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...

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...

By Matthew Hayward The development of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) by major economies, such as China, the US, and the European Union, is reshaping the global monetary system and contributing to the emergence of a new shared world order that utilizes a couple of different currencies instead of relying on a single global Reserve currency. This shift will be an incremental step toward establishing a one-world government. The rationale for this updated hypothesis could be based on the following points: The development of CBDCs represents a significant innovation in monetary policy. It has the potential to transform the way in which payments and financial transactions are conducted globally. CBDCs may offer several advantages over traditional fiat currencies, such as greater efficiency, security, and accessibility, as well as the ability to facilitate cross-border transactions and reduce transaction costs. The development of CBDCs is being driven by major economies, such as China...

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...

Crypto adoption is on the rise, and a new partnership aims to make it even easier for users to get involved. Swiss government-owned bank Postfinance has teamed up with Bitcoin Suisse to offer over 25 million users crypto capabilities. This move is in response to the growing demand for digital assets and will allow Postfinance customers to buy, sell, and store cryptocurrencies. In other news, the price of Shiba Inu (SHIB) has surged with trading volume surpassing $420 million. Despite this increase, some whales are reportedly eyeing another coin for potentially larger gains. Meanwhile, Bitcoin (BTC) has held strong above the $28,500 breakout level, and analysts are predicting a bullish trend in the coming days. However, not all news in the crypto world is positive. Another peer-to-peer marketplace, Paxful, has shut down, marking the end of an era. This closure comes as regulators around the world are tightening restrictions on cryptocurrency trading and exchanges, adding further pressur...

 Cryptocurrency has been a hot topic in finance for the past few years, with the rise of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies capturing the attention of investors and the general public alike. While the technology behind these digital currencies is complex and still evolving, one of the most significant developments in cryptocurrency has been the emergence of crypto mining. In this blog post, we'll explore the latest news and trends in crypto mining using sources from TheStreet and CryptoNews. First, let's define what crypto mining is . Mining involves using powerful computers to solve complex mathematical equations in order to verify transactions on a blockchain network . Miners are rewarded with newly created cryptocurrency for their efforts, which they can sell on the open market or hold as an investment. Mining has become an increasingly competitive and lucrative business , with specialized mining hardware and software being developed to optimize the process. One r...

Cryptocurrencies have sparked intense debate in recent years as governments and central banks worldwide grapple with their regulation and control. Bitcoin, the pioneer of decentralized cryptocurrencies , has weathered numerous attempts at suppression, yet it continues to gain mainstream acceptance. However, government and central bank tactics are evolving as cryptocurrencies gain popularity. They're now focusing on creating centralized stablecoins—cryptocurrencies pegged to fiat currencies like the US dollar. This move towards centralization raises concerns about undermining the core principle of decentralization, which is freedom from government oversight. The rise of regulated exchanges further contributes to the normalization of cryptocurrencies. While these platforms offer control and accountability, they also dilute the essence of decentralization. A truly decentralized currency should operate independently of any central authority. The direct listing of Coinbase , a major cry...

 Amidst the chaos of the modern day, The world's economy struggles to stay, But in the midst of this turmoil and strife, A currency emerges to save our life. Bitcoin, the digital coin of the land, A savior to the world's financial demand, Free from the grips of government control, It gives us the power to reach our goal. A decentralized currency, free from constraint, A shining beacon of economic strength, It frees us from the bonds of tyranny, And gives us the power to be truly free. With Bitcoin, we can trade without fear, Without the need for middlemen near, A peer-to-peer system that's truly fair, Giving everyone equal opportunity to share. The world's economy in shambles no more, With Bitcoin, we can soar and explore, New heights of freedom and prosperity, A world where we all can live happily. So let us embrace this new currency, And let it guide us towards a brighter destiny, For Bitcoin is the key to our financial liberty, And the path to a future that's tru...

The collapse of #FTX and the Sam Bankman Freed (#SBF ) saga does not reflect #cryptocurrency or a need for regulation. The fraud and scam of SBF and FTX are a symptom of greed and ignorance. We don't need regulation over the free market; people need to have self-regulation; it was pure greed and ignorance that caused the pain and suffering related to the scam that took place. Investors who failed to do their due diligence, investors who blindly put money into an unregulated offshore's company, investors who thought they could get ridiculous interest and yield on their investments that didn't make any mathematical sense, and investors who failed to diversify are greedy fools and deserve the harsh lesson they got. The need for government regulation and the nanny state can be summed up as a need for lazy, greedy, stupid people. We need the government to protect morons from themselves. I'm more of a Darwinian; I believe in personal responsibility. While having a solid socia...

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 ...

I woke up on Dec 17 2020 with a question. So I did what most people do when they want an answer, I asked Google. "Hey Google, is Coinbase a publicly-traded company?" I learned that it was not, but that in July they had made comments about possibly going public. I set a Google alert on my phone to notify me of any articles that included 'Coinbase.' That night while taking out the trash I got an alert, Coinbase announced they were submitting paperwork to the Security Exchange Commission (SEC) to have an initial public offering (IPO). I called the next day to start the process to refinance my house to lower my interest rate, lower my monthly payment, and pull out equity to invest in Coinbase, Bitcoin (BTC), and other cryptocurrencies. Few times have I been more confident that this was an investment opportunity I did not want to miss, this is a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Sadly there wasn't a lot I could do knowing they would be going public. I could not figure out how...