Crypto Gloss

Packy McCormick

Definition: Packy McCormick is the founder of Not Boring, a Substack newsletter that became one of the most widely-read sources of business strategy and technology analysis during the crypto bull market of 2021–2022, with pieces on Web3, DeFi, DAOs, and specific projects reaching millions of readers. He also angel invests in the companies and projects he covers.

Key Contributions

  • Founded Not Boring (notboring.co), a business strategy newsletter on Substack, growing it to hundreds of thousands of subscribers by explaining complex tech and crypto topics in an accessible, enthusiastic style
  • Authored widely-shared long-form pieces on crypto fundamentals — including analyses of specific DeFi protocols, NFT culture, and the utility thesis for Web3 tokens — that served as entry points for many mainstream readers into crypto
  • Made angel investments in crypto and Web3 companies, including Solana ecosystem projects, giving him a financial stake that drew both enthusiasm and conflict-of-interest scrutiny
  • Popularized the “abundance” framing of technology — the idea that tech (including crypto) represents a net positive force that expands economic opportunity — helping shape a more optimistic crypto narrative
  • Helped establish the Substack newsletter as a legitimate medium for serious technology analysis during the 2020–2022 media shift away from traditional outlets

Timeline

  • 2019 — Founded Not Boring newsletter on Substack.
  • 2020 — Audience growth accelerated; began covering crypto more deeply.
  • 2021 — Became major voice for the Web3 and NFT bull cycle; wrote extensively on DAOs, DeFi, and Solana.
  • 2022 — Bear market and FTX collapse; critics noted conflicts between investment positions and editorial coverage.
  • 2023–2024 — Continued publishing; shifted some focus back toward AI and general tech.

Controversies

  • Conflict of interest concerns — McCormick frequently invested in companies he then wrote about positively in Not Boring, drawing criticism from readers and media critics who questioned disclosure practices and editorial independence.
  • Web3 boosterism during the bear market — His enthusiastic coverage of specific projects (some of which declined sharply in value) led critics to frame Not Boring as hype-prone rather than objective.

Social Media Sentiment

Packy McCormick is widely praised as a gifted writer who made complex technology topics accessible and entertaining. His writing style — long, researched, and narrative-driven — built a large loyal audience. Post-2022 bear market, sentiment among crypto-native audiences became more mixed, with some feeling his optimism had overstated certain projects. He remains influential in tech and startup circles even as crypto coverage became more cautious.

Last updated: 2026-04

Related Terms

Sources