So when somebody asks me "what do you do", how do I answer them without making crypto sound like and end unto itself?
I would say by knowing why you want to work in this space and being able to articulate it without it sounding like meaningless set phrases. What's your drive, why do you not want to do anything else?
I wouldn't count: Block Rewards, NFTs, any money made in financial products.
Would you count zaps on SN?