Introduction

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In a world where traditional employment will not always provide financial security as needed, not only in Turkey but almost in every country - Social Mining emerges as a viable option for those seeking additional income. It is an inclusive and empowering concept that values community, cooperation, and reliability.

Those are some of the insights that emerged from a recent conversation that I had the privilege to have in a Social Miner of the Hour episode with Murat Arpaci, a distinguished Social Miner who currently ranks 9th on DAOVERSE. Murat provides insights into the world of Social Mining, comparing it to his earlier days as an online airdrop bounty hunter, and sheds light on how this approach can be a promising solution to economic challenges, particularly in Turkey.

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Murat Arpacı: The Social Miner “Extraordinaire”

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Before diving into the specifics of Social Mining and the challenges of today's society, allow me to tell you a little bit  more about our guest. Murat is a 56-year-old individual residing in Ankara, Turkey, with a remarkable professional background.

He retired in 2017 after working for Türk Telekom and being part of the first Türksat Satellite Ground Control Station team for nine years. His foray into the world of cryptocurrency began post-retirement when he joined the ranks of "bounty hunters." These early days in the crypto space were marked by promotions of new projects, some of which proved profitable but carried inherent risks.

We asked him to highlight the key distinction  between his previous role as a bounty hunter and his current occupation as a Social Miner.

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From Bounty Hunter to Social Miner: A Shift in Perspective

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In our conversation, Murat highlighted the key distinctions between his previous roles as a bounty hunter and his current occupation as a Social Miner. As a bounty hunter, he was primarily involved in promoting newly launched projects with limited lifespans, typically ranging from a few weeks to a couple of months. This often involved substantial rewards, but it also came with the risk of scams and projects abruptly disappearing after initial coin offerings (ICOs).

In contrast, Social Mining focuses on established projects within the top 100 rankings in the cryptocurrency market. This approach provides more stability and reliability, as it centers around well-known companies. Social Miners like Murat help spread the word about these projects, building their communities and gathering essential information about their visions and teams. The rewards in Social Mining may not be as eye-popping as those in the volatile world of startup projects, but they offer a consistent and secure source of income.

‍"I entered the market as a bounty hunter in 2017 - Marpaci, tells us- If you compare it to Social Mining, basically, they are both promotional projects. But there's a big difference. When I was a bounty hunter, we were promoting new projects that were coming out, which were promotions for a certain period. Some for 2 weeks, some for 1-1.5 months. Therefore, companies would allocate most of their advertising budgets as bounty. We have won very serious prizes. Of course, there were some scams among them. There were also those who disappeared after the ICO and didn't pay the rewards. Over time, as we got to know the developers, we could more or less get an idea about the project, but still, it was always a risk to work on an unreleased project. After all, when they left, you couldn't find an interlocutor."

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When we do Social Mining, we announce news from companies already known and in the top 100. So we are not trying to teach people the name of Polygon or Kava; we are trying to tell them about Polygon 2.0, Kinetix Finance. And this is a continuous job, not for a certain period.

In Social Mining, because you are working with several companies, you get to know the project well; we build the project community and get important information about the vision, the team and what they want to do. This allows us to become the holder of the project. The promotions we do are much more organic. The top 100 projects we are working on creates an essential standard in our income. We don't get surprised giant rewards like in the airdrop or bounty programs of startup projects, but we get regular and specific rewards. This is kind of like a second job. So both have their good and bad sides.

 

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The Economic Landscape in Turkey and the Role of Social Mining

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Turning our attention to Turkey's economic challenges, the conversation delved into the impact of COVID-19 and the broader economic situation. Murat acknowledged that Turkey faced significant challenges during the pandemic, with limited government support compared to more developed nations. However, he also noted that remote work opportunities had emerged as a viable option for many, offering a lifeline to those affected by business closures.

The conversation then shifted to the economic realities in Turkey, particularly the need for supplementary income due to rising inflation. Murat emphasized that Social Mining could be a valuable solution for individuals looking to secure a second job. The consistent and reliable income provided by Social Mining makes it an attractive option for those seeking financial stability.

‍"In Turkey COVID-19 affected a lot. Workplaces were closed, travels were not done, many sectors were affected very much. The government could not support it like the developed countries did. In the meantime, companies have discovered that in many areas, employees can run businesses from home. People who were unemployed due to closed businesses also learned that they could earn money by working remotely from their homes."

Exploring the issue of unemployment, Murat identified two primary factors contributing to the problem in Turkey. 

"The first one is inflation, which has been soaring in recent years, and the abnormal depreciation of the Turkish Lira. Companies that borrowed in foreign currency had to close down when they could not pay their debts. Those who did not go bankrupt transferred their workplaces and tried to make money with money in an environment with a high exchange rate. This may make sense for them; they can earn more from interest, exchange rates, and precious metal transitions, and they can make more profit by investing in real estate than owning a business, but for the country in general, this is a terrible situation.

The 2nd reason is that millions of people have come to Turkey as immigrants in recent years. These people are seen as very cheap labor. They work illegally, without insurance. Business owners can employ 2-3 people for the same wage instead of the 1 worker they used to employ before. This naturally leads to unemployment.

On the influx of immigrants, often employed as a cheap work force, has further compounded the unemployment issue. The competitive labour market has made it challenging for locals to find employment, particularly in sectors where immigrants are prevalent. While there are gender inequalities in the job market.

If the main purpose of asking this question is to conclude that it is more difficult for women to find a job, I don't think this is of a great magnitude. Of course, there is inequality, but not much more than in developed countries. The areas where Turkey lags behind compared to developed countries are different.

Young people are hopeless. A significant portion of young people want to continue their lives abroad. When they plan their education, they definitely think about this. This is not only to find a job more easily, but also for the standard of living.

‍First, the country has struggled with soaring inflation and the rapid depreciation of the Turkish Lira. These economic challenges have forced some businesses to close, while others have shifted their focus to more lucrative financial investments."

The discussion concluded by examining the outlook for Turkish society and how Social Mining could play a role in addressing economic challenges. Murat expressed concerns about the near future but highlighted the potential of Social Mining as a secure and accessible source of supplementary income. The ease of earning through content creation and the promise of expanding platforms offer hope for individuals looking to improve their financial situations.

‍“I personally recommend it. I often emphasize this in my posts. I also offer to help. I have already helped many people in the group in many ways. I have such a habit; I cannot easily refuse anyone; when someone asks something, I try to help as much as I can. There were times when I tried to explain something for hours 😊

The most important advantage of social mining is that you will definitely get paid for your work. So, it's a secure and steady supplementary income. If you need a second job to sustain your daily life, you can't choose to chase dreams like airdrops. In the last 2-3 years, airdrops have always been a disappointment. There are hundreds of examples, with a few exceptions; people have always tried in vain. There have even been hackers who accessed people's information by saying that they would give an airdrop. Everything is possible in this market; you should do business with reliable companies for your safety. DaoLabs stands out in this sense: researches the project for you and examines the company structure. You only need to prepare content.”

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Conclusion: The Promise of Social Mining

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Our conversation with Murat Arpacı sheds light on the world of Social Mining, a concept that thrives on the promotion of established and reliable projects within the cryptocurrency space. Social Miners like Murat contribute to the crypto community while also offering individuals the opportunity to secure a stable source of income.

In a world grappling with economic challenges and unemployment, Social Mining emerges as a beacon of hope, offering a path to financial empowerment. As the crypto landscape continues to evolve, Social Mining may play an increasingly pivotal role in supporting individuals and communities worldwide, ultimately contributing to economic stability and prosperity.

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