Trying To Get Rich Almost Cost Me Everything

Investing my life savings into Bitcoin forced me to rethink the true meaning of wealth

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One moment of delusional optimism was all it took to turn my savings into a ticking time bomb. Every social media post seemed to show ordinary people, just like me, striking gold. However, I was caught up in the excitement, and trusted the advice of so-called cryptocurrency experts, so I never stopped to question if buying Bitcoin was a good idea.

I wasn’t alone.

According to the Financial Conduct Authority, only 8% of cryptocurrency owners actually do research before buying Bitcoin, and 16% don’t do any research at all. I was part of that unprepared majority, swept up in the promise of easy wealth. With every price increase, I dreamt of financial freedom and living a life true to myself. But with every crash, I felt paralyzed by fear, and often found it difficult to sleep at night.

Being constantly anxious also made it difficult to be present with my loved ones. One night, after Bitcoin took another plunge, I snapped at my brother over a misplaced coffee mug. The gu…