and confiscated, and you may still face legal sanctions. That’s just not worth it.

So, when choosing a Web3 job, the ability to identify project risks matters far more than how much you earn. I’ve seen plenty of people ignore risks because of high pay, only to end up getting burned badly. As the saying goes, “Making money is one thing—having the life to spend it is another.”

What exactly should you do? First, be wary of jobs where the income is as if “money is falling from the sky.” Wherever there is profit, there are costs. If you don’t have an information advantage or special skills, yet you suddenly get a high salary far beyond expectations, you should be highly alert. There may be enormous risk hidden behind it.

Second, you must clearly define which red lines you must never cross. Crypto-related businesses—such as exchange-like roles—usually involve things like crypto payments and token economics. Even if the project is registered overseas, as long as it targets users in China, it could still be considered illegal financial activity. If you’re a technical person, developing smart contracts itself isn’t illegal, but you must firmly avoid participating in code designs related to illegal scenarios like money laundering and gambling—for example, mixers, gambling platforms, and similar things.

Another especially easy-to-fall-into trap is promotion and marketing-related jobs. Last year, the consultation volume for business BD positions was the highest, but these roles also carry the highest risks. If you promote a project and the project involves illegal activities such as scams or Ponzi schemes, the promoter could be deemed an accomplice. The Hong Kong JPEX exchange case is a typical example—multiple KOLs were arrested for promoting an illegal platform.

My advice is that when pursuing the freedom and high salaries that come with Web3, you must put compliance risk first. After all, only by moving steadily and doing things according to the rules can you truly go far. Web3 is like the “gold rush” of the digital age—opportunities and traps coexist. Every decision you make needs to be judged by you. I hope you can clearly distinguish right from wrong in this wave and reap your own success.