When FTX collapsed in 2022, confidence in crypto dropped fast. Budgets paused and projects slowed across the board. TokenMinds, a growing Web3 agency, faced lost funds in Celsius and Blockfi and two years of losses. Many companies closed, yet Rob Eijgenraam chose to keep going because the mission still mattered.
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The Breaking Point
During the hard stretch, CEO Anchor Chan was diagnosed with cancer and needed immediate treatment. It felt like a barrage of problems arriving at once. One of Rob’s most trusted leaders had to step back, and the company risked losing momentum. Rob chose to put people first. He told Anchor to take the time needed to recover, and he took direct control of day-to-day operations. The team then adjusted schedules, rebalanced ownership, and kept delivery on track while the market stayed uncertain. As Rob put it, “Hard times make the company better,” and “It verifies that what we believe in really goes deep enough to withstand.” Those lines guided daily decisions through the downturn.
What kept the company moving
The plan remained simple and consistent. The company faced one difficulty after another, yet with Rob’s full support the TokenMinds team stayed solid. Roles expanded where needed so internal work and client delivery did not slow. The focus stayed on useful results for clients and on keeping the company stable.
During this period, the team used the quiet months to improve processes and to build new products. Rob pushed the work forward as a Web3 founder who values practical solutions. His earlier experience as a director at Zalora kept the team focused on clear goals and clean handoffs, which helped the company manage the strain and keep progress steady.
Rob also mapped pain points across industries and turned them into product ideas. He saw that gaming, i-gaming, and broader sectors needed automation that connects AI with on-chain systems. The team began developing AI products that fit those needs, including TMX AI, TMX Character, and a social media AI agent that can drive engagement and support growth. With that shift, TokenMinds often worked as a full stack AI development company, while still operating as a results-driven Web3 agency.
These products were not side projects. They were built to solve real problems for teams that needed faster operations, better retention, and clearer measurement. That approach kept delivery moving and set the foundation for the next stage. During this period, TokenMinds powered the 536 Lottery on Polygon, integrating Chainlink VRF for tamper-proof randomness and on-chain prize logic. The platform delivered 100% provably fair draws and lifted user trust by 42%, while participation stayed smooth and transparent. This shows that with Rob’s steady leadership, TokenMinds still delivers.
Turning Market and Expansion
As time passed, the market began to improve. Starting in 2024, policy signals in crypto and Web3 grew clearer. Leaders returned to their original plans and set new targets, while teams restarted projects that stalled during the bear market.
Because Rob kept the company building during the quiet period, TokenMinds did not need to start over. The team had products, playbooks, and a stable process. Demand rose across the crypto sector and for automation with AI development, and the company was ready. Sales calls moved from defense to design, and delivery improved because the operating guidelines had been tested when the market was slow.
TokenMinds now focuses on scale. The solutions built during the downturn are live and improving. To support global growth, Rob opened operations in San Francisco so the company can connect East and West. Expansion follows work that already performs in production, and growth comes from results teams can measure.
The Leader He Is Today
The lessons are direct and linked. Rob is a persistent leader who kept focus when the market turned and the team was not at full strength. He put people first, took on more of the work, and kept delivery moving. As a Web3 founder, he used quiet months to fix processes, ship products, and prepare for the next cycle.
Today his approach stays the same. Plan the week, set clear goals, and ship on time. Keep a tight feedback loop with customers and mentors so decisions stay practical. Build tools that solve real problems in Web3 and AI, then scale what proves itself in production.
This is not a victory note. It is a summary of steady choices that turned survival into a base for growth. Rob now focuses on results that clients can measure, on products that last, and on a team that improves each quarter. That is how TokenMinds moves forward.
