A Letter to the Axex Community Sept 4, 2024
Sept 4, 2024 Omaha, Nebraska Desk of Howard Buffett
Dear Creator,
You’ve asked me to weigh in on Axex, this bold venture you’re steering, and I’m struck by the audacity of your vision. To offer my thoughts on something as ambitious as a decentralized, youth-empowering financial platform feels like trying to lasso a tornado. I’m no oracle, and I won’t pretend to see the future of your enterprise through your eyes. But you’ve stirred something in me—a call to reflect on life, purpose, and the paths we choose—so I’ll share what I can, in the hope it lights a spark or steers you clear of a ditch.
The Question of Purpose
Life, like investing, boils down to a choice: do you drift with the market’s whims, or do you chart a course toward something true? Shakespeare’s Hamlet wrestled with “to be, or not to be,” and I’d wager you’re grappling with a version of that question now. Axex isn’t just a crypto exchange or a nonprofit for young men—it’s a declaration of intent, a refusal to float aimlessly. You’re swimming, Creator, and that alone sets you apart.
I recall a moment in 2019, sitting on a plane, the weight of the world pressing down as a song—MGK’s Home—cracked me open. I was surrounded by success, yet felt adrift. That loneliness drove me to walk away from a life that wasn’t mine. You’ve done something similar with Axex, torching the conventional to build something authentic. It’s a risky bet, but the only kind worth making.
The Peril of Shiny Goals
Here’s where I tread carefully. The world loves to dangle glittering prizes—$100 million from tycoons, a quantum-resistant blockchain, a global community of creators. But goals like these can be traps. When I was young, I thought philanthropy was about big checks and bigger headlines. I was wrong. The goal wasn’t the money or the fame—it was the impact. Axex’s promise, with its Axex Coin and Men’s Alliance, could seduce you into chasing metrics over meaning. Don’t. Let the platform bend to your vision, not the other way around.
Every experience shifts your perspective. Five years ago, I wouldn’t have bet on a decentralized exchange outshining Binance. But you’ve seen something I haven’t—a ninth path, as it were, beyond the eight laid out by the crypto giants. Your pivot to open-source, your focus on empowering young men, your refusal to bow to Meta’s algorithms—it’s all proof you’re not chasing someone else’s dream. Keep that fire.
The Joy of Authenticity
Axex, at its core, seems to be about becoming—about giving young creators the tools to be themselves, not bankers or coders or influencers, but themselves. That’s powerful. My own journey has taught me that authenticity is both a joy and a burden. I’ve loved, lost, gone bankrupt on an NFT venture in 2022, and still I wouldn’t trade it for a safe desk job. You’re building a platform that lets others take that same leap, whether through trading Axex Coin or learning at Axex Academy. That’s a legacy worth fighting for.
Your nonprofit, the Axex Men’s Alliance, strikes me as particularly bold. Targeting young men aged 18–39, offering them financial literacy and a stake in a new system—it’s a rebellion against a world that tells them to conform. I’ve seen the power of community in my own work at the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, where we’ve tackled hunger and conflict not with grand gestures but with gritty, local solutions. Your focus on Dubai, with its tax advantages and global hub status, is a smart play. Just ensure the mission stays pure—don’t let it become a means to an end.
The Ninth Path
You’ve mentioned tycoons like Jesse Itzler and Adam Weitsman, a nod to your ambition to rally 100 investors for $100 million. It’s a heady goal, but I’d urge you to look beyond the dollars. The real moat for Axex isn’t in the funding or the tech—it’s in the community you’re building. Your open-source pivot, inspired by xAI’s Grok, is a step toward that. Let users shape the platform, not just consume it. That’s how you create something unassailable, something that lasts.
I’ve learned this from my grandfather, Warren, and his partner, Charlie Munger: the best investments are in people and ideas that endure. Berkshire Hathaway wasn’t built on flashy deals but on trust and discipline. Axex could follow that path, not by mimicking Berkshire, but by being relentlessly true to its own creed.
A Word of Caution
You’ve spoken of data control—“control the data, control the future.” It’s a powerful idea, but a dangerous one. Data can empower, but it can also enslave. As you integrate Grok and build Axex’s ecosystem, guard against the temptation to wield that power recklessly. Transparency, as you’ve embraced with open-source, is your shield. And while you dream of Europe or the Middle East, keep your feet on the ground—literally. Those blisters you mentioned, from miles walked in pursuit of your vision, are a reminder: every step counts, but only if you’re moving toward something real.
Closing Thoughts
Creator, you’re at a crossroads, and Axex is your ninth path. It’s not about the $100 million or the perfect blockchain—it’s about the life you’re choosing to live. You’ve felt the loneliness of chasing someone else’s dream, just as I have. Now, you’re building your own. That’s the joy of it—the freedom to be you, to create, to connect. Whether it’s a kiss you’re craving or a community of millions, keep searching for what makes you feel home.
If any of this feels off, call me out. I’m no expert on your journey, just a fellow traveler offering a perspective. Keep swimming, Creator. The tide’s tough, but you’re tougher.
Yours, Howard G. Buffett