Introduction Introduction When I wrote Part I of this series, I had just taken my first baby steps into the world of crypto. Back then, everything felt like jargon — nodes, wallets, mining, private keys. Part I of this series Part I of this series Since then, my journey has evolved, shaped not just by curiosity but also by my work in social media marketing and the conversations I’ve had with friends. Growing up in Indore, I was used to the rhythm of banks — paperwork, waiting, endless branch visits. So when a friend casually introduced me to cryptocurrency, it felt almost unbelievable: “I could send money across the world in minutes, without banks or borders.” “I could send money across the world in minutes, without banks or borders.” That was truly amazing. What Is Cryptocurrency? The first time I installed a crypto wallet, I couldn’t believe how simple it looked. No forms, no IDs, no approvals — just an app. I remember thinking: “Wait… is this money?” “Wait… is this money?” And yes, it is.That day I learnt, cryptocurrency is digital cash that runs on blockchain — a decentralized network where transactions happen directly between people, not through banks. But as I started diving deeper into it, I learned it’s more than “digital cash.” For example: BitcoinFor me, Bitcoin felt like the modern version of the gold jewelry my family always trusted, except this one which lives entirely online with fixed supply (only 21 million will ever exist). Ethereumgoes beyond payments — it powers smart contracts, allowing code to execute agreements without lawyers or brokers. Stablecoinslike USDT or USDC peg themselves to the dollar, making them a bridge between traditional finance and crypto. BitcoinFor me, Bitcoin felt like the modern version of the gold jewelry my family always trusted, except this one which lives entirely online with fixed supply (only 21 million will ever exist). Bitcoin Ethereumgoes beyond payments — it powers smart contracts, allowing code to execute agreements without lawyers or brokers. Ethereum Stablecoinslike USDT or USDC peg themselves to the dollar, making them a bridge between traditional finance and crypto. Stablecoins When I compared it to sending ₹10,000 abroad, the difference was night and day: Bank transfer: forms, high fees, days of waiting. Crypto transfer: instant, borderless, low cost. Bank transfer: forms, high fees, days of waiting. Crypto transfer: instant, borderless, low cost. The Evolution of Money I remember my textbooks talking about barter trade. whereas, my parents trusted paper notes and coins. I grew up with debit cards. Now, I was holding “money” that only existed online. This was a reminder that: money always evolves with technology. In 2009, the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto launched Bitcoin, the first “trustless”, decentralized currency. Here Trustless didn’t mean I distrusted it — it meant I didn’t have to depend on a banker’s stamp, only on math. Since then, Ethereum, Ripple, and even meme-inspired coins like Dogecoin have built their own ecosystems. Each is a small piece in the puzzle of how money is being redefined. What difference does Crypto make One late night, I tried sending money. My bank’s system was down for maintenance. Getting frustrated with it, I opened my crypto wallet and tried the crypto transaction… It went through instantly! At that moment I experienced the cryptocurrency unique strengths: Decentralization – No bank decides if my transfer goes through. Thousands of nodes validate transactions. Borderless Access – Indore to New York in minutes, like sending a WhatsApp message. Encryption & Security – Transactions are secured with cryptography. Breaking it is quite difficult; it would require near-impossible computing power. True Ownership – My wallet, my rules. If I lose my private key, I lose access. If I keep it safe, no one can freeze my funds. Decentralization – No bank decides if my transfer goes through. Thousands of nodes validate transactions. Borderless Access – Indore to New York in minutes, like sending a WhatsApp message. Encryption & Security – Transactions are secured with cryptography. Breaking it is quite difficult; it would require near-impossible computing power. True Ownership – My wallet, my rules. If I lose my private key, I lose access. If I keep it safe, no one can freeze my funds. What I later realized is this: decentralization isn’t just technical, it’s philosophical. It shifts power away from middlemen toward individuals. And for someone like me, who grew up relying on banks for everything, that was eye-opening as well as exciting too! Crypto vs Fiat: Key Differences The difference became clear during my first international freelance payment. PayPal fees took a painful cut, and settlement dragged for days. With crypto, it was done in minutes. Feature Cryptocurrency Regular Money (Fiat) Who Controls It Decentralized network Banks & governments Where It Exists Purely digital Physical + digital Transfer Speed Minutes, global Days for international Privacy Wallet addresses Linked to identity Access Anyone with internet Often bank required Feature Cryptocurrency Regular Money (Fiat) Who Controls It Decentralized network Banks & governments Where It Exists Purely digital Physical + digital Transfer Speed Minutes, global Days for international Privacy Wallet addresses Linked to identity Access Anyone with internet Often bank required Feature Cryptocurrency Regular Money (Fiat) Feature Feature Cryptocurrency Cryptocurrency Regular Money (Fiat) Regular Money (Fiat) Who Controls It Decentralized network Banks & governments Who Controls It Who Controls It Decentralized network Decentralized network Banks & governments Banks & governments Where It Exists Purely digital Physical + digital Where It Exists Where It Exists Purely digital Purely digital Physical + digital Physical + digital Transfer Speed Minutes, global Days for international Transfer Speed Transfer Speed Minutes, global Minutes, global Days for international Days for international Privacy Wallet addresses Linked to identity Privacy Privacy Wallet addresses Wallet addresses Linked to identity Linked to identity Access Anyone with internet Often bank required Access Access Anyone with internet Anyone with internet Often bank required Often bank required Another advanced layer I discovered: monetary policy. Fiat currencies can be printed endlessly by governments. Crypto, on the other hand, often has coded scarcity (like Bitcoin’s halving cycles) which directly affects its value. Why did I Trade Cryptocurrency My first trade was just ₹1,000 on Coinswitch Exchange. I wouldn’t mind losing on a night out with my friends in Indore. Watching the chart move felt like a heartbeat monitor. Nerve-wracking, but thrilling. Here’s why cryptocurrency trading attracted me: High Profit Potential – Prices are volatile, but that volatility creates opportunity. Bitcoin once moved from $3,000 to $60,000 in just a few years. 24/7 Markets – No opening bell, no closing time. The market literally never sleeps. Small Entry Point – Fractional ownership means even beginners can buy a sliver of Bitcoin or ETH. Global Access – No paperwork, no central authority blocking access. Fast Settlement – Trades clear in minutes. No T+2 waiting like stock markets. High Profit Potential – Prices are volatile, but that volatility creates opportunity. Bitcoin once moved from $3,000 to $60,000 in just a few years. 24/7 Markets – No opening bell, no closing time. The market literally never sleeps. Small Entry Point – Fractional ownership means even beginners can buy a sliver of Bitcoin or ETH. Global Access – No paperwork, no central authority blocking access. Fast Settlement – Trades clear in minutes. No T+2 waiting like stock markets. But I also learned that with high potential comes high risk. Leverage trading, for instance, can multiply gains but also wipe out accounts in seconds. I’ve avoided it, but many beginners get burned here. Closing Thoughts From Indore to the global stage, crypto reshaped how I view and understand money. It’s not only about trading profits, it's about freedom: the ability to move value instantly, without banks, borders, or delays. Even now, I stumble upon something new almost every day whether it’s a coin, a concept like staking, DeFi, or layer-2 scaling, or a community. But one thing is clear: cryptocurrency isn’t just “virtual money.” It’s a financial revolution and my journey is only just beginning. 👉 In Part III, I’ll share the biggest mistakes I made in my first year of trading — and how you can avoid them 👉 In Part III, I’ll share the biggest mistakes I made in my first year of trading — and how you can avoid them
