Let’s talk about the trade that could either 100x my money or lose it all.

I’m holding Hyperliquid’s HYPE token. It’s 25% of my crypto allocation. And before you think I’m insane, let me explain the math.

The Asymmetric Bet Framework

As engineers, we understand risk/reward calculations. Here’s mine:

If HYPE goes to zero:
– I lose 25% of my crypto portfolio
– Which is ~5-10% of my net worth
– Annoying, but not life-changing

If HYPE does a 100x:
– My entire net worth 25x’s
– I’m financially independent
– Game over, I win

Expected value: Even if there’s only a 5% chance of 100x, the math works out massively in my favor.

This is how Silicon Valley works. This is how venture capital works. This is how you build wealth when you don’t start with wealth.

What Even Is Hyperliquid?

The problem: Decentralized exchanges suck.

Uniswap is slow. Gas fees are insane. Order books don’t exist. You can’t do leverage. You can’t trade derivatives. For anything serious, you’re forced back to centralized exchanges like Binance.

Hyperliquid’s solution: A fully decentralized derivatives exchange that actually works.

• Perpetual futures (100x leverage)
• On-chain order book
• Sub-second finality
• No KYC, no custody risk
• Feels like Binance, runs on a blockchain

Why it matters: Right now, 99% of crypto trading happens on centralized exchanges. If even 10% moves to decentralized alternatives, Hyperliquid captures massive value.

The Bull Case (Why I Bought)

1. Product-Market Fit

Hyperliquid works. I’ve used it. It’s fast. The UX is good. Volume is growing. Real users are trading real money.

Most DeFi is theoretical. Hyperliquid is functional.

2. Token Economics

HYPE is the native token of the Hyperliquid L1. All fees get burned. As volume grows, supply shrinks. Classic deflationary tokenomics.

If Hyperliquid hits $1B daily volume (still 10x smaller than Binance), HYPE’s burn rate makes it extremely valuable.

3. Team & Execution

Anonymous team (yes, risky), but they’ve shipped consistently. No VC dump risk. Fair launch. Community-driven.

In crypto, execution is everything. Most teams don’t ship. Hyperliquid ships.

4. Timing

We’re early. Market cap is still under $10B. Binance does $50B+ in daily volume. If Hyperliquid gets to even 5% of that, HYPE is massively underpriced.

The Bear Case (Why I Could Lose Everything)

1. Regulation

Decentralized derivatives exchanges are a regulatory gray area. If the SEC decides to crack down, HYPE could get crushed.

2. Competition

GMX, dYdX, and others are building similar products. Hyperliquid might not win.

3. Smart Contract Risk

One exploit, one hack, one critical bug = game over. DeFi history is littered with corpses of “unhackable” protocols.

4. Market Conditions

If crypto enters a multi-year bear market, HYPE could bleed 90%+ and never recover.

Why I Hold It Anyway

Because the risk is asymmetric.

I’ve sized my position so that losing 100% doesn’t change my life. I’ll still go to the gym at 4am. I’ll still work my software engineering job. I’ll still build SaaS products.

But winning 100x absolutely changes my life. Financial independence. Freedom to build what I want. No more 7am-4pm grind.

That’s the trade.

How I Think About Altcoins

I don’t gamble. I don’t buy random tokens because someone on Twitter said “This is the next Solana!”

My filter:

1. Does the product work? (Yes: Hyperliquid. No: 99% of altcoins)
2. Is the team shipping? (Yes: Hyperliquid. No: most DeFi projects)
3. Is there a path to 100x? (Yes: if Hyperliquid takes 10% of CEX volume)
4. Can I afford to lose 100%? (Yes: it’s only 25% of my crypto, 5-10% of net worth)

If all four check out, I buy. If even one doesn’t, I pass.

The Bottom Line

Hyperliquid could go to zero. Most altcoins do.

But if you’re young, earning good money, and trying to build real wealth — you need asymmetric bets.

Saving $500/month in an index fund won’t make you a millionaire by 35. But a few well-placed 100x bets might.

I’m betting 5% of my net worth on HYPE. If I lose, I’ll survive. If I win, I’m free.

That’s a trade I’ll take every time.

Want to learn more about smart budgeting and financial strategies? Check out our comprehensive guide on how to budget money on a low income.

Disclaimer: This is extremely risky. HYPE could (and probably will) drop 90% multiple times before it either moons or dies. I’m not a financial advisor. This is not financial advice. Do your own research. Only invest what you can afford to lose.

The post The HYPE Token Bet: Why I’m Holding a Low-Cap Altcoin appeared first on Asset Rich Journal.

If you write code for a living, you’ve seen technologies go from “that’ll never work” to “how did we live without this?”

Git. Cloud computing. React. AWS. The pattern is always the same: early skepticism, then sudden dominance.

Crypto is following the same trajectory. And as engineers, we’re uniquely positioned to see it coming.

Why Tech Workers Get Crypto (When Others Don’t)

Most people look at Bitcoin and see “fake internet money.”

We see:

• Distributed consensus algorithms
• Cryptographic proof replacing trust
• Open-source protocols eating legacy financial infrastructure
• Network effects compounding at scale

This isn’t speculation. This is pattern recognition.

We’ve watched AWS eat data centers. We’ve watched mobile eat desktop. We’ve watched APIs eat monolithic systems.

Now we’re watching decentralized protocols eat banks, brokerages, and payment processors.

The question isn’t if. It’s when and which ones.

My Crypto Allocation: 5-15% of Net Worth

I’m a software engineer at two trucking companies, modernizing AS400 green screens with React. I’m not a trader. I’m not a crypto bro. I’m a builder who understands technology adoption curves.

My current holdings:

• Bitcoin (BTC) – 60% of crypto allocation
• Hyperliquid (HYPE) – 25%
• Zcash (ZEC) – 15%

Why these? Let me break it down.

Bitcoin: The Digital Gold Play

Thesis: Store of value in a world where governments print money infinitely.

As engineers, we understand scarcity. Bitcoin’s supply is capped at 21 million. No CEO can dilute it. No government can print more. It’s the hardest money ever created.

