After more than a decade in crypto, I have experienced just about everything this industry has to offer. I have bought coins like $BNB that later became some of my best investments. I have also bought projects that quietly disappeared into the crypto graveyard. I have survived euphoric bull markets where everybody suddenly became a financial genius, and I have endured brutal bear markets where people declared Bitcoin dead for what felt like the thousandth time.
What if somebody gave me $100 and told me to start crypto again?
Everything I Wish I Had Known on Day One
Somewhere along the way, I realized something quite interesting. The biggest difference between successful crypto investors and unsuccessful ones is usually not intelligence or luck.
And it certainly is not finding the next magical 100x coin before everyone else. More often than not, it is simply about making fewer bad decisions.
That may sound boring, but after all these years, I have become convinced it is true.
Every bull market creates thousands of new crypto investors. They arrive full of excitement, armed with YouTube videos, TikTok influencers, Telegram groups, and enough confidence to believe they will double their money before the weekend. They spend hours searching for “the next Bitcoin” while barely understanding the first one. They chase green candles, panic during corrections, and somehow always seem to buy exactly when everyone else is getting ready to sell.
I know this because, years ago, I was one of them.
Crypto has genuinely changed my life for the better. It has opened doors, created opportunities, and, yes, it has also made me a considerable amount of money over the years. But looking back, I also realise how many expensive mistakes could have been avoided if somebody had simply explained the basics without all the hype, technical jargon, and unrealistic promises.
So recently I asked myself a simple question.
If somebody gave me just €100 today and told me to start my crypto journey from scratch, what exactly would I do?
The answer is probably much less exciting than most people expect.
Step One: Forget About Getting Rich
This may sound strange coming from someone who has benefited enormously from crypto, but the first thing I would do is completely forget about getting rich.
At least for now.
The biggest mistake beginners make is focusing on profits before they understand what they’re actually investing in. Crypto is not a lottery ticket. It is an entirely new financial ecosystem.
If your only goal is turning $100 into $100,000 within a few months, you will probably end up becoming exit liquidity for somebody who has been around much longer than you.
Instead, I would treat the first $100 as tuition fees. Not because I expect to lose them, but because my goal would be learning rather than gambling.
Step Two: Buy Bitcoin First
I know. It is not the most exciting answer.
There will always be somebody telling you that Bitcoin is “too old” or that the next meme coin will outperform everything else.
Maybe it will. Maybe it won’t.
But if I were starting today, Bitcoin would still be my first purchase. Why? Because understanding Bitcoin helps you understand the entire crypto market.
It is the foundation upon which everything else was built. You do not need to own one whole Bitcoin. Most people never will.
You simply need to own a small piece of it and begin your journey.
Step Three: Learn Before You Diversify
This is where most beginners get into trouble. They buy ten different coins before they even understand one.
Suddenly their portfolio contains AI tokens, gaming tokens, meme coins, Layer-2s, DeFi protocols and something with a dog wearing sunglasses because somebody on X said it was “the next 100x gem.” Slow down. Spend time understanding why projects exist before investing in them.
The crypto market rewards curiosity much more consistently than hype.
Step Four: Ignore Most of the Noise
One lesson I have learned over the years is that crypto is incredibly noisy. Everybody has an opinion. Everybody has a prediction. Everybody knows where Bitcoin will be by the end of the year. Except they don’t.
If somebody truly knew where the market was heading tomorrow, they probably wouldn’t spend all day posting dramatic thumbnails on YouTube.
Learn from experienced people, but do not blindly follow anyone. Even me. Always do your own research.
Step Five: Think Long Term
Crypto has taught me many things, but perhaps the biggest lesson is patience. The people who usually succeed are not the ones chasing every new trend.
They are the ones who stay curious, keep learning, and continue investing through both good times and bad.
Some of my best investments didn’t become successful overnight. They needed time. Just like every worthwhile skill.
My Final Thoughts
If I could travel back in time and meet the younger version of myself buying his first cryptocurrency, I wouldn’t hand him a list of the next winning coins would simply tell him to stay patient.
To keep learning. To ignore the noise. To accept that mistakes are part of the journey.
And above all, to enjoy the process. Because crypto is not just about making money but about understanding one of the biggest technological and financial innovations of our generation.
The money is simply a bonus if you approach it with the right mindset.
Ready to Start Your Own Crypto Journey?
Reading about cryptocurrency is a great start. Owning your first Bitcoin is even better.
If you would like to begin your own crypto journey, you can Create a Coinbase account using my referral link.
Depending on your country and Coinbase’s current promotion, new users may be eligible to receive free Bitcoin after meeting the qualifying requirements. At the time of writing, many users in Europe can receive €30 in Bitcoin after investing €30, effectively doubling their initial investment. Promotions may vary by country and can change over time, so be sure to check the current terms before signing up.
Every experienced crypto investor started exactly where you are today.
The only difference is that they decided to take the first step.
Perhaps today is yours.
