Why Crypto Confidence?
The Story Behind the Newsletter, the School, and the Journey
Most Americans think they understand their own country. They don’t. They’ve never actually traveled it.
I remember making a bucket list, and one of my goals was to travel to all 50 states. I’ve now been to 46, which still surprises me. One day, I told my friend Tyler about it, and he asked why. I had to stop and think.
At first, it was just practical. I had already been to 35 states by accident, so finishing the last 15 felt easy. But the real reason was that I had already seen the benefits. Traveling across the country exposed me to different landscapes, cultures, cities, and small towns. More importantly, it helped me understand the country in a way the media never could, or someone living in one city their whole life never will.
Yes, I had read history books and studied maps, but that is not the same as being there. Walking through Manhattan and Brooklyn, you see how people actually live. Driving across Wyoming, you feel the isolation and the resilience. Standing on a mountain in Colorado, you realize how small you are. You don’t get it until you experience it.
Crypto is the same way. You can read the maps, study the history, and understand the theory, but that is not the same as being there. Making a trade on Uniswap, sending a friend stablecoins, holding your own Bitcoin, you start to understand how it actually works. You don’t get it until you experience it.
My journey into crypto followed the same pattern. At first, it was just practical. I explored the space, started writing guides, and kept going. I did not set out to create Crypto Confidence. Eventually, I had gone far enough that adding this project to my bucket list felt natural.
What Makes Crypto Confidence Different
Crypto is a lot of things. It is the self-sovereignty of Bitcoin, the smart contract technology of Ether, instant global payments through stablecoins, and a memecoin casino that distracts the world. Most people do not understand why crypto exists or the problems the cypherpunk movement set out to solve. They also lack a framework for how to evaluate it. Like the United States, crypto is hard to understand if you have not explored it. If you have never used it, you may think you understand it, but in reality, you don’t.
There are plenty of people writing about crypto news, trade ideas, and political takes. That has its place, and I follow many of them, but Crypto Confidence is not built to compete in that space. It comes from a different angle. I studied philosophy and theology, worked in the oil fields of North Dakota, and have been in the crypto industry since 2018. That combination allows me to give people both a clear worldview for why crypto matters and a practical roadmap for how to use it.
Since the 2008 Great Recession, the cracks in our financial system have become impossible to ignore. Billionaires get bailed out with taxpayer money when they fail, but keep the profits when they succeed. The US debt-to-GDP ratio is over 120%, and government financial surveillance increases while the government continues to let fraud and waste destroy our financial system. The road out of the current system is paved in Bitcoin, but it’s a windy journey. This is why I created Crypto Confidence so newcomers can understand the terrain.
More Than a Roadmap
But an accurate roadmap is not enough if you never leave your house. If all I did was study maps and read history, I would not truly understand the country. Crypto is the same. It is one thing to understand why Bitcoin is a great store of value. It is another to actually use it.
I will go one step further. You don’t understand the map unless you travel the road. If you want to understand crypto, you have to use it. But most people either never start or get lost along the way without a guide. My own journey would have been easier if I had someone to show me how to use an exchange, a wallet, a DEX, and more.
Learning crypto requires actually using it, and that is hard to do on your own. It is easy to make mistakes, take unnecessary risks, or never start at all. That is why I created Crypto Confidence School. It is a place where people can learn step by step, ask questions, and get guidance along the way. Once you experience the sovereignty of a non-custodial wallet for yourself, it changes how you see finance. It is like standing at the Grand Canyon. You can look at pictures all day, but it is not the same as seeing it with your own eyes.
Journey’s End
I have been on a long crypto journey, but I realized my bucket list is not complete until I help others understand its purpose and start their own journey. Sometimes, what makes a trip worthwhile is who you travel with, not just the arrival. If you are ready to understand crypto for yourself, the journey is open. The next step is yours.
Final Word
I appreciate each and every one of you.
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts." — Mark Twain
DISCLAIMER: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. The author is not a licensed financial advisor, and nothing in this article constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any cryptocurrency, gold, or other asset. Cryptocurrency investments are highly volatile and risky, and you could lose all of your invested capital. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. The author operates a paid cryptocurrency education course and may hold positions in assets discussed.