My bet: BTC becomes the global reserve asset within 10 years. Every institution, every country, every retirement fund holds some. If I’m right, we’re still early.

Allocation: 60% of my crypto. Conservative, boring, likely to 10x again.

Hyperliquid (HYPE): The High-Risk, High-Reward Bet

Thesis: Decentralized derivatives exchange that actually works.

Most DeFi is clunky. Hyperliquid feels like a real exchange — fast, liquid, low fees. If decentralized trading takes even 10% of Binance’s volume, HYPE is massively undervalued.

Risk: It could go to zero. Most altcoins do.

Why I hold it anyway: 100x potential if they execute. I size it so losing 100% doesn’t hurt, but 100x would be life-changing.

Allocation: 25% of crypto. Small enough to lose, big enough to matter.

Zcash (ZEC): The Privacy Bet

Thesis: Privacy becomes valuable as surveillance increases.

Bitcoin is transparent. Every transaction is public forever. ZEC has optional privacy — fully shielded transactions when you need them.

Why it matters: Governments are cracking down. KYC is everywhere. Privacy coins are the last refuge for financial freedom. If crypto stays around long-term, privacy will be a premium feature.

Allocation: 15% of crypto. Long-term hold, not expecting quick gains.

What I’m Watching: ZRO & AAVE

LayerZero (ZRO): Cross-chain messaging protocol. If crypto becomes multi-chain long-term (likely), ZRO is infrastructure.

Aave (AAVE): Decentralized lending. Banks pay 0.5% on savings, charge 20% on loans. Aave cuts out the middleman. DeFi lending is a massive market.

Waiting for better entry points on both.

How to Start (If You’re at 0%)

Step 1: Open a Coinbase or Kraken account (5 minutes)
Step 2: Buy $100 of Bitcoin (just to get over the mental hurdle)
Step 3: Set a recurring buy — $50/week or whatever you won’t miss
Step 4: Forget about it for 5 years

Do NOT:

• Try to time the market (you’ll fail)
• Buy random altcoins on TikTok tips (you’ll lose money)
• Panic sell during crashes (they happen every year)

The Real Risk Isn’t Crypto Going to Zero

It’s crypto going to $10 trillion while you sat on the sidelines because it “seemed risky.”

As engineers, we bet on technology all the time. We learn new frameworks. We join startups. We use bleeding-edge tools.

Crypto is just another bet on the future. And we’re good at seeing the future before it arrives.

5% of your net worth. That’s it. Small enough to lose, big enough to win.

If you’re looking to build real wealth beyond crypto, check out our guide on what financial freedom really means and how to achieve it.

Disclaimer: I’m not a financial advisor. I’m a software engineer who owns crypto and writes about it. Do your own research. This could all go to zero. But I don’t think it will.

The post Why Software Engineers Should Hold at Least 5% in Crypto (And Which Ones) appeared first on Asset Rich Journal.

What is Ethereum?

Ethereum is a world computer, but to leave its definition at that would be to undersell its revolutionary potential. Ethereum allows developers to build decentralized applications (DApps) and implement smart contracts. These smart contracts execute automatically when their conditions are met, offering unprecedented levels of transparency, efficiency, and security. Ethereum has a huge vision for the future. It wants to create a decentralized internet, free from the control of any single authority or government, where applications run on a blockchain, offering people more control over their data and finances.

What is Ether?

Ether, on the other hand, is the gas or currency that powers the Ethereum ecosystem. It is the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum platform, used to compensate validators who perform computations and validate transactions on the network. Ether also serves as a fuel for DApps and executing smart contracts, users pay gas fees for using the network’s resources. Beyond its utility, Ether is also a digital asset, typically as the demand for blockspace rises so does the price.

The Key Differences Between Ethereum and Ether

Ethereum is the blockchain platform while Ether is the currency. Ethereum’s mission transcends the currency, aiming to change how we interact with the digital world through DApps and smart contracts. Ether’s role is is more about facilitating the operations of the Ethereum network by acting as a form of payment for transactions and computation.

The difference between Ethereum and Ether highlights the multifaceted nature of the Ethereum ecosystem. Ethereum is about creating a decentralized computer, while Ether is more like gas to help the framework function efficiently and effectively.

Why the Distinction Matters

Knowing the difference is important, because you should understand that to believe in Ethereum and what it does isn’t linked to the price of Ether. Ether in hypothetical sense could be worth 1 cent and the Ethereum blockchain itself could still be valuable. The reason the price is driven up is because the demand for blockspace is high, mixed with speculators and investors.

Future Developments

The network has a ton of upgrades coming aimed at scaling the blockchain even further. The roadmap given by the Ethereum foundation seems to have finally have been stamped out. EIP-4844 was released allowing for cheaper transactions for layer-2 blockchains. The Ethereum future looks bright!

Conclusion

You should keep learning about the blockchain industry and all of its wonders. These ideas while they seem simple are important for your journey. In the future when this technology is heavily used it will benefit you to be on the right side of the curve.

For anyone embarking on their cryptocurrency journey try to appreciate the nuances between Ethereum and Ether. Its not just academic, it’s essential for understanding the future of blockchain technology.

The post Understanding the Difference Between Ethereum and Ether appeared first on Asset Rich Journal.

What Does a Bitcoin Node Do?

A Bitcoin node is a computer/device connected to the Bitcoin network that follows the rules of the network and communicates with other nodes. These nodes all help to maintain the shared ledger called the blockchain, which holds all Bitcoin transactions. Nodes also enforce the consensus rules of Bitcoin, making sure transactions and blocks are valid, not double-spending and any other form of fraud or trickery.

Types of Bitcoin Nodes

Bitcoin nodes can be different, even though most people tend to think of miners when they think of nodes.

