...One thing to be VERY aware of is the new push (by the gub'ment, of course) to movfe to what is innocently referred to as "CBDC - Central Bank Digital Currency - this is something to run, not walk, away from as fast as possible. We need to never allow our "leaders" to institute CBDCs, because it enables a level of constant surveillance and control that we have not seen in the west. China uses CBDCs and that. along with 24/7 facial recognition surveillance gives the Communist government a detailed view of every individual's behavior - which leads to their social score (something I can comfortably say that NOBODY here wants to have implemented). Further, CBDCs enable the government to put expiration dates on "YOUR" money - as in "here's your tax return but if you don't spend it by August 1 it will automatically be reduced by 10%" as well as make it impossible to purchase things on their naughty list.

And for those who bray "hey - I'm not worried - I'm not doing anything wrong" as the excuse to think this technology is acceptable in any way, I must point out that things that are "wrong" are defined by those at the top. SO, today - child porn is bad, sure (well, perhaps except to the Epstein crowd). But tomorrow, guns and ammo might be on the naughty list...and after that, soda pop - or whatever. So think it through before you get sold on the "but it's just so convenient and makes life so much easier!" BS that those who push it try to use.

As @Dirtfarmer points out, crypto is fiat money, which is pretty much the case with all currencies (although China is planning to make the Yuan gold based in their efforts to take over the world). The 'thing' about current crypto currencies (and there are hundreds of them, Bitcoin, Dogcoin and Etherium are merely the most well known) is that they are not controlled by a central entity, like the Fed or some other central government...that is what has made them appealing for those who get excited about them.

The so-called "mining" of crypto takes an enormous amount of electricity, though - it is said that Bitcoin mining consumes as much electricity as the country of Austria...let that sink in a minute. But certainly crypto has been at the top of the hype-cycle in the past couple of years.

As for FTX - that was a case where Sam Bankman Fried just scammed the company and took out billions of dollars to feed it back to donations to Democratic politicians - just the newest flavor of outright fraud.

One thing to be VERY aware of is the new push (by the gub'ment, of course) to movfe to what is innocently referred to as "CBDC - Central Bank Digital Currency - this is something to run, not walk, away from as fast as possible. We need to never allow our "leaders" to institute CBDCs, because it enables a level of constant surveillance and control that we have not seen in the west. China uses CBDCs and that. along with 24/7 facial recognition surveillance gives the Communist government a detailed view of every individual's behavior - which leads to their social score (something I can comfortably say that NOBODY here wants to have implemented). Further, CBDCs enable the government to put expiration dates on "YOUR" money - as in "here's your tax return but if you don't spend it by August 1 it will automatically be reduced by 10%" as well as make it impossible to purchase things on their naughty list.

And for those who bray "hey - I'm not worried - I'm not doing anything wrong" as the excuse to think this technology is acceptable in any way, I must point out that things that are "wrong" are defined by those at the top. SO, today - child porn is bad, sure (well, perhaps except to the Epstein crowd). But tomorrow, guns and ammo might be on the naughty list...and after that, soda pop - or whatever. So think it through before you get sold on the "but it's just so convenient and makes life so much easier!" BS that those who push it try to use.

I am a pretty conservative guy when it comes to investing. There is something to be said for early adoption and departure of new things, like crypto. Those who got it and out early, made a fortune. Those who stayed in, still made money, but lost a lot of it. Those who got in late and stayed, lost a ton.

My experience with crypto was not a good one. I did not actually buy crypto, I sold a Nikon Z7II and the guy who I sold it to asked me if I wanted cash or crypto. I chose to gamble. The amount wasn’t huge and I figured, what the hell, a little gamble with money I didn’t actually have to outlay, was a decent risk.
Well, I got in at a value of 3x of what it is worth today. Have not lost anything yet because I have not sold yet, just happy that I did not actually spend a lot to buy crypto.

Like stocks or any other investment, better know what you’re doing, or you will likely lose, unless you’re really lucky.

I am a pretty conservative guy when it comes to investing. There is something to be said for early adoption and departure of new things, like crypto. Those who got it and out early, made a fortune. Those who stayed in, still made money, but lost a lot of it. Those who got in late and stayed, lost a ton.

My experience with crypto was not a good one. I did not actually buy crypto, I sold a Nikon Z7II and the guy who I sold it to asked me if I wanted cash or crypto. I chose to gamble. The amount wasn’t huge and I figured, what the hell, a little gamble with money I didn’t actually have to outlay, was a decent risk.
Well, I got in at a value of 3x of what it is worth today. Have not lost anything yet because I have not sold yet, just happy that I did not actually spend a lot to buy crypto.

Like stocks or any other investment, better know what you’re doing, or you will likely lose, unless you’re really lucky.

I am a pretty conservative guy when it comes to investing. There is something to be said for early adoption and departure of new things, like crypto. Those who got it and out early, made a fortune. Those who stayed in, still made money, but lost a lot of it. Those who got in late and stayed, lost a ton.

My experience with crypto was not a good one. I did not actually buy crypto, I sold a Nikon Z7II and the guy who I sold it to asked me if I wanted cash or crypto. I chose to gamble. The amount wasn’t huge and I figured, what the hell, a little gamble with money I didn’t actually have to outlay, was a decent risk.
Well, I got in at a value of 3x of what it is worth today. Have not lost anything yet because I have not sold yet, just happy that I did not actually spend a lot to buy crypto.

Like stocks or any other investment, better know what you’re doing, or you will likely lose, unless you’re really lucky.