According to @adamscochran on Twitter, many crypto projects use vanity metrics such as total value locked (TVL), fake partnerships, and reported active wallets to create a perception of progress, due to the incompatibility of 'Internet capital markets' with the real challenges faced by startups. This suggests that traders should scrutinize these metrics carefully, as they are often used to attract mercenary capital and may not reflect genuine growth or sustainability (source: @adamscochran via Twitter). Understanding the true fundamentals behind these metrics is crucial for trading decisions and risk management in the crypto market.