• Full Nodes: Full nodes validate transactions and blocks based on Bitcoin’s consensus rules. They keep a complete copy of the blockchain, full nodes can independently verify any transaction without needing to trust other nodes on the network. These nodes are vital to the Bitcoin network’s security.
• Lightweight or SPV (Simplified Payment Verification) Nodes: SPV/Lightweight nodes don’t keep the entire blockchain. These nodes have to rely on full nodes to verify transactions. These nodes are suitable for most end users as they don’t need to store the entire chain. They only need to know if transactions were added to blocks.
• Mining Nodes: These nodes actually help in the network’s consensus process by validating transactions and adding them to the ledger. Mining nodes battle to solve complex mathematical problems, and the first to succeed gets a reward of newly minted bitcoins(block reward 6.25BTC) and transaction fees. It’s important to note that not all mining nodes are full nodes, and vice versa.

Why Do We Need Bitcoin Nodes?

Bitcoin nodes play a super essential role in maintaining the network’s founding principles: decentralization, security, and privacy. Preventing double spending from the same bitcoin address is a huge part of it.

• Decentralization: Nodes are literally scattered across the planet, ensuring that no single node failure can compromise the network. In normal networks typically if the central authority goes down so does the entire network. Being spread out prevents any central authority from taking control and destroying/taking down the network.
• Security: By verifying transactions and blocks, nodes keep the network secure from double spending, and invalid transactions. The more nodes added to the network, the more secure it becomes.
• Privacy: If you run your own full node, you can verify your own transactions, which would enhance your privacy. You wouldn’t need to trust a wallet/third party service to send your transactions to the network.

Running a Bitcoin Node

To setup a Bitcoin node you need to make sure your computer meets the above minimum hardware requirements. At a minimum, operators need a computer with 350gbs of storage (to hold the entire blockchain), a stable internet connection, and the Bitcoin Core software, the standard client for connecting to the Bitcoin network. You will also need to go through the initial block download. Which is about 340gbs before your node has the entire chain downloaded. Running your own node gives you improved privacy and security but also requires a good bit of resources and bandwidth. In most cases, it isn’t necessary for the average user to become a full node operator.

Challenges Of Running A Node

Despite the benefits, running a Bitcoin node does have its own set of challenges. The technical expertise needed is not for non-computer people. Also you will probably need to continue to increase your hard drive space to maintain the entire chain as it grows. Also the bitcoin network is widely used and continually being adopted which can add more stress on your bandwidth. Lastly, node operators have to stay informed about legal and security issues relevant to their jurisdiction and the broader network.

Will Bitcoin Nodes Get Better?

As Bitcoin continues to evolve with things like the Lightning network and Layer 2s, so too does the technology and infrastructure supporting nodes. Software and hardware innovations continue to improve and hopefully will continually make it easier for users to run their own node. Bitcoin scaling continues to bring new innovations to the network, so there may eventually be opportunities for node operators to earn rewards of some sort.

Bitcoin nodes are the building blocks of the Bitcoin network, ensuring its functionality, security, and resilience. By running a node, individuals contribute to the decentralized nature of Bitcoin. As the network grows, the role of nodes will continue to evolve, so will their importance. The more nodes the better!

More Information

If you want more information on Bitcoin Core or running your own node, we advise you go the Bitcoin website and read more for yourself. Bitcoin is the network of the future, don’t get left out!

The post What is a Bitcoin Node? appeared first on Asset Rich Journal.

What is a Bitcoin Address?

A Bitcoin address is a unique string of alphanumeric characters that represent a destination for a Bitcoin payment. Sort of like how an email address works for sending and receiving data, a Bitcoin address is used to send and receive satoshis(The satoshi is the smallest denomination of the cryptocurrency bitcoin.) on the blockchain. The Bitcoin blockchain is a decentralized ledger that records all transactions.

Anatomy of a Bitcoin Address

Bitcoin addresses are derived from private keys that are hashed using cryptographic algorithms and can take several formats, the most common being:

• P2PKH (Pay to Public Key Hash): Begins with the number 1, e.g., 1BvBMSEYstWetqTFn5Au4m4GFg7xJaNVN2.
• P2SH (Pay to Script Hash): Starts with the number 3, e.g., 3J98t1WpEZ73CNmQviecrnyiWrnqRhWNLy.
• Bech32 (also known as “bc1 addresses”): Begins with bc1, e.g., bc1qar0srrr7xfkvy5l643lydnw9re59gtzzwf5mdq, and is used for SegWit transactions, offering advantages in efficiency and reduced fees.

How are Bitcoin Addresses Generated?

A Bitcoin address is created through a process that starts with a private key—a secret alphanumeric string of characters that allows Bitcoins to be spent via the UTXO model. The private key generates a public key using elliptic curve multiplication, a one-way cryptographic function. The public key is then hashed and encoded into what we recognize as a Bitcoin address. This process makes the address secure and the funds associated with it. Essentially without the private key there is no way to sign a transaction to use the bitcoins on that address.

Why are Bitcoin Addresses Important?

Security and Anonymity: Bitcoin addresses do provide a level of anonymity since there is no way to know who the owner is other than tracing transactions via centralized exchanges. Your transactions are transparent on the blockchain, so however much bitcoin you spend at any point can be traced to your wallet.

Transaction Integrity: Every address has an unique set of keys (public and private), ensuring only people with the private key can send transactions. While this security mechanism prevents unauthorized access and fraud, private keys can still be stolen a number of ways. Most users recommend using a hardware wallet.

Facilitating Transactions: Obviously we need to know where funds need to go and where they came from. That is the thing that Bitcoin addresses do better than anything.

How to Use a Bitcoin Address

Using a Bitcoin address is super simple and easy:

1. Receiving Bitcoin: Share your Bitcoin address(public key) to anyone who is sending you Bitcoin. If your sending Bitcoin from an exchange to your wallet make sure to follow their rules to ensure you receive your Bitcoin.
2. Sending Bitcoin: Enter the recipient’s Bitcoin address into wallet application, type in the amount you wish to send and make sure to note the gas fee(bitcoin) the network is currently charging to send bitcoin.

It is ESSENTIAL to DOUBLE-CHECK addresses since transactions cannot be reversed, and errors could result in loss of funds.

Conclusion

Bitcoin addresses are awesome! They provide high security as long as you don’t give out your private keys, and they also allow you to see all your previous transaction history on the blockchain. They also provide a good level of anonymity while using the blockchain, but bear in mind these things are traceable. Want to learn more about crypto?

