Crypto Crashes and My Bad Timing: A Confession

My Crypto Origin Story (Spoiler: It’s Not Pretty)

Okay, so, I’m not gonna lie, I jumped on the crypto bandwagon way later than I probably should have. Like, 2021 late. Everyone was talking about it, making fortunes (or so it seemed), and I was feeling…left out? Maybe a little FOMO, definitely some curiosity. I mean, what was all the fuss about? Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin…it all sounded like something out of a science fiction movie.

My first foray was with Bitcoin. I stayed up until 2 a.m. one night reading everything I could find on Coinbase. Seriously, my eyes were burning. I was trying to understand blockchain, wallets, mining… the whole shebang. It was overwhelming, to say the least. And honestly, I still don’t fully get it, but I figured I could learn as I went, right? Famous last words.

I started small, putting in maybe $100 here and there. It felt like gambling, but with slightly more research involved. And for a while, it was exciting! The numbers were going up! I was, like, a GENIUS! Or so I thought. Of course, what goes up… you know the rest. It wasn’t long before the market took a nosedive, and my little gains vanished faster than free pizza at a college party. Ugh, what a mess! I remember thinking, “Okay, lesson learned. Crypto is not for the faint of heart.”

The Dogecoin Debacle: An Emotional Rollercoaster

Then came Dogecoin. Don’t even get me started. I know, I know. It’s a meme coin. But hear me out! I got sucked in by the hype. The tweets, the Reddit threads, the promises of overnight riches. It was intoxicating. Plus, it was cheap! Pennies per coin! How could I *not* buy some?

This time, I was bolder. I put in a bit more money. And, to my surprise, it actually went up! Like, a lot. I was watching my portfolio climb, thinking, “This is it! I’m gonna be rich!” I even started mentally spending the money. New car? Vacation? Early retirement? The possibilities seemed endless.

But here’s the thing about meme coins: they’re volatile. One minute you’re on top of the world, the next you’re plummeting back to earth. And that’s exactly what happened. Dogecoin crashed, and I panicked. I sold. Like, everything. At a loss, of course. A significant loss. I felt sick. Regret washed over me. Was I the only one confused by this?

Selling Too Soon: My Biggest Crypto Regret

Looking back, that was my biggest mistake. Selling out of fear. I should have held on. Maybe not forever, but at least long enough to see if it would rebound. I mean, who even knows what’s next? I didn’t have the stomach for it, or the knowledge. And that cost me. Big time.

A friend of mine, who’s way more savvy than I am, actually held onto his Dogecoin. He made a killing. Seriously, a killing. I saw him a few months later, and he was practically glowing. He had taken his family on a trip to Europe! All thanks to Dogecoin. I wanted to punch myself in the face.

It’s kind of like that time I found a vintage comic book at a garage sale for practically nothing and sold it for a few bucks. Years later, I found out it was worth thousands. Crypto felt the same. A missed opportunity. A lesson learned the hard way. Ugh.

What I Learned (And What I’m Still Learning)

So, what did I learn from my crypto misadventures? A few things, actually. First, do your research. Like, *really* do your research. Don’t just jump on the bandwagon because everyone else is. Understand what you’re investing in, and why.

Second, don’t invest more than you can afford to lose. Crypto is risky. It’s not a guaranteed path to riches. It’s more like a rollercoaster with a high probability of getting sick.

Third, don’t panic sell. This is easier said than done, I know. But emotions are the enemy of rational investing. Develop a strategy, stick to it, and don’t let fear drive your decisions. Maybe if I had understood this better back then, I wouldn’t feel this way.

And finally, be patient. Crypto is a long-term game. It’s not about getting rich quick. It’s about investing in the future. Or at least, that’s what I keep telling myself.

I’m still in the crypto game, albeit with a much more cautious approach. I’m learning, I’m experimenting, and I’m trying not to repeat my past mistakes. Will I ever become a crypto millionaire? Probably not. But hey, at least I have some good stories to tell. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll make enough to take a vacation. Just not to Europe. Yet.

If you’re as curious as I was, you might want to dig into stablecoins. They seem a bit less volatile, which might suit my risk tolerance a bit better these days.