Yeah you're right one should invest with their spare money and I pity those that go into gambling to earn a living or take it as a serious investment, gambling is a game of luck and just like football, music and movie one should see gambling as a form of entertainment and not go beyond that cause it's very addictive and excessive gambling  could lead to ruins and regret.
 I've witness a case where a student used his school fees to gamble, and ended up not making any profit, he cried and pleaded for his money to be refund but to no avail, 0lol it might seem funny but very annoying because alot of people are yet to understand that it yields more loss than profit cause this Casinos or gambling sites needs you to loss so as to make themselves rich.
 Though their are several people that are gifted with the art of predicting, they easily make profit and makes it seem easy but there's a saying that all fingers are not equal and what works for Mr A might not work for B, I'm not criticising those that gamble but the things is people should know when to quit or gamble Wisely.

 You made the right choice  investing in cryptocurrencies at that point in time, honestly I wish I had invested in bitcoin earlier, but there's a saying that it's better late than never and i think you should encourage your friends about considering investing in bitcoin as well and since  you've lasted I'm the crypto ecosystem for over two years and gain profits from it, that means you've mastered the trade and you're in the best position to teach them about bitcoin.
 Well you can as well let them know that bitcoin is a decentralized currency and cannot be controlled or monitored by the government just like the fiat currencies so they have to reason to fear cause the government doesn't determine the price of it, nobody controls or own bitcoin, it's a currency controlled by everyday users, including government officials and normal people, miners, nodes and exchanges where it's been traded.
 it is very impossible for the Internet to shut down and one can only lose their assest when trading without caution thereby avoiding risk management, theft or scam.

My Countdown to full member Rank
Number of Merit(s) left: 13 12 11

It haven't been an easy one and work to get here and I'm pleading to get a little push up to get me ranked up to the next rank and I will be so glad if I'm considered.

Thanks

It's very wise to invest in Cryptocurrency with money you could afford to loose incase of lose or drop in price of bitcoin, and also there's no best time to invest in bitcoin currently my reason is that bitcoin is likely to reach an all time high in 2024 as predicted and it just increased from $25k to $30k days ago So those that missed out on buying the Dip can as well buy now or wait for a drop In price to buy.
 According to the your post, you stated that bitcoin will not come up soon as at march and I guess the price was not close to $30k when you made such statement, so with the current rise in price I guess that has cleared your doubt, but I agree with you when you said everyone has to be careful when investing cause no one can  predict the price of bitcoin since it's a decentralized currency.

The uniqueness of bitcoin is 2nd to no others, asides from birthing other Cyptocurrencies, unlike stable coins that are backed by the USD bitcoin cannot be tracked and is highly decentralized meaning that government might find it very difficult to control or influence the price of btc, it is not like the CBDC which is regulated by a nations monetary authority.

 Also, OP just like you stated it is traded in every sphere of the market and can be found in every crypto exchanges because it is the first and most value crypto asset and very easily to be converted to fiat in most exchanges, it might seem impossible to access or trade other Altcoins in most exchanges but bitcoin is most accessible by almost all exchanges.

 I don't think you choose the right topic for this post, because you automatically become a newbie once you make a new post or reply to a thread, the word potential according to your statement should be referred to those that have an idea about that forum but are yet to join or brand-new members that yet to make a post.
 So far a newbie in the forum is making nice contributions and gaining Merits they could be referred to as potential member, full member or any other senior rank, and the more quality contributions you make more you get noticed and merited by high ranking members in the forum.

 Everyone in the crypto space would wish for this to happen at the moment but there are many challenges that's made this almost impossible to archive even in the future. Bitcoin is a decentralized currency and the government especially (U.S) would not see it'success being used as general currency.
 The government won't want a currency beyond their control, cause bitcoin can't be manipulated just like the fiat currency and moreover there are very few people currently that have a good knowledge about bitcoin including the barriers of mining it as well.
 Though it's likely to be but there a lots of work to be done before it's accepted globally where as the sole aim of satoshi was it to be used as an alternative to fiat as a means of buying and selling and also to remove third parties that are required to conduct digital monetary transfers, well only time would tell if bitcoin would be the currency of the future.

 I agree with the OP that nothing good comes easily,  because something that's worth having is sometimes not easily gotten, for instance to achieve success you need to work hard with good discipline and commitment to get to the peak , though in life, there are three kinds of people.
 First set of people are  those that makes little effort at the first trial but still get their goals.
 The second set of people are those that makes effort but still faces little challenges and encounter one or two trials but still get there goals on the long run
 Lastly are those people that seems like luck is never on their side, they work very hard more than the first and second set of people and archive little success.
 But whether you fall under any of these set of people, you still need to work to achieve success whether you put in less effort or not. Life itself is not a bed of roses it's still full of struggles, hoodles and trials.