Generate your own address?

The post What Is A Bitcoin Address? appeared first on Asset Rich Journal.

The Elevator Pitch

In its simplest form, an NFT is a digital token on the blockchain representing ownership or proof of authenticity of a digital and now sometimes physical asset. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum are fungible meaning they can be exchanged one to one. NFT’s are distinct and cannot be exchanged one to one. Example being Bored Apes and Pudgy Penguins are not the same thing, making them non-fungible. The awesome part about them being on chain means they can be sold and traded.

NFTs were pitched as a new way of owning art, music, memes, or videos. Honestly I don’t believe there is much value in the way NFTs are used today. RWAs or Real World Assets could change my opinion. Imagine your house deed being on-chain and you could sell it without the need of all the 3rd parties that charge fees nowadays. Also think about stock ownership, and even bonds. These are all good use cases for NFTs.

History and Evolution of NFTs

NFTs have been around for a while, but they started gaining traction with projects like CryptoPunks and CryptoKitties. Since then, the NFT marketplace has exploded. There are now millions of NFTs some are worthless while some tokens sell for millions of dollars, like Beeple’s digital artwork which sold for an insane $69 million.

Ethereum has been pretty much the main smart contract platform for crypto for a while. There are others like Solana, Cardano, Avalanche, etc, but the majority of volume happens on Ethereum. The awesome thing is NFTs have evolved today to include some utility/uses for the owner. Some NFTs allow participants to earn extra yield in DeFi and others allow owners to receive airdrops.

The biggest use case we have seen in the current market is gaming. NFTs being owned by users in video games allows the users to own their assets and then trade them freely on the marketplace. An example of this would CSGO players being able to sell their gun skins freely on the open marketplace for thousands of dollars. Users also like the idea of being able to keep their assets across multiple game titles, an example of this would be keeping your skins(downloadable content) across every Call of Duty title.

How NFTs Work

NFTs are created by a process, known as ‘minting,’ in which the minter uploads a digital file to a blockchain network. The minting process creates a digital certificate of ownership that can be bought, sold, or traded. NFTs can be bought and sold on NFT Marketplaces like OpenSea or Rarible. Smart contracts built into NFTS can pretty much do whatever the creator wants, such as a %5 lifetime royalty. The contracts can also have governance functionality as well. Example being if you own a specific NFT you can vote on the future of a specific ecosystem.

ERC-721 is a NFT Standard published in 2018. It is recognized as the foundation of the NFTs we have today. It created a standard for smart contracts to inherit from, thus creating a standard the rest of the world could use and build upon. There have been other standards built like ERC-1155, which allows for a small level of fungibility, and then other standards built by other blockchains.

The Value Proposition of NFTs

The value of NFTs has for a while been up in the air. For some, they represent a new frontier in digital art and ownership, while others view them as a huge bubble. The value often is very subjective and based on things like the buyer’s emotional attachment to a project, who the creator is, or even pure speculation.

What is the value of a musical compositions, virtual real estate, or in-game items? All NFTs have unique properties and price is typically driven by market demand and not any fundamentals.

For example 90% of NFTS lost all of their value during the last market downturn(bear market) was it because people stopped wanting NFTs or was it that 90% of NFTs had no value?

The way I view NFTs is purely utility, if you can do something with it other than hold it then there may possibly be value there. Even then that value must also been seen by the market. So before you go gung-ho buying NFTs remember most of them are only worth what the next person is willing to pay for them.

Controversies and Challenges

NFTs do have one main problem. Currently ownership of an NFT does not grant copyright, intellectual property rights, or any legal rights over the digital file. It also doesn’t restrict it from being copied and reused in another NFT. This could lead to users being scammed without knowing the true NFT contract address.

Another problem is NFT projects that rug pull their users. Sometimes NFT developers make a project purely to create hype and then run away with user funds and never update/work on the community ever again. While that risk should be obvious when buying a NFT, some users will believe because they bought a dog picture for 2 ETH, then someone else should also buy it for 2 ETH. To seasoned crypto-people this is obvious, but no so much for noobs.

Celebrities/Influencers have also been known to create junk NFTs that have no value other than the fact they were created/associated with the celebrity. These NFTs usually end going to zero and can’t be sold typically unless the price is marked way down. This is a big thing to watch out for if your getting into NFTs.

How To Buy NFTs

1. Set up a digital wallet like MetaMask or Phantom.
2. Buy cryptocurrency, such as Ethereum, using an app, such as Coinbase or your wallet itself.
3. Connect your wallet to a NFT marketplace (OpenSea, Rarible, .etc).
4. You can either mint an NFT Release, or start bidding on existing NFTs. Sometimes you can buy the NFT outright if it has a price set.

The Future of NFTs

Games

Video games may be the biggest and most obvious use case for NFTs going forward. As discussed earlier, NFTs can represent anything in a game. Think virtual real estate in the meta-verse, skins, 3d models, or even in-game resources.

CryptoKitties was successful with making virtual tradeable cats as NFTS. There are games currently coming out like Shrapnel(FPS) and Metaverse titles like Decentraland, Sandbox, Pavia, and Cornucopias. These games will all leverage NFTs to build their player economy. This will give the power back to players and allow them to truly own their in-game assets. It’s an exciting time in the game industry to see what ways developers choose to deploy this new technology.

Identity

Identity has long been something that has been wanted on chain. Think about licenses, IDs, possibly even birth certificates. There are tons of identity platforms being built on blockchain tech. Including Civic, Atala Prism, World ID, etc.

I think this is one of the last major steps to allow uncollateralized lending and true KYC on chain. These technologies will help make sure someone is who they say they are and also possibly help stop theft on-chain in the future.

RWAs – Real World Assets

Real World Assets are a sleeping giant that when awakened will provide one of the biggest use cases for blockchain going forward. Real World Assets can be brought on-chain and traded and sold.

RWAs include bonds, treasuries, stocks, and possibly even some things like wine and fine art. We could potentially track and trade some of most widely used physical items in the world. If stocks were tokenized we could see every trade on the blockchain and stop wondering what all the hedge funds and banks are doing behind the curtain.

