5 Tips For New Bitcoin Investors

Taking the plunge and entering the crypto space can be daunting. There is no centralized authority to hold your hand, and the rumors and stories circulating around digital currencies can be fear-inducing.

However, with a few straightforward tips, negotiating that first Bitcoin transaction or trade can be a lot less stressful.
1. Do your homework

There is plenty of hype, rumor, success stories and tales of horror when it comes to Bitcoin and other digital currencies. Make sure you understand exactly what you’re getting into, and don’t risk more money than you could afford to lose.

Bitcoin is an exciting world to be in, but it is one that is complex and confusing if you only enter it on hype. Many people buy expensive cars, not knowing how the engine works, and that is fine because if it breaks there are mechanics and garages. In the cryptocurrency world, it is you against the world, it is decentralized and there is no one to hold your hand.

Pawel Kuskowski, CEO & co-founder of Coinfirm, gave this advice:

Don’t simply speculate about the big money there is to be made, actually go out there and learn how Bitcoin and Blockchain work. Lucas Geiger, founder and CEO of Wireline, says:

A good place to start is the beginning – with Satoshi Nakamoto’s white paper. Crypto fund manager Jacob Eliosoff wrote:

The great thing about the cryptocurrency ecosystem though is that there is a lot of material and information out there. Loads of websites and resources are aiming at trying to make the technology easier to understand.

Even more than that, the investment world is also trying to simplify things by making Bitcoin more available to traditional investors. The introduction of things like futures will help people understand how Bitcoin works.

2. Be cautious

In any investment there will be risk, but that risk is somewhat magnified by Bitcoin’s newness and extreme volatility. Eliosoff emphasized:

It is tempting to be bold and brazen, throwing money at Bitcoin after hearing the success stories, but especially as a first timer, caution is the better part of valor. There is no reason to look to become a millionaire overnight with Bitcoin, and by sinking huge amounts of capital in it from the start, you will be met with more problems than solutions.

Marshall Swatt, a serial entrepreneur, suggested:

Additionally, from Tim Enneking, managing director of Crypto Asset Management, advises:

There are a number of investing strategies that work really well with Bitcoin, and those that offer the most success are often the most cautious.

Things like ‘Dollar Cost Averaging’ – putting in the same amount of money into an investment at the same time each week or month – is great for Bitcoin as it helps you ride out the lows, as well as the highs.

3. Diversify effectively

Most new digital currency enthusiasts hear first about Bitcoin, but there are thousands of other cryptocurrencies out there, and some have grown much faster than even Bitcoin. Diversification is wise, particularly since many of these “altcoins” perform well when Bitcoin drops. Tech entrepreneur Oliver Isaacs writes:

Famed stock picker Ronnie Moas is a strong believer in diversification. It is easy to become infatuated with one cryptocurrency, especially Bitcoin, but it is important to hedge your bets.

4. Keep coins off the exchanges

There is still a lot of hacking and thievery that goes on in the crypto space, and it is important to take precautions. It isn’t too hard to make hackers’ lives difficult. Use the exchanges for just that: exchanging. Once you have bought a currency, move the money off the exchange and into a wallet that only you control, such as a hardware wallet.

A lot of people have been burned on exchange hacks – none more so than the major Mt. Gox one – but even recently, things like BTC-e and the charges against their CEO would have caused many people to lose out on huge amounts of money.

Matthew Unger, founder and CEO of iComply Investor Services Inc. suggested:
5. Get ready for a wild ride

Bitcoin is notorious for its volatility, so much so that many traditional investors are terrified of it. A massive drop in Bitcoin’s price does not spell permanent disaster, but it is hard to stay committed when you start heading into the red.

Diversification is a great strategy to help with that, but it takes some thought and effort. Of course, the most famous (and so far, successful) Bitcoin strategy of all is to ‘hodl’ – or hold onto – your investment no matter the market volatility.

You can also buy and forget, as not keeping an eye on the market can help keep you from worrying about the dips and miss the volatility.