Diary of a cryptocurrency rookie....

I’ve always enjoyed writing. Do I consider myself a writer? No, I don’t.

The idea of sharing stories, points of view, issues and basically anything that comes to mind, while getting paid for it in cryptocurrency, is something that blows my mind.

Digital nomads in Chiang Mai are probably bragging about how late I am into joining Steemit and how they’ve been paying for their lannas, sticky mango fried rice and scooter rentals thanks to writing and curating on this platform. I envy them and their man buns, I really do.

I formally joined the crypto world last march by purchasing my first batch of Ethereum at $28.00. My brother in law introduced me to Vitalik Buterin’s idea when ETH was at $17, but thanks to Coinbase’s “phenomenal” customer service, it took me a week to verify my identity and finally have access to buy.

By owning ETH, it was my duty as a crypto rookie to become educated on the subject. So, like any other millennial, I watched video after video on Youtube, noticing that the creepier the guy who spoke in it, the better the explanation was. Let me remind you that it is normal to feel stupid while trying to grasp the broad and complex world of the Blockchain.

I particularly remember watching one video titled “Vitalik Buterin Explains Ethereum”, in which the father of Ether, and soon to be trillionaire, explains his creation. After watching the 3-minute video, I realized I had plenty of questions, such as: what’s up with his lisp? is he a cyborg who doesn’t blink? Is he old enough to buy a beer? These questions led me to restart the video and focus on the serious subject at hand, a digital ledger in which transactions can be recorded chronologically and publicly.

There is no doubt in my mind we are experiencing a revolutionary change which will directly mold and improve our future. Such changes don’t come by very often and this one can be compared to the early stages of the internet of things. Some have even called the Blockchain, internet 3.0.

Due to my age, I couldn’t be involved in the .com boom, but this time I can’t help but try to partake in as many ICOs as I can get my hands on. Not all ICOs are safe bets and one should only invest what they can afford to lose on what they understand and believe in. But as always, the inner gambler and dreamer in all of us tells us “F%$k it man, I’ll buy some Ripple at $0.25 and see if someday I become a millionaire”.

We live in an exciting time in which the decentralization of things allows anyone with access to the internet to become an investor and trader, leveling the playing field and removing the middle man out of the equation. If that doesn’t tickle the inner bureaucracy hater in all of us, then what does?

I will keep on educating myself on the Blockchain and will most likely continue to have more questions rather than answers, which is the reason why I’m passionate about it.