Conclusion

NFTs represent an idea of how we could bring about putting things on chain other than simple cryptocurrencies. While they present challenges currently, I’m confident the community will eventually solve those problems. The use cases are truly endless and if used correctly we can fix a lot of the problems with centralization of our current system.

The post What Are NFTS – NFTS For Dummies Guide appeared first on Asset Rich Journal.

Reading

Why Read?

Reading is an awesome tool to keep you from being bored. It sharpens your mind, expands your vocabulary, and can spark some amazing ideas. It’s truly amazing how much you can learn from reading books, especially ones from 50+ years ago. The more you read, the more you know. There are many different books to choose from including: self-development, business, sales, marketing, health, biographies, etc.

Choosing Your Next Read

I also recommend reading fiction in cases where a specific concept is started or talked about. An example would be “Ready Player One”, if your thinking about how the idea of the metaverse started or “1985”, etc.

You also can read books on super specific skills such as Programming in C++, this would teach you how to program using C++. A skill you could then go on and use to build an application or get a job. Also looking on YouTube for books or taking book recommendations from someone you look up to like Elon Musk or Warren Buffett.

Make Reading A Habit

Building habits in general is hard, so I want to preface the following paragraph with that. Making reading a habit isn’t super tough though. My recommendation is that you pick a number of pages to read everyday, regardless of the book you are reading. Setting a goal to read 5-10 pages everyday can drastically change your life, and also build the habit of reading.

Another thing to note here is that you can substitute reading with listening to audiobooks. Audiobooks can be an easier way for people to digest books. Audiobooks can be listened to while doing another activity such as exercising, cooking, or driving. Try also logging your reading, it helps create a small accountability coach for your new habit.

Exercise

Exercise is an awesome way to beat boredom and build yourself at the same time. Working out makes you feel alive and it also helps you feel good on the inside and outside. While you will obviously get tired, it’s probably the best thing you could do on this list.

Exercising keeps your mind and body strong. It also helps release endorphins which make you feel even better! Becoming disciplined about your workout routine or doing it when your bored helps keep you on track. That discipline will soon start to spill into other areas of your life improving you even more!

Finding Your Thing

Exercise doesn’t also have to be hard or burden, it’s a good idea to find what you like or can endure. If you like walking, jogging, running, or even just playing pickup basketball, all of those activities help keep you in shape. Also on the flip side, you can also switch between activities to keep things fresh. So if you spent the last week jogging, maybe try doing yoga or cycling possibly.

Making New Recipes

This one is one of my favorites. Cooking new food is always a great experience and you learn something as well. Adding new recipes to your belt can be a really rewarding experience. Imagine being able to cook food from every country on earth. While your probably not becoming a chef, you can wow your significant other or even your family.

Start Simple

If you’re new to cooking, no worries. Start as simple as possible. There are a ton of recipes on the internet for beginners. There are a lot of one-pot meals, basic baking recipes, even the perfect scrambled egg recipe. The big idea here is to start with something you can keep up with and build your confidence. At this level any mistake you make won’t matter as much.

Expand Your Skillset

Once you have the basics down, you can start trying other things. You could learn how to cut vegetables like a master or make complex sushi recipes. You can also try cooking meals from another country or even making handmade pasta. The options are endless at this point and you just google a few ideas and see what sparks your interest.

Social Events

Another awesome thing about cooking is you can make an event out of it. So if your making sushi tonight, you can invite your friends or loved ones over to share a nice meal. This does many things at once, you are learning, making food for others, bonding with family, and killing your boredom all at the same time.

Starting and Working On A Business

Starting a small business can not only kill boredom, but help you create something that is truly yours. Building something from the ground up and watching it grow is one of the best things you can do in life. It’s not just about the money, but also about learning valuable skills to use in work or life.

Finding Your Business Idea

What are you passionate about? What can you offer that people would pay for? Think of services or products that you already have or that you could build. These things tend to be a lot simpler than you think. I am programmer, so I could do some freelance work which would be me providing a “Service” or sell programming t-shirts which would be a “Product”. So think about what you know and like and come up with an idea.

Start Building

Okay now that you’ve picked an idea, it’s time to start building. The first thing you should do is start by setting some goals that are realistic and not outcome based. So an example would be not setting a goal to sell 1,000 programming t-shirts, but setting a goal of knocking on 10,000 doors and asking people to consider your shirt. While all 10,000 could say no, you would have learned valuable skills and completed your goal.

Finding Balance

Building a new business and balancing that with your regular life can be extremely difficult. Especially if what you have to do is on a deadline like shipping a product. A good idea is to set aside a specific time where you will only work on your business. Don’t get discouraged by not making money early on. Most businesses fail and if you do succeed the business will probably grow slowly over time. Success takes time and patience so don’t forget to be patient!

Learning New Skills

This is one of the most productive things to do when your bored. New skills can come in all form, it could be learning to make soap from scratch, or learning how to use a bow and arrow. Online there is treasure chest of information waiting for you. You can learn skills that beef up your resume or your personal skillset.

Learning Online

Learning online is super flexible. You can literally learn just about everything at anytime. There are awesome courses on Coursera, Udemy, and Skillshare. You could learn graphic design, a new language, programming, video editing, photography, etc. The options might literally be endless. Learning online is also super convenient because you can pause videos and then start them again whenever you want. Online courses are gateways to more skills and information.

Set Goals

Setting goals are key to your success. Want to complete a video course in a month or week? Set weekly or daily goals that break down the course into small achievable milestones. These smaller goals are pivotal in your success, because the hardest part about learning new skills is finishing the entire course. If you feel stuck or are in need of help try reaching out to the support community or forum associated with your course. Typically there are tons of people on the 3 platforms above who are all willing to help.

Apply Your New Skills

Applying your new skills is super fun, because now when your bored you have something to do. Imagine you took a photography course and when your bored, you now go to parks and take interesting photographs. Another example would be you learned how to program, and when your bored you now build chatbots that talk to each other.

Boredom Begone

Using the ideas above I am confident you can put an end to your boredom and become more productive at the same time. Whether your learning a new recipe, jogging on a treadmill, or building a t-shirt business, you will most definitely start making the most of your time.

