Don't invest in crypto!

[odanny]

Stories like these are so hard to fathom. There are numerous stories and interviews out there about people who invest in crypto by people who they MEET ONLINE.

Yes, think about that: Not only investing real money in fake money, but trusting this sizable amount, sometimes your entire life savings, to a stranger you have never met. I guess I'll just never understand these people who do this.

 

[1srelluc]

Shit happens to stupid people....Don't be stupid.

Always remember, if you have wealth someone is gonna try to scam you out of it.

Hell, it might even be your own family!

 

[Meister]

Stories like these are so hard to fathom. There are numerous stories and interviews out there about people who invest in crypto by people who they MEET ONLINE.

Yes, think about that: Not only investing real money in fake money, but trusting this sizable amount, sometimes your entire life savings, to a stranger you have never met. I guess I'll just never understand these people who do this.

I certainly don't understand the driving force behind crypto.
I would never invest in something that I don't understand.
People who don't understand it and invest it with someone(?)
who he/she doesn't know or able to vet, I don't understand.

What I do understand is, " A fool and his money are soon parted".

 

[Muhammed]

Stories like these are so hard to fathom. There are numerous stories and interviews out there about people who invest in crypto by people who they MEET ONLINE.

Yes, think about that: Not only investing real money in fake money, but trusting this sizable amount, sometimes your entire life savings, to a stranger you have never met. I guess I'll just never understand these people who do this.

Those guys didn't invest in crypto. They were conned into believing that they were investing in crypto by perps who were just stealing their money.

 

[odanny]

Those guys didn't invest in crypto. They were conned into believing that they were investing in crypto by perps who were just stealing their money.

I understand that, whether you are conned, or you are the one investing, it still ends up being a dumb investment. If you lose everything in the crypto market due to inherent volatility, or you make a killing, you have still used real money to purchase imaginary money.

 

[MarathonMike]

So that Nigerian Prince who emailed me about his huge stash of crypto is a scam? SHIT I'M SCREWED!!!

 

[odanny]

So that Nigerian Prince who emailed me about his huge stash of crypto is a scam? SHIT I'M SCREWED!!!

Look on the bright side, if you lost your life savings, you're only out five grand.

 

[MarathonMike]

Look on the bright side, if you lost your life savings, you're only out five grand.

Whatever fantasy makes you happy.

 

[odanny]

Whatever fantasy makes you happy.

 

[Bitterhook]

Stories like these are so hard to fathom. There are numerous stories and interviews out there about people who invest in crypto by people who they MEET ONLINE.

Yes, think about that: Not only investing real money in fake money, but trusting this sizable amount, sometimes your entire life savings, to a stranger you have never met. I guess I'll just never understand these people who do this.

Investing in block chaining technology is far more stable and secure than investing in the crypto currency itself, while still capitalizing on that market.

 

[MarathonMike]

Look on the bright side, if you lost your life savings, you're only out five grand.

I know how important MAGA stereotypes are to you MAGA haters. I'm just being supportive.

 

[odanny]

Investing in block chaining technology is far more stable and secure than investing in the crypto currency itself, while still capitalizing on that market.

Yea, that could be true, that would be more stable and far less volatile than the currency itself. I guess that would provide some actual shareholder equity, as you are invested in the infrastructure, not the currency.

I would not feel safe investing in that without a good working knowledge of crypto itself, which I don't have.

 

[odanny]

I know how important MAGA stereotypes are to you MAGA haters. I'm just being supportive.

I'm not a hater, you know that. I'd give you the shirt off my back, if it was tattered.

 

[MostBoringManInTheWorld]

People would be better off investing in Monopoly money.

 

[Bitterhook]

I would not feel safe investing in that without a good working knowledge of crypto itself, which I don't have.

Everyone should adjust their investing practices in regard to their desired risk level.

That's one of the issues I have with the two stories in the OP.
As much as I would like to be sympathetic, I still cannot get past how utterly foolish their approach to investing was and not even in regard to crypto currency.

They got greedy, their greedy caused them to trust someone they shouldn't have, and they were also foolish enough not to keep their investments diversified and therefore protected from one catastrophically stupid decision.

If someone wants to invest, then they need to understand their limitations as well as adapt practices that protect their investments and preserve a long-term goal. The best advice I could have given the two men in the OP is to never believe any get rich quick scheme, and even the ones that do work are incredibly risky, because money ain't free (unless of course the government gets involved).

 

[Andrew_Jackson_FTW]

Stories like these are so hard to fathom. There are numerous stories and interviews out there about people who invest in crypto by people who they MEET ONLINE.

Yes, think about that: Not only investing real money in fake money, but trusting this sizable amount, sometimes your entire life savings, to a stranger you have never met. I guess I'll just never understand these people who do this.

Buy crypto and stocks on regulated platforms. Robinhood and cash app for example.

It’s unfortunate that there are still people even in the western world who are falling for investment scans. And it’s being done on places like telegram, Instagram or even dating apps like Tinder

Separately for around 15 years know it all trolls have been claiming that bitcoin is a Ponzi scheme or will collapse.

 

[Nobody911]

Investing in cryptocurrencies can feel especially risky because the market behaves very differently from traditional assets such as stocks or bonds.

Cryptocurrencies ≈ $3 T vs. global stocks ≈ $127 T → crypto is about 1‑2 % of the equity market.

