Cryptocurrency and the Five Stages of Grief

RESISTANCE TO CHANGE & THE PROGRESSION OF CRYPTO-GRIEF

When the giant, well-established financial institution that has been around for 100 years is faced with a disrupter that they cannot stop, ban, shut down, sue, buy, eradicate, or legislate against, there is a progression that I predict we will see that is strikingly similar to the 5 stages of grief.

But just as the financial industry is in complete denial right now, so is average John Q. Citizen. This is what I predict will be going through the minds of the masses of people who fail to see the writing on the wall as they progress through the five stages…

1. Denial

Bitcoin can’t possibly work, it’s not real money, it has no credibility, and it will never survive. It will eventually go away on it’s own, and die. It makes absolutely no sense. It’s just a minor distraction right now, and we’ll have to just wait it out. While everyone wastes their time and money on this fad, I'll stick to my day job and depend on my retirement and the strong US dollar.

2. Anger

It’s the money of pedophiles, terrorists, drug dealers, criminals, and fraudsters because these people use the highest technology possible to run away from the law. Therefore, it should be banned. If we don’t ban it, God will, because it’s the mark of the beast and the currency of the Antichrist. Besides, the government will shut it down any day now. They allow our world to go the way of the rogues!

3. Bargaining

Please, dear God, let me go back in time when Bitcoin was only twenty-five cents so I can buy five thousand shares. I was meant to be a Bitcoin billionaire, but I was distracted with too many important things! But you know my heart, you know I will be good for the money. Okay God, if you can’t let me time travel, just let the price of Bitcoin crash temporarily back down to a dollar and I promise I’ll buy a pile of it and help all the hungry in the world and house all the homeless people in New York City with the billions that I gain. Please God!

4. Depression

Dear God, why was I so stupid? Why didn’t I listen? Why didn’t you stop me in my stupidity and make me take note of what was going on? My life will never be the same! I’m going to be stuck poor forever! I’m so stupid I shouldn’t even exist.

5. Acceptance

Well I guess I can’t change the past, and what’s done is done. I had my chance to be mega-rich, and I didn’t jump on the opportunity. But I’ll learn how to live in this new world of Bitcoin, Blockchain, and cryptocurrency. Who knows… maybe I can make a little money investing in it after all!

Mark my words, you heard it here first.

Carlton Flowers
The Cryptographic Prophet

Understanding the Size of the Cryptocurrency Movement

THE PARADIGM SHIFT IS JUST BEGINNING...

Each and every day I study more and more about cryptocurrency and Bitcoin. The more I study, the bigger the entire picture gets. I cannot even wrap my mind around it just yet. And things have not even come to a head.

Right now, the majority of people in the world have no earthly idea of how big this paradigm shift is shaping up to be. We still here talk of the cryptocurrency market being a "bubble", or some passing phase that will eventually crumble once governments and bankers put an end to it. The reason so many people remain clueless is the fact that the crypto market has not hit critical mass.

Conventional wisdom says, "the government will shut it down because they'll never allow something to take away their power". But the truth of the matter is, it's already out of their hands. There is nothing that will stop the masses of people in the world from doing what is natural, which is participating in trade.

When people say that Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies won't last, or that the big bubble will burst, they speak out of ignorance. It would be as ridiculous as saying that people trading products and services will "burst" one day. That will never happen.

As long as there are human beings who live in this world, there will always be trade. And Bitcoin has revolutionized the ability for humans to do what comes naturally... trade with each other, without the interference of governments and banks.

The benefits of how cryptocurrencies work, along with the Blockchain, far outweigh the antiquated system of fiat currencies that are in use today. Comparing a fiat currency like the US dollar to Bitcoin would be like comparing a typewriter to a cutting edge personal computer system connected to the World Wide Web. You just can't draw a comparison.

Another example would be comparing the benefits to going back to horse-drawn carriages and mules and abandoning motor vehicles, airplanes, and high speed trains, because we have more ability to control horses and mules. That wouldn't make much sense.

Neither does the thinking that fiat currency will prevail and cryptocurrencies will disappear over time.

This is not a fad, or a passing phase. It's a monumental paradigm shift in the way the citizens of Earth will interact with each other. And that explanation does not even come close to doing it justice. I'm not educated on this topic enough to even begin to be able to paint a proper picture.

I'll be explaining a lot of the basics of cryptocurrency, the Blockchain, and the advantages of the shift to this futuristic platform for monetary exchange over the coming months. If you have questions, please post them in the comments below, and I might use your questions for a future post topic.

Carlton Flowers
The Crypto Pro

How to Get Started In Cryptocurrency with Coinbase

GETTING STARTED BUYING CRYPTOCURRENCY WITH COINBASE

I got started 3 days ago with my first purchase of Bitcoin only three days ago at an entry price of $9675.81 for one Bitcoin. It was a super confusing process, and was very frustrating. But I fumbled my way through it after studying it for several days.