Also remember that boredom isn’t a bad thing. Its just a signal for your to step up and do something different and possibly more exciting. The activities listed above are about expanding your skillset and building things. Improving yourself and providing value to the world is awesome way to flip bored free time to productive time.

So the next time your sitting around, wondering what to do, think back to this article. Pick one of these ideas and get to work. You might find a book or hidden talent you’ve never dreamed of, and who knows you might just build a habit that you can be proud of!

The post What To Do When Your Bored: A Guide to Maximizing Your Time appeared first on Asset Rich Journal.

There are a bunch of ways you can yield farm and there are even some advanced strategies to earn upwards of 50% apy on assets. Today I’ll be walking you through, what yield farming is, some of the basic concepts to know, and how you can get started yourself.

What is Yield Farming?

I didn’t want to write some B.S overview article without showing you a true Uniswap v3 position. The black bars are there just to hide the address associated with this position for security, but who knows, it’s insane what hackers can do nowadays.

Anyways the important parts to note here are that I provided $247.69 as “”Liquidity”, which is my own money. The “Unclaimed fees” part is what I have earned from people buying and selling BTC or Bitcoin, which can be collected whenever I want.

How To Claim Fees or Rewards?

In the image above if you click the “Collect fees” button, you would then accept a smart contract transaction that would pay your rewards out to you.

Smart Contract Gas Fees

Every time you perform an action on the blockchain you will incur a gas fee. Depending on the network this gas fee can be extremely cheap or extremely expensive. As an example the average gas fees on the polygon network are $0.01 cent. On Ethereum it can be as high as $100. Polygon is a L2(Layer 2) on Ethereum which is why the fees are a lot cheaper.

Concentrated Liquidity

That is the very top level view of what is happening when someone is yield farming. To add one more little piece to this without confusing you too much too early. Uniswap V3 allows you to concentrate your liquidity between price points that you define. This allows you to earn more fees from your position. It essentially means earn fees from swaps that fall into this price range. If the price goes to far down or up your position will be dumped into a single token.

Lastly, there are other things which could be considered yield farming, like depositing your funds(BTC/ETH) in Aave(DeFI banking protocol) and they pay not only fees from lending out your assets, but also you could be paid token incentives if there are some. An example of this was when Matic(POL/Polygon) was offering rewards for depositing and borrowing on the Polygon Network. You heard me right, people where getting “Paid To Borrow”. You could also borrow against your collateral in Aave, borrowing USDC/DAI(Stablecoins) and then use those to provide liquidity on Uniswap, while your BTC/ETH increases in value.

Risk Of Yield Farming

Yield farming has a lot of pitfalls. I don’t say that to scare you away, but to truly inform you that yield farming is not for the faint of heart. There are risks in lending, borrowing, and even providing liquidity to decentralized exchanges. I’ll explain each one below.

Lending

This is probably the least risky of all 3 but it still is extremely risky. Lending your crypto assets to a lending protocol like Aave has risks. First one being liquidations, so if you provide Bitcoin as collateral, someone could borrow that bitcoin and not pay the loan back. If they don’t or their collateral falls below the amount needed to keep the loan open, the protocol will auto-liquidate their position.

The problem with this is that whatever they provided could be worth a lot less than the bitcoin they didn’t pay back. In Aave’s defense, they have done a lot of work to improve protocol parameters and so far they have been running mostly without a hitch for 3-4 years. They’ve also added notifications for users who are close to liquidation and use their own token “Aave” to help in case of stability issues which will be sold from the staked supply to help pay users back.

Borrowing

Borrowing is “extremely risky”. The reason I put that in quotes is because I have learned from experience the hard way on this one. The health factor from Aave above shows how close you are to liquidation. The second image is warning that Aave shows when borrowing so much that your health factor drops below (1.5).

Borrowing’s risks lie in two main components, your collateral, and what you borrow. An easy example of this is depositing bitcoin and borrowing USDC(stablecoin) against it in Aave. The value of the amount you borrowed is stable because it is a stablecoin, but your deposited Bitcoin’s price is volatile. So imagine Bitcoin goes from 60k to 15k. The amount of collateral you have drops substantially thus auto-liqudating your position. In that case you lose everything you deposited into the platform.

Smart Contract Flaws

Smart contracts are not perfect. While the dapps mentioned in this article have been heavily tested and audited, the crypto space is still fairly new and evolving. There have been a lot of bugs that have caused a lot of money to be stolen over time. There is also what is called “Getting Rugged” in which the developers themselves either dump their dapp token on the market forcing the coin down or a smart contract bug causes liquidity to be drained.

Liquidity Providing

LP’ing or Liquidity Providing is also risky. So I mentioned uniswap v3 allowing users to set at what price points they want to provide liquidity. You can also tell Uniswap that you want provide liquidity for the entire price range. Liquidity providers face what is known as impermanent loss. I figure this one would be better with a visual example. The below image shows what would happen if you provide liquidity for the BTC/USDC pair when bitcoin is at $37,650, and then price of bitcoin falling to $29,000. If you put $1000 dollars into a liquidity pool and the above scenario happens, then your LP position would now be worth $877.64 which would be a loss of $123.

Regulatory Risks

This one is a bit tricky, because currently there are tools to calculate your taxes and what you owe the IRS or whatever government you pay taxes too. The issue with this specifically in the U.S is there really isn’t any regulatory clarity on crypto. Meaning that the conditions and what is valid and isn’t valid is rapidly changing. Do your best to stay up to date on your governing body’s tax laws and crypto laws.

What Do I Need To Yield Farm?

You need 3 things

• A web3 wallet/digital wallet an example would be MetaMask
• Cryptocurrency in your web3 wallet
• LP tokens that you have bought and staked on a decentralized exchange

Add Liquidity Screen On Uniswap

You will also need to make sure that you have thought about your taxes. There are plenty great resources out there that explain/help with preparing your crypto tax gains. I can’t stress this part enough as many people forget that regardless there are only two things guaranteed in life, death and taxes.

What Is Decentralized Finance or DeFi?

