Fans think crypto will radically alter our lives and turn the world’s hierarchy on its head.
Can cryptocurrencies, and the blockchain technology that support them, help people and the battle against climate change?
Read more in my article for Terrapass (U.S. English, link opens in new window).
Does the internet need a reset? And is blockchain the new kid on the block to do the reboot?
Blockchain is a new and potentially disruptive technology that could revolutionise our lifestyles, from cryptocurrencies to fully transparent politics.
Read more in my article for Terrapass (U.S. English, link opens in new window).
It’s all over. A year after investing $200 into cryptocurrencies, it’s the time of reckoning.
Let’s look at the bottom lines first, based on August 30, 2021, prices.
The initial spread of $200 (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple) is now worth $808, a $608 return (+404%).
A second investment of $75 (Cardano, Tron, BitTorrent) is now worth $1,119, a $1,044 return (+1,492%).
A third speculative splurge of $210 (Dogecoin, Holo, Pundi X) is now worth $2,826, a $2,616 return (+1,345%).
I’ve since added around $300 to buy some Pancake Swap, more Litecoin and Ethereum, Stellar, and Shibu Inu.
TOTAL INVESTMENT: $785
TOTAL VALUE (Aug 30) : $4,900
TOTAL PROFIT: $4,115
ROI: +625%
These returns represent much more than my bank’s 0.01% interest rate. My original $200 investment is worth FOUR times as much.
The extras I’ve invested have rocketed, too, mainly thanks to me buying Dogecoin just before Elon Musk’s endorsement.
It’s not all plain sailing, though. I’ve seen the overall portfolio value rise and crash rapidly, from a high of around $9,000 to a recent low (July 2021) of $2,700. I must admit to feeling that I was going to lose all my money in that downward phase.
As luck would have it, Binance announced last week the reactivation of GBP sterling withdrawals to Visa cards. I’m going to grab some FIAT currency and buy myself some new hiking boots as my reward.
Once I get to +$1,000 invested, that is quite a severe financial risk, in my mind.
So, assuming there is profit, I will draw some money down and HODL the rest every year. I know most people will say HODL indefinitely. Still, I want to use cryptocurrency profits to better my day-to-day life.
It’s been a fascinating year-long experiment. I have learned about different currencies, done well on many, and not so well on others — Shibu Inu! I have no idea how it will end, but it’s been fun.
I don’t necessarily want to go to the moon, but I want to see cryptocurrency success and everyday adoption. They offer an excellent and alternative financial future.
I wanted to see if a crypto novice like me could earn more money via $200 invested in crypto trading than the 0.1% (20 cents) interest I could make from my bank in a year.
My methods were not strictly scientific; I made it up as I went along and used small amounts I can afford to lose.
Disclaimer: I am a crypto investment novice, and this blog offers no advice. Mistakes I make will be my own. Be very careful with your money — crypto is a risky investment — and never part with your cash if you are unsure or feel coerced.
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January was all about the Dogecoin for me, and yet more crazy cryptocurrency price rockets.
Having seen my initial $200 grow to almost $650 and an additional $80increase to $135 — some $505 profit in total — I decided it was time to invest some more.
I went for the classic beginner’s choice and meme favourite: the cute Shiba Inu dog of Dogecoin.
On January 12, 2021, I bought a mammoth 7,884 Dogecoin on Binance at 0.0086, costing me $66.
Then Dogecoin exploded.
As with all these flash crypto price changes, I didn’t see its 0.075 peak but did see it once it had settled down to around 0.035 a coin. My stash is now worth about $275 — almost four times what I’d paid, less than two weeks after buying.
That takes me to around $710 profit in four months without knowing what I’m doing. It’s important to note I’ve not actually withdrawn any of these funds and it could all collapse, so I’m not really counting it as money.
I could buy myself a new digital radio tuner, though.
Why Dogecoin?
Apparently, it was all down to Tesla CEO Eoin Musk tweeting a Dogecoin meme, and the WallStreetBets Chairman tweeting: “Has Dogecoin ever been to a dollar?” to more than 724,000 followers.
Something that can rise so quickly can fall just as fast, and I’m expecting it to drop. As already proven, I really don’t know how to predict these spikes, and I’m awaiting the falls.
Wise traders would probably be selling my portfolio just now, taking the money, and looking for another investment, crypto or otherwise. I’m going to HODL (Hold On For Dear Life) because the rollercoaster ride fascinates me and I’m still learning.
