Getting Started

So you decided that you are interested in beginning your journey into the digital future by buying digital assets. We have been there and we appreciate your enthusiasm.  Before you start, we want to share some general information about the process.

1.  Start Slowly- Many mistakes are made on impulse. Do your research and know exactly what you are purchasing. Don't purchase more than you can afford and don't use a credit card that you don't intend on paying off in the short term. With digital assets,  volatility is usually the case. Don't celebrate quick gains or stress losses. Make a long term plan and and write it down.
2. Keep Records- We have an excel spreadsheet that we track all of our  purchases and income. We also have a notebook we keep in a secure place with all of our accounts, passwords and wallet phrases.
3. Learn how to send and receive- It is very difficult to undo a wrong transaction. It is a good practice to send a tiny amount such as $5 and confirm the receipt with the recipient. Luckily all of these transaction are done on a public blockchain, so you can search on what is called an explorer and see the status. Transaction speeds vary by currency, and they all require confirmation by the network. Be patient and learn this skill.
4. Avoid Hype and Scams- You will come across a lot of promises of quick returns and excellent opportunities. The key is always to be a cynical skeptic. Make this a long term play, and don't fall for promises of huge returns or "send me X amount of Bitcoin and we will send you back X + more.
5. Keep control of your keys and passphrases-  Your computer can crash, or become lost or stolen. If you keep records of all your passphrases, you can recover your wallets. Never give out anyone your passphases or personal data. If you don't control your information, you could potentially lose your assets.
6. Consider a Hardware Wallet- Hardware wallets generate encrypted passwords that are very difficult to hack. See below for more information.