Decentralized finance is exactly what we have been discussing throughout this article. DeFi is against the idea of a centralized financial system. It allows users to bring their own liquidity on which users can buy, sell, and transfer assets.  DeFi essentially allows the masses to become market makers and do what banks do. It also eliminates the unnecessary fees charged by big banks that people pay to do just about anything.

What are Dapps or Decentralized Apps?

Dapps are applications that run on decentralized blockchains. The key point is there is no single point of failure like there is with large banks or corporations. Dapps can also power things unrelated to finance such as gaming, shipping, digital identity, and social media.

Final Thoughts

I think getting into DeFi can be fun and teach you a lot about blockchains and smart contracts. It can also teach you a lot about how financial markets work. With that being said it is extremely risky and cryptocurrency prices are super volatile. You are likely to lose a lot of money. If you are going into DeFi with money that you can afford to lose and you have a lot of time to get through the learning curve it can definitely be exciting.

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog series is for informational and educational purposes only. I am not a financial advisor, and the content presented here should not be construed as financial advice or recommendations for making investment decisions. Crypto investments, especially in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space, carry inherent risks.

I do not endorse or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented in this blog series. Any actions you take based on the information provided here are at your own risk, and I shall not be held responsible for any losses or damages that may occur as a result.

The post How To Yield Farm appeared first on Asset Rich Journal.

In finance, being able to read financial data is crucial. TTM, or Trailing Twelve Months, is one of the best tools to analyze a company. It’s a lens through which we can view how a company has been doing over the past 12 months. And trust me, if you invested through covid, having a awesome tool like TTM is the closest thing to having a financial superpower.

Definition of TTM

Alright, let’s break it down. TTM stands for Trailing Twelve Months. It’s like having a rearview mirror that reflects a company’s financial performance over the last year. Unlike quarterly earnings that just show a snippet, TTM normally gives a full picture of a company’s financial KPIs.

Application of TTM in Finance

TTM is a straightforward way to analyze a company’s financial health. By looking at the TTM figures, you can compare apples to apples when eyeballing different companies. It helps you level the playing field, especially when companies report data at different times. TTM is the ref that makes sure the game is fair.

You can use it to evaluate revenue, earnings, cash flow, and a lot of other key metrics. TTM is awesome at telling us how a company stacks up over time or against their competition. And for us investors, it’s a treasure map, guiding us to make informed decisions.

Comparison with Other Financial Metrics

There are other metrics like quarterly or yearly figures. However, there is one unique thing about TTM. It smooths out the seasonal blips and gives a clearer picture. It smooths out anomalies like covid, black tuesday, interest rate changes, etc.

Real-World Examples

Companies like Apple or Amazon often have their financial performance scrutinized through the TTM lens. These companies lead the world, so it makes sense to see how the best companies are doing. By looking at whatever KPI TTM numbers, analysts, investors, and yes even degenerates can get a sense of how these huge companies are doing on their finances.

Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just getting your feet wet, understanding TTM can be a game-changer. Adopting this metric into your investment decisions can greatly skew the odds in your favor! Reading books on finance can help as well!

References

For those hungry for more, there are loads of resources out there to dive deeper into the world of TTM. Books, articles, financial blogs – the money wisdom is endless. Below are two more references on TTM.

Investopedia’s TTM Article

GO Card TTM Article

The post What Does TTM Mean? appeared first on Asset Rich Journal.

Now, I’ve spent a good chunk of my life in the cold, rigid world of finance, where every penny counts. I’ve juggled numbers more than I’ve binged my favorite series. But even in the stern face of finance, there’s a whimsical whisper that sometimes, just sometimes, money can come with a side of fun. And what’s more fun than diving into the endless sea of dramas, comedies, and documentaries that Netflix has on offer?

You see, Netflix isn’t just a haven for the movie buffs, it’s also a treasure chest for those looking to make some extra dough. The platform, along with some savvy third-party opportunities, has created a realm where your love for on-screen stories can actually fatten up that wallet of yours. So, if you’re ready to turn those cozy Netflix sessions into cold hard cash, you’re in for a treat.

In this guide, I’ll break down the legit ways you can actually get paid to watch Netflix. Whether you’re into spine-chilling horrors or tear-jerking dramas, there’s a way to turn that passion into profit. And hey, who wouldn’t want to clock into a job that requires a Netflix subscription and a love for storytelling? So grab your popcorn, and let’s dive into the lucrative world of earning while streaming!

Official Netflix Jobs

Ah, the sweet sound of making money mixed with the hum of your favorite Netflix series playing in the background. But did you know Netflix itself offers some legit gigs that pay you for your viewing prowess? Let’s unpack a couple of them.

Tagger Position

1. Now, what in the world is a tagger, you ask? Well, a Netflix tagger is that cool cat who watches shows and movies to categorize and tag content based on themes, genres, and all that jazz. It’s all about helping Netflix’s algorithm suggest the right stuff to the right folks. You’re basically the unsung hero who makes our binge-watching sessions smooth sailing.

2. Qualifying for this gig might require a little bit of a background in media or a good eye for detail. But hey, if you’re the one who’s always spotting the plot twists, this might just be your call to fame. You can hunt for these positions on Netflix’s official careers page or keep an eye out on job boards. They pop up once in a blue moon, so staying alert is key.

Editorial Analyst

1. Moving onto the Editorial Analyst. This is for the folks who’ve got a knack for spotting the good, the bad, and the ugly in the content they consume. As an Editorial Analyst, you’d be watching and reviewing Netflix’s vast library to ensure accuracy and quality. You’re the guardian of content quality, making sure everything on the platform is up to snuff.

2. As for getting your foot in the door, having some solid experience in media or a related field could be your ticket. Applying is a breeze – just hop onto the Netflix careers page and shoot your shot. Who knows, you might just land a gig where “Netflix and Earn” becomes your new mantra.

So, while the finance world and Netflix may seem like they’re worlds apart, there’s a sweet spot where they collide. And if you’ve got the passion for storytelling and a keen eye, these official Netflix gigs might just have your name written all over them.