Bitcointalk username: sakanwa
Forum rank:  Member
Earned merit: 53
bech32 address: bc1q3aufw7py3e64njjaak0sndy59prruw4ayvdf5f

IGNORANCE
This is one of the reasons why people stay poor because they always look down on every life advancing opportunity  and every thing is scam.

Destiny
I know that so many people will dispute this very one but the truth  is that there are people that will never be Rich no matter how much effort they put in the things they do and there are people  who excel without any much efforts.
Thats destiny playing.

Thank you sir for interviewing  me and I'm glad to answer to these questions and I hope this also brings me out.

1. When and why did you become interested in cryptocurrencies
I became really interested  in cryptocurrency late last year after reading alot about it on Facebook and YouTube and I was a guest on the forum for over a year before becoming a member
When
And I finally  made my first post around December 2022 which was when I paid off for the proxy ban after my first bitcoin  purchase but I was a guest after registering  for a year and was restricted  to post because of the proxy ban.

2. When and why did you buy your first bitcoin?
I bought my first bitcoin  because I needed to buy for my proxy ban and though I paid in cash to a neighbor  who helped paid off the ban because the ban fee was very little as at then.

3. How did you get on the forum?
From a neighbor  who introduced  me because I wanted  some form of financial freedom and wanted to make some money from the internet and it made me realized that the industry  is amazing  and has alot of opportunities.


4.1. How do you consider whether 2-3 years of experience in cryptocurrency is enough to successfully invest or does an investor need to receive special education?
I wouldn't have to say that I'm really good but I think I've gathered  enough knowledge  to know what I'm doing in the industry  and I'm barely 1 year officially in the industry and by this, 2-3 years is enough for anyone to know what he or she is doing in the industry.
So i don't think any special education is needed.

4.2. What prevents mass adoption of cryptocurrencies?
i. Government restrictions policies has been the key hindrance to mass adoption of cryptocurrencies.
ii. Poor network signal / internet services
iii. Poor awareness campaigns.

4.3. What is the situation with cryptocurrencies in your country? Are there any problems when exchanging for fiat? Which city or place in your country is best suited for cryptocurrency holders?
Well I don't think the country has any major issues with cryptocurrencies holders except from some lawless security officers who would want to extort from these investors.

No major problem exchanging  for fiat since there is the P2P  exchanges.

I think the country's capital has one of the most holders as well as some major cities but you never can tell since there isn't any actual survey for that.

4.4. Are you using the Lightning network? If yes, for what purposes?
I don't use the Lightning network  myself but I've helped a friend make transaction using the Lightning  network and it was great and really fast.

4.5. Which secure cryptocurrency wallets are you currently using?
I use luno more than once but I heard their rates aren't good and I also used Patricia  too.

5. What do you think of the current Merit system and signature campaigns?  Do they harm the forum?
I haven't  been part of any signature campaign yet but I think the merit  system  also helps to make users make meaningful  contributions to the forum.

6. The most useful forum topic? Most helpful users?
I really do find most of the topics interesting  and since I don't visit all boards, I think I might be missing some interesting  topics.
Most helpful users?
@fillippone
@Sceptical Chymist
@Royse777
@Welsh
And a whole lot of them.

7. 3 things you would implement on the forum?
I think it should  be possible to make accounts of deceased transferable and on serious  watch rather than just let an account that has taken so much effort to grow just get abandoned when the deceased maybe have some responsible direct family who can run the account as well.

8. Do you trade on exchanges or invest in projects?
I don't have enough for investment now so I focus  on survival  now but when the money comes,  definitely  I'm hodling more of bitcoin.

9. Tell a story about your big profit or big loss?
No big profits or loss for now but i pray for more profits over losses.

10. What do you think about the DEFI ecosystem?
I haven't  paid deep attention  to some terminology in the field  but I understand  that people would say that I haven't  done my research and I wouldn't argue with that but I'm taking things easy.

11. Is your anonymity a vital necessity or precaution?
There is nothing i'm taking precautions  against and I don't see it as a necessity  especially  for now until  the need arises.

12. The last cryptocurrency book you read?
I've  read a deriv e-book and It was more about trading and I had fun since it talked about cryptocurrencies  as well.

13. Advise 3 cryptocurrencies/tokens for investment in the next 1-2 years?
I'm not a fan of altcoins so i would advise people to stick to bitcoin (not a financial advise)

14. How much will Bitcoin cost at the end of 2023?
I'm  not a technical  or financial analyst  but I'm  hoping it crosses $35k without much exaggerations

Quitting my job depends on the type of job I'm doing currently and there are possibilities that if I find something more profitable and less time demanding, then I wouldn't have to stress myself over some casual jobs which means that I can give up my job if crypto trading becomes more profitable and if I become stable but having a second thought, I think there is no need giving up my job if doing the both jobs doesn't affect me at least directly and there is a saying that we should always have multiple streams of income so doing my regular job along with trading wouldn't be a bad idea provided they don't cause any harm mentally on me.