I didn't have an extra $9675.81 sitting around to buy one Bitcoin. Fortunately, you don't have to buy an entire whole "coin". You can buy a fraction of a coin with whatever amount of money you have.

I used my Mastercard to purchase $300 worth of Bitcoin, and after the 3.99% fee for transferring money from my credit card to my account, I had $288.46 worth of Bitcoin to begin with.

First, I registered an account at Coinbase.com. You can either transfer money from a bank account, or you can use a credit card. It's easier to use a credit card, even though the fee is a little bit higher. Connecting your bank account takes a little more time.

When you register for an account and deposit at least $100, Coinbase will give you $10 extra for free if you use a referral. I messed up and missed out on the $10 bonus, but if you use my referral code in the link above or by clicking on the picture, you can receive the free $10.

Via Coinbase, you can purchase Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Litecoin. These are three major cryptocurrencies. There are 843 other cryptocurrencies that you can purchase outside of Coinbase, and you'll need to use another exchange service to do that. But we'll get to that later.

After owning my first $288 of Bitcoin, the value has risen as high as $338 within the first few days because it is moving roughly 10% per day. The market price of Bitcoin jumps up and down, but the overall trend is growing upward at a rapid rate.

There is talk of Bitcoin growing from the current price of $10,483 at the time I am writing this blog post to somewhere between $25,000 and $40,000 within the next year. The reason this is happening is because there is a finite amount of Bitcoins available to be bought on the market.

As of June 2017, there were 16.4 million Bitcoins created. The limit is 21 million. Right now, new Bitcoins are being created by the process of "mining". You can read my previous posts to get an understanding of what that means, but this is the reason for the rapid rise in value.

Bitcoins cannot be inflated by governments. Nobody has the ability to "print" Bitcoin money like the government prints the US Dollar. As you are reading this, there is a huge shift of investment into Bitcoins taking place.

Banks, institutions, businesses, and individuals are buying up Bitcoins. The number of people coming into the Bitcoin market in the near future is enormous. It will cause the value to continue to be driven up into the stratosphere.

After you purchase your initial amount of Bitcoin on the Coinbase site, you can register an account with the exchange service at Bittrex. When you create your Coinbase account, you get a digital "wallet".

You also get a digital wallet when  you set up an account at Bittrex. Once you complete that step, you can send money from one wallet to the other, and then purchase any of the other 843 cryptocurrencies from the exchange.

I am going to be putting away money on a monthly basis into my Coinbase account and loading up on Bitcoin. Then I will be able to transfer money at will to my Bittrex wallet, and for a very minimal fee I will have the ability to invest into the other cryptocurrencies.

In my next blog post, I will explain why there are so many other cryptocurrencies, and why there is a need for different types. But the first step you need to take is to buy your Bitcoin. When you buy your Bitcoins via Coinbase, you own actual currency that can be used to make purchases at over 100,000 retail services. It's not like investing in stocks. You are purchasing usable currency.

For example, you can actually buy Walmart gift cards using your Bitcoin balance and go shopping at a physical store, or buy goods and services on Amazon.com. You'd be surprised at how many local businesses in your home town are already accepting Bitcoin for purchases.

Get started with your first Bitcoin purchase so you can become accustomed to the process of using cryptocurrency. Then you will be able to move into trading currencies and create the potential for a very secure financial future.

If you have questions or suggestions, please post them in the comments section and I'll help out where I can. Get going now, and be a part of the "first movers". You don't want to have regrets 10 years down the road when you realize the massive opportunity that you missed out on to be a part of this in the initial stage.

Carlton Flowers
Crypto Coach

PS - There is RISK involved in any investment, and it applies to cryptocurrency. Do your own due diligence. This is a learning process, and I don't yet profess to be an expert. Keep in mind that with risk comes possible tremendous reward to those that are forward-thinking enough to do the proper research.

REGISTER at Coinbase now and receive $10 free

3 Ways Cryptocurrency Will Change the World

LOOK OUT WORLD, HERE COMES CRYPTO!

Time to move on to more basics on cryptocurrency. Today we'll talk about how it will change the world as we know it. But first, let's talk a little more basic stuff about why they call it "cryptocurrency".

Cryptocurrency is basically electronic money that is designed to be used safely and securely, and with privacy in mind because it is anonymous. It's predominately used online, and it uses cryptography in order to convert information on purchases, transfers, and balances into an impenetrable code.

It involves using computer science, math theory, and also computer languages to transfer cash, communications, and information over the internet in the most secure and unhackable way. Governments, regulatory agencies, and banks can't get in the middle of it because the transactions can be made completely anonymously. That's the big draw.

Enough of the new basics. Now let's talk about 3 areas where cryptocurrency will change the world in the very near future...

