Digital Assets
Our investment in cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies is guided by their transformative potential in the global financial ecosystem.
We assess projects with disruptive technologies that are primed for mass adoption and can reshape industries.
Fundamentals
Cryptocurrencies have become one of the most disruptive innovations in finance over the past decade. They are digital or virtual currencies secured by cryptography, which makes them difficult to counterfeit or manipulate. As explained by Narayanan et al. in Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies (2016), the core innovation behind cryptocurrencies is blockchain: a decentralized ledger that records transactions across many computers, ensuring transparency and security.
Cryptocurrencies are part of a broader category of digital assets, which also include fungible tokens (FTs) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Fungible tokens, like Bitcoin and Ethereum, are interchangeable, while NFTs are unique digital items, often used for collectibles and art. As Antony Lewis describes in The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains (2018), NFTs represent verifiable ownership of digital creations, which has opened entirely new markets within gaming, art, and entertainment.
Among the most well-known cryptocurrencies are Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Binance Coin (BNB). Bitcoin, created by the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto in 2009, was the first digital currency and remains the most valuable (Bitcoin Official). Ethereum, founded by Vitalik Buterin, expanded blockchain use cases with smart contracts, allowing decentralized applications (Ethereum Official). Binance Coin, originally developed to offer trading fee discounts on Binance Exchange, has evolved into a broader utility token (Binance Official).
Live Crypto Prices via WebSocket
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In the NFT space, iconic collections like CryptoPunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) have drawn global attention, sometimes selling for millions of dollars.
Why Consider Investing in Crypto?
Investing in crypto assets offers opportunities for significant returns, but it comes with substantial risks. As Chris Burniske and Jack Tatar explain in Cryptoassets: The Innovative Investor’s Guide to Bitcoin and Beyond (2017), crypto markets are highly volatile and driven by rapid innovation, sentiment, and regulatory shifts.
Bitcoin’s fixed supply of 21 million coins, as Saifedean Ammous discusses in The Bitcoin Standard (2018), creates a scarcity effect that some investors see as protection against fiat currency inflation.
However, crypto investing requires a disciplined approach. It’s not uncommon for even large cryptocurrencies to experience price swings of 20–30% within a few days. The Journal of Risk Finance (2019) also points out that crypto returns show extreme kurtosis, meaning there are more extreme events compared to traditional financial markets.
Key Principles for Beginners
- Start by Educating Yourself: Understanding blockchain, wallets, and keys can prevent costly mistakes.
- Diversify: Just as with stocks, spreading your investment across different coins and sectors of blockchain reduces risk, but not always.
- Invest Long-Term: Crypto markets are volatile in the short run but historically reward patience. As research from Fidelity Digital Assets (2020) shows, holding Bitcoin over a four-year horizon has historically led to positive returns despite interim crashes.
Beginner Level
- The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains by Antony Lewis
(Probably the clearest beginner guide — very trusted.) Purchase it here - Bitcoin Hard Money You Can’t F* With** by Jason A. Williams
(Straightforward, motivating, beginner-friendly.) Purchase it here - Crypto Investing Guide by Ian Balina
(Focused on building real portfolios and making money.) Purchase it here - The Only Cryptocurrency Investing Book You’ll Ever Need by Freeman Publications Purchase it here
- Bitcoin for Beginners 2024 by Crypto Casey
(Up-to-date, extremely popular among newcomers.)
Intermediate to Advanced Level
- The Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous
(Most famous economic and philosophical view of Bitcoin.) Purchase it here - Cryptoassets: The Innovative Investor’s Guide to Bitcoin and Beyond by Chris Burniske and Jack Tatar
(Serious portfolio-building advice, risk management.) Purchase it here - Mastering Bitcoin by Andreas M. Antonopoulos
(More technical, but a “must-read” for serious investors.) Purchase it here - The Infinite Machine by Camila Russo
(The story of Ethereum’s creation — important for understanding DeFi/NFTs.) Purchase it here - Layered Money: From Gold and Dollars to Bitcoin and Central Bank Digital Currencies by Nik Bhatia
(Advanced thinking about the future of money.) Purchase it here