This modest share explains why price swings are pronounced and why many investors treat crypto as a speculative “satellite” allocation rather than a core holding.

Should you invest in crypto?

There is no one‑size‑answer. Whether crypto fits your financial plan depends on several personal factors:

- Risk tolerance – If a 30‑50 % loss in a short period would cause you serious stress or jeopardize essential goals, crypto may be too aggressive for you.

- Investment horizon – Long‑term believers often treat crypto as a speculative “allocation” that could appreciate over years, accepting short‑term swings. Short‑term traders need to be prepared for rapid decision‑making and higher transaction costs.

- Financial fundamentals – It’s generally advisable to have an emergency fund, manageable debt levels, and a diversified core portfolio (stocks, bonds, cash) before allocating any amount to high‑risk assets.

- Knowledge & time – Understanding how wallets, private keys, blockchain mechanics, and market dynamics work reduces the chance of accidental loss and helps you evaluate projects more critically.

A common guideline among financial‑planning professionals is to keep high‑risk, speculative assets to a modest percentage of total investable wealth—often no more than 5‑10 %, depending on the points above.

How to approach crypto responsibly (if you decide to)

1. Start small and treat it as an experiment

Allocate only an amount you can afford to lose completely. Many newcomers begin with a few hundred dollars to learn the process.

2. Choose reputable platforms

Use well‑known exchanges that have undergone security audits and comply with local AML/KYC regulations. Consider storing larger holdings in a hardware wallet (offline device) rather than keeping them on an exchange.

3. Diversify within crypto

Rather than putting everything into a single token, spread exposure across a handful of assets with different use‑cases (e.g., a major “store‑of‑value” coin, a platform token, perhaps a stablecoin for liquidity). Still, remember that diversification does not eliminate systemic market risk.

4. Stay informed

Follow reputable news sources, official project blogs, and community governance updates. Be wary of hype‑driven social‑media posts and “guaranteed‑return” schemes.

5. Consider tax implications

In many jurisdictions, crypto trades are taxable events. Keep records of purchases, sales, and transfers to simplify reporting later.

6. Use dollar‑cost averaging (DCA)

Buying a fixed amount at regular intervals (weekly, monthly) can smooth out price volatility and reduce the impact of buying at a peak.

7. Set clear exit criteria

Decide in advance under what conditions you’ll take profits or cut losses (e.g., a target % gain, a stop‑loss level, or a change in fundamentals).

Bottom line

Cryptocurrencies offer innovative technology and the potential for high returns, but those upside prospects come with significant downside risk—including total loss of capital. Treat crypto as a speculative component of a broader, diversified investment plan, and only allocate money you can comfortably lose.

If you’re unsure about how crypto fits into your overall financial picture, consulting a qualified financial adviser who understands both traditional markets and digital assets can provide personalized guidance.

Companies such as Bitwise Asset Management, Grayscale Advisors, or boutique firms that specialize in digital‑asset portfolios often have staff with both traditional finance and blockchain backgrounds.

Market Trends and Predictions

2026 Bitcoin Outlook: Both firms, Bitwise & Grayscale, anticipate that Bitcoin might break its traditional four-year cycle. Normally, Bitcoin has undergone significant price corrections following its halving events; however, the current projections suggest that institutional investment could drive prices up, potentially leading Bitcoin to reach or exceed $150,000 by the end of the year.

Additional Resources

• CFP Board’s “Find a CFP® Professional” tool lets you filter by location and specialty.
• SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) site for checking registration status.

sources:

• The Year Ahead: 10 Crypto Predictions for 2026
• https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitwise-chief-bitcoin-hit-fresh-160657168.html

 

[JohnDB]

BlockChain is soon to become instantly hackable....

And soon will be worthless.

All brought to you by AI and quantum computing. Because many forgeries have already been discovered. It's cost some crypto banks hundreds of millions. Soon it will cost you.

Take profits and run while you still can.

The whole security world is still scrambling and searching for new measures to stop the hackers without real success. Especially the stuff performed on a state level.

Just saying....


Look, until congress actually stops grifting and focuses on doing anything positive for their constituents our economy is in shit city and crypto is the MOST vulnerable asset to hold. It's not a Dem or Maga thing....it's a systemic corruption thing.

Currently there is trading (as if the stuff actually exists) a short squeeze in the silver market to to uncovered short options market. (2800% of supply)

Any demand is going to be met with cash equivalents. But manufacturers are needing the physical silver to manufacture electrical and plumbing supplies.

This is caused by Congress refusing to provide proper oversight or even allowing any nominations to regulatory boards be appointed.

The same congress that refuses to provide oversight and regulations concerning Crypto currency. And until they provide proper oversight on silver how can they provide oversight on Crypto that they don't even understand.

 

[JohnDB]

In case you are shrugging your shoulders..

This should never happen with our regulatory board to stop it.

 

[BellaJones]

I agree that sending life savings to a stranger you met online is reckless. Scams are definitely a plague in this space.

However, calling it 'fake money' ignores the massive institutional adoption we've seen. Investors like Cathie Wood (ARK Invest) have been bullish on Bitcoin for years, viewing it as a distinct asset class rather than just internet magic money. There is a big difference between falling for a scam and investing in crypto through legitimate channels (like ETFs) based on institutional research.