I will personally love to got into trading full time but that will depend on how much capital I have and if I'm to start trading on a small basics then it will have to be a side hussle to give me room to raise more capital till I get balance in trading

I was really have these going through my mind and it really disturbing me alot so I have to share to use your opinion.
A friend said to me that he lost all his bitcoin and I asked him how and he said he was scammed and has never doing any savings and just join as of 2months back and I don't know what to do any more so he asked me what do he do, I really never thought of anything to say to him so I ask to what will be your advice for him because right now his not working anymore.
I what to know if there is any possibility that he can stand back!!.

Initially is not really you spent money and you feel that how you get it back, frankly speaking it is really not done that way because the way we get our money is not the same way we spend it.
The way we get our monthly payment is not the same way we spend it.
Of a truth life is not bed of roses, life is not the way you see it and is never how you think it is. Just have it in mind that the way you plan your life that how it will look like for you, don't make more and you think of spend it in a day or a week and still having it in mind that you will gat more after spending they won you have.
You should know that it not all deals that brings profits.

For someone to be called an investor a good knowledge about investment and has face alot of things during investing.
A great investor most be a risk-bearer and be ready to face what ever that comes out from his or her investment.
A good investor most let go of fear and also getting over his emotions not to be cut out with due to emotional issues.

Not having 0.8 bitcoin and you call yourself an investor, do you have what it takes to been an investor!!!, Can you bear the pain when hard times comes, because am investor is ever ready what ever that comes out either profit or lost. For you be an investor you have to learn the ways of an investor.

I am impressed by your words and motives and for you encouraging us to hold on our bitcoin I really appreciate your advice thanks alot.
Well you really don't know with human man and what they are going through that really uge them not to be that holding type, in life we all do face challenges and most of them needs us to get it off with real money, we don't have to be very stigen to yourself about so it makes alot not to hold much unto our funs or bitcoin.
Most people fell very okay to keep holding but sometimes things do go wrong and uges us to lay hands on them.

Initially holding our bitcoin is the best but due to the way things are that warrant us to withdraw our bitcoin for holding it long enough. For example in country they way things are getting expensive everyday is becoming essesive so with that along can make you not to hold unto it, but it really good hold because I have seen the benefit of holding you bitcoin.

Investment in almost every one dream and arms, for you to become investor you most have to learn and be smart in every area of life, Because our world now we really need more of investmentt then eat all for example in my country Nigeria everything is get high every day to day so you learn how to invest the spending much, so I tried taking the risk to invest because for you to become an investor you have to bear what ever that comes either you loss or profit.
So for you to become an investor you have to know about what you want to invest in and how it works and also the risks that follow before getting to invest. becoming a good investor you most make research to more on any investment platform in ae getting into.

First I really appreciate you trying to make him invest and letting him know about bitcoin,for him to per-take in the moving train.
But the wrong side about it is that you didn't explain to him broad about bitcoin and how it works.
The fact there is that it shouldn't come to his lost days and come saying bitcoin is a scam,for because the bitcoin I know is never a scam it just what you have to learn and get more knowledge about. My advise now to you is for you to call your friend and explain to him perfectly well on how bitcoin works and how he made his Invertement in it, then if you don't have much knowledge you can advise him to do some research to know more. But I most confess you did well by telling him about bitcoin 👍

It was a very tragic night for me but at the end, I still have to give thanks to the almighty creator  for this kindness and mercy on me.

It all happened around 2am last night when I heard sudden movements within my compound and since I barely sleep early at night, I was curious to know who was walking  about by that ungodly hour because it wasn't sounding  like a step of just one person, so I had to pay close attention and to my greatest shock, my door was forced open without a single knock on the door and I was gripped in fear as I saw men with guns and daggers and deadly weapon and all I could hear is where is the money I was shocked because since last month I haven't  been active on the forum because of a little project I had in hand and I was hoping to save up and get a car for hire purchase that I could use for Uber business  but before I could even point where the money was, i was given the torture of my life and was stabbled mercilessly and they also took all I had including my phone and laptop and all the savings I had but in all that happened, I  returned all the glory and thanks to God and I'm currently  receiving treatment and I just want the forum to join me thank God  for another opportunity to be among the living.
Below are some of the pictures

Just like fuel is important to a car so as money is important to man you can't do without it imagine seeing the valuable things in the world and you cannot afford them it weakens you and makes you feel uncomfortable     most people ask this very questions if money rules the world money doesn't rule the world but it serve as a purpose of exchanging goods, treasuries and also paying bills money only makes us fell ok because of the confidence people find in it they also believe it is a source of power and also our source of living even when we were kids we have already known about money as an important treasure I think people only value money