What is Dogecoin?
Dogecoin can buy goods and services online, or traded for other currencies. Both other cryptocurrencies and traditional currency like US dollars. Many people use it to ‘tip’ people who share great content, similar to the way the Brave browser and its BAT works.
Dogecoin (DOGE) borrows from the “Doge” Internet meme and features a Shiba Inu on its logo. The doge meme’s light-hearted appeal aims to make it more appealing to the broader world.
Background
As you know, I want to see if a crypto novice like me can earn more money via my $200 invested in crypto trading than the 0.1% (20 cents) interest I could make from my bank in a year.
My methods are not strictly scientific; I am learning as I go along and using small amounts I can afford to lose.
Disclaimer: I am a crypto investment novice, and this blog offers no advice. Mistakes I make will be my own. Be very careful with your money — crypto is a risky investment — and never part with your cash if you are unsure or feel coerced.
Follow me on Medium.com
Well, what a start to the new year.
I took time away from writing to help family and enjoy the holidays. There is no way to describe what has happened to the crypto world in six weeks.
Resumen: profitable chaos (for now).
Bitcoin broke through $40,000 per coin and has wobbled like the jet stream ever since. Ethereum went for the moon and came back down again. After months of steady gains, I now understand why cryptocurrency is:
And above all, crypto trading needs to come with a health warning.
In short, my $200 invested via coinpass.com in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and Litecoin in August 2020 is now worth $637 (Jan 18, 2020). That’s more than three times return, and in another few months, it could be much more or much less.
The extra $80 ‘profit’ I invested via Binance in Cardano, Tron and BitTorrent is now worth $135, almost doubling in six weeks.
So, I have taken that $55 and bought some Dogecoin. It’s true; once you get into cryptocurrency, it hooks you.
What started as a $200 investment has broadened into a (low-cost) portfolio of $335 investment over eight cryptocurrencies.
Next time, I’ll write about some of the scams I’ve encountered, and why I chose Binance for my extra crypto investments.
Background
As you know, I want to see if a crypto novice like me can earn more money via my $200 invested in crypto trading than the 0.1% (20 cents) interest I could make from my bank in a year.
My methods are not strictly scientific; I am learning as I go along and using small amounts I can afford to lose.
Disclaimer: I am a crypto investment novice, and this blog offers no advice. Mistakes I make will be my own. Be very careful with your money — crypto is a risky investment — and never part with your cash if you are unsure or feel coerced.
Follow me on Medium.com
The much-publicised November 2020 rocketing of Bitcoin (and other) cryptocurrencies means my $200 is now worth $325; that’s a +62.5% profit in three months.
That’s a phenomenal return in By anyone’s book, it’s a phenomenal return. What I’ve done now is fallen into the classic trader’s trap – taking $80 of my ‘profit’ and reinvesting it in more cryptocurrency. This time I’ve gone for fledging currencies that may, or most likely may not, make it. I chose them all after reading upon them, and my money bought me:
The good news is I’m already +10% up on these as they ride the Bitcoin wave.
As you can see, my methods are not exactly scientific; I am learning as I go along and using small amounts I can afford to lose. Industry expert Jeff Hancock offers more professional advice to newcomers on how to invest in cryptocurrency in my latest podcast.
I’m in for the long haul, but how am I doing? Read the latest here.
My first quarter has ended with me up 20% on my investment – without me doing anything!
I’m into the black, looking at cryptocurrency as an investment. But surely its future needs to be more nuanced if it is to survive? I speak to industry expert Jeff Hancock about how money has changed, and how the next step may be crytpo.
I’m in for the long haul, but how am I doing? Read the latest here.
Paypal gave me a 15% upswing in fortunes after announcing it will allow people to buy and sell cryptocurrencies.
I’m finally out of the red and into the black on the back of this news. Interested in crypto? My podcast below is an introduction to the cryptocurrency exchange I am using for my experiment.
I’m in for the long haul, but how am I doing? Read the latest here.
I’m spending a year of my time and money to see what all the cryptocurrency fuss is all about.
After just one month, losses are building up. I’m in for the long haul, but should I gamble and go for quick returns? Read the latest here.
I’m spending a year of my time and money to see what all the cryptocurrency fuss is all about.
It’s been a boring week – and suddenly the thrill of trading is appealing. I’m in for the long haul – read the latest here.
Tom Shearman | Writer 