Having spent so many years in the crypto space, my biggest takeaway isn't just understanding market trends, but learning to interpret the world through project logic. Recently, I came across an interesting discussion—an American netizen complaining that a $5,000 monthly salary makes life feel like living in a beggar's guild, while domestically, earning 5,000 RMB per month allows for free food delivery, courier services, and medical appointments with a single click. This stark contrast is truly eye-opening.

Of course, some will argue: "Their per capita GDP is twice ours, isn't that just talking nonsense?" Don't worry, this is exactly what I want to unpack today.

**Discrepancies in standards, more deadly than liquidation**

GDP measurement pitfalls are like the locked positions in certain projects—different standards lead to vastly different levels of "value." How does the US calculate it? Commissions from real estate agents, legal fees, prison operating costs—all included. It's like some tokens projects stacking false liquidity and repeatedly pledged tokens into their locked positions; the data looks explosive, but it has little to do with actual user returns.

In contrast, China's GDP calculation logic is different. The focus is on tangible investments that directly impact people's quality of life—building affordable housing, high-speed rail, hospitals, and schools. These are core investments that reflect real improvements. This is more akin to the locked positions of high-quality public chains—every penny corresponds to genuine ecosystem applications, not just flashy operations piled up artificially.

**Development orientation determines everything**

At its core, this reflects fundamental differences in development logic. One approach is "improve people's livelihoods first; when people are comfortable, consumption and productivity naturally increase." The other is "prioritize boosting GDP figures by expanding high-value industries like services, finance, and consumption to inflate data."

Earning 5,000 RMB a month domestically can support a decent lifestyle mainly because this purchasing power is amplified by government investments—public infrastructure costs are largely borne by the state, and essential services like healthcare and education are not solely on individuals. In other words, your actual living costs are spread out.

Earning $5,000 a month in the US feels tight because housing, healthcare, legal fees, car repairs—these costs are all borne by individuals, and these service costs are already double-counted in GDP. The commissions paid to real estate agents are included in GDP, legal fees are included, so your actual purchasing power shrinks despite the high nominal income.

**Why this is enlightening for crypto enthusiasts**

This logic is crucial for understanding public chain ecosystems. A large locked position in a public chain doesn't necessarily mean the ecosystem is healthy—it's important to see whether these locks are truly user assets or just "virtual locks" circulating within liquidity mining, staking derivatives, and other mechanisms. A truly valuable ecosystem should resemble China's GDP statistics—every penny should correspond to real user needs and experience improvements.

So next time you see a project’s locked positions doubling, don’t get excited immediately. Ask yourself: Is this genuine user asset inflow, or just tokens cycling through different contracts? That’s the key to judging the project's real value.

The economic comparison between countries follows the same principle—impressive numbers are less meaningful than the tangible quality of life.