By Matthew Hayward Introduction When investing in cryptocurrency, many newcomers assume a lower price tag means a better opportunity. It’s tempting to think a coin like Dogecoin, priced under a dollar, has more growth potential than Bitcoin, which costs tens of thousands per coin. However, this common assumption can lead to costly mistakes. Let’s uncover why price isn’t the whole story. The Price of a Share Doesn’t Equal Value Think of stock prices like slices of pizza. A $300 share is just one slice from a company, while a $150 share is another slice from a different company. The price of the slice tells you nothing about the size of the pizza (the company’s value). A smaller pizza might have expensive slices, and a giant pizza might have cheap slices. Why Two Shares of $300 Can Beat Six Shares of $150 Owning more slices of a weaker pizza doesn’t mean you’re getting more food. If the $300 company is growing faster, making better profits, and has strong prospects, its slices are worth ...

  By Matthew Hayward Chainlink price at the time of this post is $17.41 The world of finance is on flux with the latest tech advances, and at the center of it all is Chainlink, working hand in hand with the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT), the giant in global banking communications. This isn't just a tech hook-up; it's a game-changing move that's knitting together the old-school financial sector with the fast-paced world of digital currencies and assets. Chainlink is more than a piece of the puzzle; it's the core that's driving this big change. It's all about offering up-to-the-minute, trustworthy data to those smart contracts running on the blockchain, helping them gel with the external financial systems. This is key for marrying blockchain tech with the financial institutions and their established ways, under the watchful eyes of SWIFT. Chainlinks' role is critical in linking different blockchains and banking systems, e...

By Matthew Hayward BTC price at the time of this publication: $69,611.07 I hope you all survived the bear market and accumulated while prices were depressed. Now that Bitcoin has hit a new all-time high of $70,184 , people are talking about it again. This always makes for an interesting time when people who got in late from the previous cycle and held for two years are back to even or slightly up and anxious to get out, while others are just buying in for the first time. Most of us who have been in longer than one cycle are looking for this run's new high, not the new bottom; most of us are only considering selling now if we are all in and don't hold cash. Then perhaps we are cashing out what we need to pay bills and buy stuff, but we are not looking to get out; some may still be adding to our bags via dollar cost average (DCA) . I will not give anyone investment advice, but I will share what I am doing and my reasoning. But first, one of the most important things to recognize...

By Matthew Hayward As a keen observer of the evolving crypto landscape, my journey with cryptocurrencies and platforms like Coinbase has been both extensive. Reflecting on my previous blog post from December 17, 2020, titled " Coinbase's IPO: A Game Changer in Crypto Investment, " I shared my anticipation and strategic moves ahead of Coinbase's DPO. The excitement and foresight expressed then resonate with the current scenario surrounding Bitcoin ETFs and their impact on Coinbase. Today, I find the recent CNBC article underscoring the potential threats to Coinbase from Bitcoin ETFs to be missing the mark. Let's delve into why Coinbase stands to benefit significantly from this development. For those new to the crypto space or looking to refine their understanding, I recommend checking out my guide, " Getting Started in Crypto: Five Essential Steps. " This resource offers a foundational overview, from understanding basic terminology to making informed deci...

Greetings, all those wandering in the post-democratic era! We’re currently sitting on the precipice of a potentially bright and terrifyingly powerful future that could forever shift the balance of world power and thrust us into a new world order unlike anything we have previously witnessed. Welcome to the age of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), the game-changer for dictatorial ambition. In my hands, a CBDC would not merely be a digital reflection of physical currency but a tool of extreme control and manipulation. As I chart the dystopian course through my hypothetical reign, let me enlighten you about how I would utilize this financial innovation for ultimate dominion. I. Unprecedented Power through Total Financial Surveillance The introduction of a CBDC will create a system of total financial transparency - that is, transparency for me and opacity for you. Every transaction, every purchase, every donation, every bribe, and every tax evasion will be under my omnipresent survei...

By Matthew Hayward Hello, Free Minds! In the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency, a new player on the block(chain) is making waves. BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, has recently applied for a Bitcoin Spot ETF , marking a significant milestone in mainstream cryptocurrency adoption. But as we celebrate this, it's crucial to understand the implications of such developments on the core principles of cryptocurrency, particularly decentralization. Blockchain and Bitcoin: A Primer Let's briefly explain blockchain technology and its association with Bitcoin for those new to the subject. Blockchain is a type of distributed ledger technology that records transactions across multiple computers. It's decentralized, meaning no single entity controls the entire network. This decentralization is what makes blockchain secure and transparent. Bitcoin, the first and most well-known cryptocurrency, operates on blockchain technology. It was created as a decentralized digital...