Third-Party Opportunities

Stepping outside the Netflix headquarters, there’s a wild world of opportunities waiting for folks like us who wouldn’t mind making a buck or two while enjoying some good old Netflix content. Let’s dive into a couple of these hustles.

Review Platforms

1. You know those platforms like Rotten Tomatoes or IMDb where folks go ham over the latest series or films? Well, there’s room for you to chime in and make some change. By penning down your thoughts and reviews on Netflix content, you can earn a reputation, and with time, some dough. It’s all about sharing your two cents and getting recognized for it.

2. Now, it might take a minute to build a rep as a go-to reviewer, but with some persistence and a knack for expressing your thoughts, you’ll get there. And the more you get noticed, the more opportunities will come knocking at your door.

Blogging and Vlogging

1. If you’ve got the gift of gab or can whip up engaging write-ups, then blogging or vlogging about Netflix content could be your goldmine. Starting a blog or a YouTube channel dedicated to reviewing, discussing, or even theorizing about Netflix shows and movies can pull in an audience. And where there’s an audience, there’s a way to monetize.

2. Getting started might seem like climbing a steep hill, but with a bit of passion and consistency, you’ll find your tribe. And as your following grows, so will your earnings. Advertisement revenue, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing are just a few ways to turn your Netflix chatter into chatter.

This world of third-party opportunities is like a treasure trove for anyone with likes Netflix and a little entrepreneurial spirit. And while the finance realm may be all about minimizing risks, venturing into these creative hustles might just be the exciting plot twist your earning journey needs. So, if you’re ready to trade the financial charts for Netflix charts, these side hustles await your exploration.

Market Research and Surveys

Now, let’s swerve a bit into a lane that merges the Netflix love with a touch of market insight. Market research companies are always on the prowl for opinions on movies and shows, and hey, who are we to deny them our golden thoughts, especially if there’s some green to be made?

Introduction to market research companies

1. Market research firms are like the nosy neighbors of the business world, always wanting to know what’s hot and what’s not. And Netflix, being the giant it is, often finds itself under the spotlight. These companies pay folks like us to watch and review content on Netflix, gathering insights to fuel their data-hungry clients.

Finding and signing up

Now, signing up for these gigs is usually as easy as pie. A quick online search will land you on platforms that pay for your views on Netflix shows and movies. Create a profile, pick your preferences, and boom, you’re in the game.

Potential earnings and drawbacks

The earnings? Well, don’t plan on buying that beach house just yet. The pay might not be sky-high, but it’s a neat way to make your Netflix sessions count. On the flip side, the available gigs might not always align with your taste, and you might find yourself watching something that makes watching paint dry seem thrilling.

So, while we’re crunching numbers and playing it safe in the finance world, there’s a slice of adventure awaiting in the market research realm. And who knows, your insights could just be the missing puzzle piece a company needs to soar. It’s all about blending the fun of Netflix with the satisfaction of making a few extra bucks, and market research provides a stage for just that. So, if you’re ready to make your opinions count, literally, this is a lane worth exploring.

Creating a Side Hustle

Now, let’s step into the realm of the hustle, where every Netflix minute can potentially churn out some change. Combining the gems we’ve uncovered so far could lead to a side hustle that’s as enjoyable as it is profitable.

Combining Various Methods

1. Who says you’ve got to pick just one lane? You could be tagging content for Netflix in the morning, dropping reviews on platforms by noon, and hashing out a blog post or shooting a vlog by night. It’s about mixing and matching these opportunities to create a side hustle that keeps the coins coming while you’re chilling with your favorite shows.

2. It’s like having your cake, eating it, and getting a slice of someone else’s too. With a little strategy and time management, you can juggle these gigs to not only enjoy your Netflix time but also see some real financial gain.

Success Stories

1. The digital space is brimming with folks who’ve turned their Netflix love into a revenue stream. From bloggers and vloggers to professional taggers, the success stories are as varied as Netflix’s content library.

2. You’ll find individuals who started off with a simple blog, and now they’re raking in a decent income, all thanks to their unique take on Netflix shows and movies. Their journeys are a testament to the fact that with a dash of creativity and a sprinkle of hustle, you can turn your Netflix hours into something lucrative.

We’ve been talking numbers, figures, and returns on investments in the finance world, but here’s a chance to add a spicy twist to the narrative. The idea is to turn leisure into leverage, and there’s no better platform than Netflix to kickstart this exciting venture. So, whether it’s crunching numbers by day and tagging shows by night, or dropping financial advice on a blog and reviewing Netflix originals, the sky’s the limit. The ball is in your court, how you play it could turn your Netflix time into a thrilling, money-making adventure.

So here we are, at the crossroads where the thrill of Netflix meets the allure of some extra cheddar. We’ve navigated through the official gigs that Netflix offers, dipped our toes into third-party opportunities, explored the market research landscape, and even dabbled in the idea of concocting a side hustle from our Netflix love. It’s a wild, wild world out there, where the popcorn is sweetened with the potential of earning. And while the finance game has its own set of thrills, there’s something irresistibly exciting about making money off something as chill as watching Netflix.

This journey has shown that with a dash of creativity, a sprinkle of hustle, and a love for streaming, the dream of earning while binge-watching is not as far-fetched as it may seem. Instead of Netflix burning a hole in your pocket every month, it becomes a vessel sailing you towards some extra bucks. So, as you get ready to watch Netflix, remember, there’s a universe of opportunities waiting for you to press play.

Now, this narrative is too exciting to be hoarded, don’t you think? Go ahead, share this guide with your buddies, your family, or anyone you know who’s got that Netflix zeal. Spread the word and let’s create a community where we’re not just Netflix connoisseurs, but also savvy earners.

And hey, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Got any more ideas on how to turn Netflix binges into bucks? Or maybe you’ve tried some of these hustles? Drop a comment below and let’s keep this conversation rolling. Your insights could be the beacon for others sailing in this thrilling voyage of turning leisure time into a lucrative venture. So, let’s hear it, and remember, in this narrative, every episode could lead to an earning opportunity!

The post Get Paid To Watch Netflix: Your Dream Job Awaits appeared first on Asset Rich Journal.