[USER]

I’m very interested in getting into crypto, but I want to approach it cautiously since I don’t want to risk money without fully understanding what I’m doing.

I have two questions:
1. Do you believe crypto is still a smart investment or part of a solid financial strategy?

2. If so, what are the best resources or platforms for learning about it in a reliable, beginner-friendly way?

Appreciate any insights—thanks in advance!

[Mark]

I buy bitcoin only. It’s expected to go much much higher over the next 10-15 years

[Ian]

Yes, it is/can be a smart investment. That said, each crypto is different, just like each stock you invest in would be different.

When a crypto currency is created, the rules by which that specific token is governed are built into the crypto platform/network.

Understanding the governance rules, often referred to as “tokenomics”, is important to understanding a specific crypto. For example some cryptos have inflation built into them, and others have zero inflation.

Coinbase is the easiest place to start. There are training/tutorials on coinbase that will reward you with crypto for completing them.

The cryptos that reward you to learn about them are usually more obscure and it might be more confusing than educational, but it can give you $10 worth of crypto to trade and play around with to get used to the platform.

Blockchain is conceptually not much different than a database or spreadsheet, except each record/row has its own password. It’s kind of like safety deposit boxes in a bank.

It’s not all that valuable to dig into and understand blockchain just like it’s not that useful to know what types of metal were used to construct the vault in the bank.

You can if you are interested, but it doesnt really get you closer to understanding crypto.

The currency aspect can get philosophical and when you get to the bottom of it you realize that USD is no different than bitcoin. Each of them holds value only because we believe they do.

The value of a currency is measured by the trust people have in it.

Currently the USD still holds more trust world wide than any other currency.

USD is a great currency. But the trend over the last 50 years is that USD is getting less reliable because the rules [aka political decisions] by which it is governed are getting more and more sloppy and loose.

The increasing US national debt and the speed with which the US is breaking international partnerships and turning away from age old alliances is further reducing the long held trust the world has in USD.

It will make bitcoin more valuable when compared against USD. BTC can’t be weaponised against other nations like the USD has been. In my estimation, it might become the new world reserve currency in time.

I’m not predicting that, but it is a distinct possibility.
A crypto like bitcoin has very clear and unchanging rules by which it is governed.

Its governance is based on math, not political decisions. As people begin to trust bitcoin more and USD less, you see the price of bitcoin rise against USD.

There are plenty of cryptos that have terrible and/or changing rules of governance. But just like all other currencies their value is based on peoples trust in them.

There are a lot of coins, often referred to as “meme coins” that hold trust for a very short period of time, spike in value, and then lose trust quickly and crash.

Investing in “layer 1”, reliable, known quantity coins is like investing in stocks. Investing in meme coins is gambling. Investing in the inbetween coins is like investing in a startup.

The cryptos that already have, or have pending SEC applications for ETF approval are the most vetted. Right now, if you are looking for exposure with as little risk as possible stick with the crypto ETF funds.

Bitcoin might be the only one with approved ETFs at the moment. I havent kept up on it recently.

If you are looking for high growth, look for cryptos that have pending SEC ETF applications like SOL or ETH or maybe XRP, and buy those cryptos on a crypto exchange.

If/when those ETF products are approved by the SEC it opens access up to the masses, and that coin typically rises in value as more and more people buy them via the ETFs through traditional brokerages.

If you are looking for explosive growth, start investigating and learning about all of the cryptos that haven’t gotten to the ETF applications stage like SUI, SEI, ADA.

[Jeffrey]

Your first mistake is viewing Bitcoin as an investment. It is not. It is a speculative tool entirely because it does not produce income, but it is still worth having in your portfolio.

[Emmanuel]

I’m going to say just buy the IBIT ETF, do your research, read the bitcoin white paper, you’ll do well.

In my personal opinion, the 4 year cycle is over, I imagine the drawdowns will be less and less because of the huge institutional investment.

It’s no longer a retail game

[Lauren]

We should know that Bitcoin’s dominance is rooted in its first mover advantage, massive network effect, and unmatched security.

It has the largest user base, most infrastructure and highest hash rate which makes it extremely hard to displace.

The fixed supply and decentralized nature also make it a unique store of value.

Other coins may innovate, but Bitcoin’s brand and adoption give it a staying power that’s tough to challenge.This is why even conservative investors are starting to take notice of its resilience and growing mainstream acceptance which also makes it a compelling asset.

More people need to diversify into trading digital assets even though navigating the market can be complex but my source for insights has been making my learning and earning experience easier despite the volatility of the market.

I once made a reasonable profit on a late night price surge triggered by the US policy news

[Steve]

I said to would never buy bitcoin and yet I just bought bity etf and am up in a week saying that I still don’t trust it and like yeildmax keep my eye on it

[Curtis]

I believe it isn’t going away and will only get stronger as we move forward. I but the ETF, IBIT on any draw downs.

Been good to me so far

[Best]

I’d stick with only Bitcoin. Start off with the IBIT etf while studying.

Know that the price could double or be down -50% in a month (Volatility is a gift to the patient.) Then, I’d read “The Bitcoin Standard” by Saifedean Ammous.

After you invest 100 hours in learning, you’ll want to buy as much as you can get. Best of luck

[Author]

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