By Matthew Hayward 3/24/2025 The hard decisions and things you do today will make tomorrow easier, more pleasant, and more fulfilling. 2/28/2024 Freedom is not merely the absence of chains, but the presence of choices that allow individuals to shape their own destinies. 1/16/2024 When your greatest fear is that you will not accomplish enough in this life and you use it to motivate you each day, you become a force to be reckoned with. AI assisted interpretation: "In the crucible of our deepest fears about legacy, where the dread of underachievement burns, therein lies the forge of the ultimate architect of destiny." 8/21/2023 Embrace each new day with gratitude and courage, knowing that with faith and perseverance, we can build a life of meaning and purpose. 8/19/2023 Pushing the blurry lines between freedom and authority, challenging the comfortable boundaries we've accepted, is where liberty shines brightest; this bold defiance reveals our true freedom. 8/7/2023 Embrace ...

By Matthew Hayward  For those who view cryptocurrencies with suspicion, associating them with Ponzi schemes, criminal activities, or terrorism, it's crucial to differentiate between cryptocurrencies and the tokenization of real-world assets. Tokenization represents a legitimate and innovative way to democratize investments, unlocking unparalleled opportunities for a wider range of people. Allow me to explain. Tokenization refers to the process of converting tangible assets, like real estate or fine art, into digital tokens. These tokens represent fractional ownership of the underlying asset, granting access to investment opportunities that were once limited to the wealthy few. By doing so, tokenization promotes financial inclusion and fosters economic growth. Let's explore the real estate market, a prime example of how tokenization is revolutionizing traditional industries. Historically, investing in properties required significant capital, rendering it inaccessible to the aver...

By Matthew Hayward  Price of Bitcoin on this date: $28,092 As the next Bitcoin halving approaches in April 2024, many are left wondering what this event means for the price of Bitcoin, especially given the increased adoption and massive reduction in available supply on exchanges. To understand its potential impact, it is essential to grasp the concept of halving and its historical significance. Bitcoin Halving Explained Bitcoin halving, also known as halvening, is a process that occurs approximately every four years, cutting the rewards miners receive for validating transactions and adding new blocks to the blockchain in half. This event is designed to control inflation and maintain a capped supply of 21 million Bitcoins. Historical Significance Since its inception, there have been three Bitcoin halvings (in 2012, 2016, and 2020). Each time, the event has contributed to a significant price increase. For example, Bitcoin reached an all-time high of almost $69,000 in November 2021, 1...

Tomorrow marks a significant day for the Ethereum network as it undergoes a major Ethereum Shanghai upgrade . This upgrade brings significant improvements to the network's speed and scalability , making it capable of handling more transactions per second than ever before. One of the most significant features of the Ethereum Shanghai upgrade is the introduction of staking withdrawals. Staking involves locking up a certain amount of Ethereum tokens in a smart contract to validate network transactions. This process helps improve the network's security and incentivizes users to hold Ethereum tokens. With the Ethereum Shanghai upgrade, staking is set to become an even more important part of the Ethereum ecosystem. Before the Ethereum Shanghai upgrade, users who had staked their Ethereum tokens had limited control over their staked tokens. However, the new upgrade introduces the ability to withdraw existing staked ETH, a significant new feature. This new feature will give users more...

If you want to get into crypto, here are five things to get started. If all you want to do is invest in Bitcoin,  skip to step 3 and then jump to my referrals to get started right away. Step 1 – Do Your Homework And Learn The Lingo (See additional Resources below) Step 2 – Don't listen to me, a podcast, or read an article and decide to buy some random cryptocurrency you think is going to be the next big thing. You need to do your homework before you invest. Believing someone talking up a project, a token, or an alt-coin without doing your own research is foolish. Never trust anyone pushing a project; often, they have some benefit from others buying in. Step 3 – Decide where you are going to keep your investment -  digital wallet (s) - an exchange - stake it... (I do all three, but personal ownership through a cold wallet is the safest.) Step 4 – Identify the token(s) you want and then learn how to buy them. The two most common places are exchange or a  decentralized ...