I’ve seen the space evolve significantly since 2017, particularly with the plethora of use cases — DeFi, NFTs and Bitcoin Ordinals, DePIN, the early stages of real-world assets (RWAs), etc. — and the technological improvements on numerous blockchains, especially Ethereum since it launched the Beacon Chain in 2020, i.e., the beginning of proof-of-stake on its network.
By now, I thought most people would be inclined to give Bitcoin, altcoins and blockchain tech a shot. This entire sector is proving to be a major disruptive force here to stay.
Less than 8% of the world owns Bitcoin/crypto, which remains very niche even in highly developed regions like Europe, North America, and parts of Asia.
Even though public blockchains led by Bitcoin and Ethereum are far more transparent than legacy financial and tech systems, widespread distrust and scepticism remain. Alas.
This has impacted friendships, family and dating, notably the latter. Every time I’ve suggested Bitcoin to potential partners, it’s often met with suspicion and, in some cases, disappointment, thinking I’m intent on scamming individuals and participating in this “Ponzi scheme”.
As we recently saw a crowd booing the idea of Bitcoin in an Ohio State University commencement speech — not to mention the lack of crypto regulations in the USA — I’m not banking on Bitcoin adoption anytime soon.
I know history was made in January when the US SEC finally gave the green light to spot Bitcoin ETFs, not to mention Hong Kong regulators going ahead with spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs last month.
Yet, I expect much scepticism and distrust of Bitcoin and altcoins to remain.
I’ve concluded that some people lack the maturity and willingness to accept, let alone consider, an alternate financial (and technological) system, merely dismissing it as something fraudulent.
This transcends crypto. Thanks to toxic social media influencers (yes, good ones also exist), which have contributed to an increasingly polarised society, both sides, to varying degrees, fail to rationally consider alternate perspectives, with many falling into the trap of having a herd mentality.
Moreover, they choose not to question the information they receive via mainstream media and even one’s social circle. This lack of critical analysis also leads to a poor understanding of vested interests, particularly those of governments and corporations wanting to stifle innovation in this (relatively) new asset class and technology sector.
In modern-day Australia, where I live, you’re considered weird for not taking an active interest in real estate — something that has become a national pastime, at least in major cities — and prioritising other assets.
Mention Bitcoin as an alternative, and many will dismiss you as crazy and delusional. Some get it, but many still think it’s irrational not to prioritise real estate.
Perhaps it’s unwise and counterproductive not to follow the crowd, but I stand by my convictions. I steadfastly believe in the (financial) success of Bitcoin, various altcoins, distributed ledger technology, and the need to overhaul an inefficient banking system, especially for those in the developing world.
Even after so many years of doing this, only six people know about my writing work. Still, these people have little to no interest in this asset class, so they never ask me about my content.
I’ve chosen to remain anonymous as I believe knowledge is power. In other words, you never know how people can use the information against you and reveal your identity against your will.
There are other reasons, too, but I’ll spare you the details.
I like to play dumb with people I meet or know (including most of my family), especially when looking for a partner. I’ve put the latter on the back burner until recently. It’s a matter of pretending to know a bit about digital assets and not acting completely clueless about it (or saying too much about the topic).
So, how does this relate to you? If you’re looking for a companion, never reveal your exact Bitcoin/crypto holdings, let alone anything you’d regret saying.
Don’t mention anything if you barely know them, i.e., you’re early into dating them. There’s no need to disclose this. Even as you get to know them, remain cautious and alert about what you disclose.
I’m still astonished by the date (earlier this year) when the woman told me she still had six BTC when I mentioned Bitcoin/crypto in passing.
I plan to keep growing my portfolio and cash out a significant chunk of it when I believe the end of this bull-market cycle is in sight, which, bar a black-swan event, I expect to be in about 15 months.
Any profits I make would go towards a house deposit. For me, it’s about financial independence and freedom, not ostentatious displays of wealth.
Some hardcore Bitcoin/crypto enthusiasts will say, “Why don’t you find someone who loves Bitcoin?”
As a reminder, there’s more to life than just Bitcoin…unless you’re Michael Saylor.
Suppose I date a woman who’s openly dismissive of Bitcoin and alts. In that case, I have no obligation to disclose my involvement in this space, particularly my writing work.
Women are approximately two to three times less likely to own crypto than men. However, this gap is closing. According to 2023 data from the Pew Research Center, this also varies amongst different ethnicities.
Hence, I understand their hesitance, particularly if men they’ve previously interacted with (or dated) went overboard in promoting Bitcoin/crypto to them. Anyhow, I digress.
With rights come responsibilities, one of which is not to trash talk about something you don’t understand.
Above all, the last thing I want to do is lead with money. It goes without saying this space is considered lucrative, so I have no interest in attracting women who desire an opulent lifestyle.
As always, each to their own. If such a lifestyle brings you genuine joy and you’ve made good coin from digital assets, then I’m happy for you.
As I wrap up, remember that once personal (financial) information is out there, it’s irreversible. Your modest amount of crypto could become a massive windfall even in just a few years. You’ll never know how much resentment and envy people could have towards you because they missed the opportunities to invest early.
Thanks for reading and for your support.
Further reading and additional resources
Ways to support my work
• Check out this post for various affiliate links and promotions you can use to top up (or kick start) your crypto portfolio. By using these, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
• All my articles (including previous ones) are now published on Medium for anyone to read, including non-members. I welcome any crypto donations to support my work. Please use the following addresses to do so.
BTC — bc1qny59y95g4narcf4a7d3k9g7h54kc8jakj9t87a
ETH — 0xF4D51542Ed8bb769F87692e220Ea31932f184887
ADA —
addr1q9dkkzs8sfevxve72ttmtgthsdcddut86ssttlhn25t9qczmdv9q0qnjcvenu5khkksh0qms6mck04pqkhl0x4gk2psq5c5gqz
XRP — rLDThKVeMCZQCZcT4uzBU6NTSPHxwmRifE
DOT — 15Gn8DZeZY3pmLczjwx7WGUc7TXXme8y2nrxuC6o4hBxn7jX
Disclaimers
• N.B. None of this is financial advice; I am not a financial advisor. You are ultimately responsible for your (Bitcoin/crypto) investments.
• The opinions expressed within this piece are my own and might not reflect those behind any news outlet, person, organisation, or otherwise listed here.
• Please do your own research before investing in any crypto assets, staking, NFTs or other products affiliated with this space.
• Information is correct at the time of writing.
Image (AI-generated) by shmikel669 at Freepik