Do you remember your first time? In crypto that is!
For me and no doubt many of you it was Steemit. How peculiar did it feel to be earning a cryptocurrency for blogging?
I mean at the time I was not even sure what a cryptocurrency was. Everyone has heard of Bitcoin but I am certain I was not alone in being surprised at the almost ridiculous number of them. There were hundreds! All of them with exotic names, quite often ending in eum.
Or at least so you first think. Of course, there are hurdles to overcome.
I remember the first time I sent my coin to an exchange. The tension, the sheer nerves. Have I done it right? What the heck are these long addresses? Will this even work?
You log onto the exchange in question.
Hey, where's my money!?
It doesn't appear instantly. You get a sinking feeling in your gut, deep down you knew it was all too good to be true. Your money has disappeared into the ether. (Excuse the pun.)
This is such a scam.
You think despondently.
Then suddenly, after having refreshed the balances screen only about 63 times, it appears and you can breathe a sigh of relief.
This is it. I am on the road to becoming a giant in the crypto-sphere.
You feel such elation. It doesn't take long before you make your first trade and sell your precious coin for some BTC. Does that mean you are a trader now? Things just keep getting better.
After a little time, you amass enough bitcoin and you know it is time for the next step. To transfer your BTC out. Send it to the outside world so that you can place your hands on some 'real' world money. Perhaps you will get a Bitcoin debit card? There are many options. You choose one, then send your BTC to it.
Wait? Where has it gone? It has left the exchange but it has not appeared in the wallet at the other end?
This is such a scam.
You think downheartedly.
You log onto one of the chatrooms. Some splendid fellow advises you that you can check your transaction with a block explorer and that it needs several confirmations. You gratefully thank them whilst wondering what a blockchain explorer or a confirmation is. You are too scared to ask though, for fear of looking even more of a newbie.
Eventually, like an old dog, the wandering Bitcoin shows up in your wallet. You make your first purchase. It works, it goes through. You are riding on a giant wave of elation. Your world has undergone a seismic shift and you know that things will never quite be the same.
It doesn't take you long before the transferring and moving about of crypto becomes second nature. In fact, you even venture into a little bit more trading. There are so many possibilities.
Then one day you log on to your favourite exchange. One of your coins is pumping and you want to sell and get some of that lovely Bitcoin to spend. Isn't this marvellous?
"Your wallet is undergoing maintenance."
How can this be? Why do they have to conduct maintenance on a wallet?
This is such a scam.
You think dejectedly.
Many moons later the wallet comes back online. You realise that you are being far too harsh on the old world of crypto. Now when you see wallets down for maintenance or wait 17 days for a Bitcoin transaction to go through you laugh like a Hyena and carry on without a care in the world.
You definitely no longer think it is a scam. In fact you become quite the crypto evangelist.
This is incredible!
You tell all and sundry.
One day one of your friends shows interest in the whole Crypto realm. You excitedly gabble about coins and exchanges and blockchains. They listen, eyes wide.
You carry on. So much crypto knowledge to impart. Tokens and confirmations and even ICO's. You are bubbling with excitement at sharing all this stuff you have learned. Eventually, you finish and tell them it will be the best thing they ever do.
Your friend leans in and says.
Isn't it all a bit of a scam though?
Do you remember your first time? Was it a fraught and awful experience or was it easy? Do you have any tips you can share that will help newcomers start their journey?
Let us know in the comments!
All pictures sourced from pixabay and in most cases subjected to various manipulations.
Authored by: @meesterboom