1. Money Transfers

The way banks transfer money from one to another is ridiculously archaic. It can take upwards of a week to complete a transaction. The system is old as dirt. Have you ever had an experience where you tried to "wire" money to a friend or family member? If you did, you'd know how awful the process is. Those days are about to be over.

Cryptocurrency can be sent to anyone with an electronic wallet (i.e. an app on your phone) in as little as 4 seconds. There's no more need to go stand in line at Western Union, and wait 24 hours for money transfers to clear. In fact, you don't even need a bank or other go-between to send cash to someone on the other side of the world. Crypto changes the entire ball game.

2. Anonymity & Shift of Power

The arrival of cryptocurrency has major implications when it comes to the potential shift of power from the governmental institutions and banks to the general population. It takes the power out of the hands of the traditional rulers and hands it over to the common people.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are transacted on the Blockchain. It's like an electronic ledger that lives on an independent network of computers on the world wide web. Banks and government institutions can't get in the middle of it, because they are not needed. Transacting business on the Blockchain without the IRS watching your every move just might be an attractive thing that could possibly catch on (sarcasm intended).

The banks can't squeeze their way in either, and might be obsoleted by this new process. If you count up the ways that banks charge you to have your own money, and how microscopic of a sliver they give back when you let them use your money, it doesn't leave much motivation to stay with the plan when there is a free and anonymous alternative in crypto-commerce.

3. Safe Money Transfer for Developing Countries

Smartphone use is exploding in Africa, in the most under-developed areas. Africa is a "goldmine" for technology growth, and the fact that smartphone use is becoming so common, it creates the perfect platform for tapping into the power of cryptocurrency.

Right now many people in Africa are using mobile phone credits as a medium of exchange for commerce. There are obvious disadvantages, like the time it takes to make transfers, and the hefty fees that are snatched out for each transaction. Fees can be as high as 20% per transaction. Cryptocurrency will level the playing field and revolutionize commerce in Africa, and it will provide a much safer platform for commerce as opposed to phone credits or storing cash.

CONCLUSION

The implications of cryptocurrency adoption throughout the world go far and beyond these three examples. I'll be adding to this list in future posts, and it will leave you no shadow of a doubt that cryptocurrency is here to stay. From what I have learned thus far, I'm convinced that this is not a passing fad. The advantages are far and beyond fiat currency, and each passing day we see proof that the trend towards crypto is just getting stronger and stronger. Watch the birdie!

Carlton Flowers
Supreme Cryptographer

The CZ Crypto Blog - Learn the Basics of Cryptocurrency Investing Along With Me!

THE JOURNEY TO CRYPTOCURRENCY MASTERY BEGINS NOW

Welcome to my mini blog site for learning about cryptocurrency! As I learn how to enter into this new age, I want you to follow along and learn with me. This will be our resource to exchange knowledge and ideas.

Cryptocurrency is the future, folks. Whether you understand it or not, it's going to be the biggest fundamental change in finance that you will see in your lifetime. Now is the opportunity for you to learn, and to benefit in order to secure your financial future.

What is cryptocurrency, exactly? It's simply a digital payment system that does not require the involvement of banks, governments, or regulatory agencies. It's just a medium of exchange. It was invented by an unknown person or group of people under the name "Satoshi Nakamoto".

It was released in the year 2009 as an open source software system that runs on a peer-to-peer network where transactions take place directly from the people involved in trading, without a bank or other intermediary.

Any time two individuals make a transaction of currency, it is verified by network nodes, and recorded in a public distributed ledger called the "blockchain". It is open for anyone to view, and every single transaction that occurs is public knowledge.

The first "cryptocurrency" was Bitcoin. Bitcoins can be traded for products, services, or traded for worldwide currencies like the US dollar. As of February of 2015, there were over 100,000 merchants and vendors in the world accepting Bitcoins as a method of payment.

Whenever a transaction is made, it is verified by thousands of "auditors" out on the node. This keeps every transaction safe, and prevents anyone from duplicating their Bitcoins or making fraudulent trades. It makes the system impossible to hack, unlike regular money that you can counterfeit.

The process of auditing Bitcoin transactions is called "mining", because auditors are rewarded with tiny amounts of Bitcoin currency for performing a service. But there is a finite amount of Bitcoin currency that will be allowed to be created, and once that's done, mining will cease. At that point, auditors will be paid by charging a small fee to verify transactions.

Bitcoins can also be bought, and just sat on, as an investment. The more people pile on and buy Bitcoins, the higher the demand becomes. That means the value of each Bitcoin rises over time. I have a friend who bought five Bitcoins back in 2013 for around $400 per coin. Each of those coins is now worth nearly $10,000. That makes it an attractive investment.

Since Bitcoin was invented, there are several other cryptocurrencies that have hit the scene such as Ethereum and Litecoin. There are probably over 100 different cryptocurrencies that are being bought and sold as of this day, and the majority of them are increasing in value.

The benefit of cryptocurrency is that it removes the banks from the equation when two individuals seek to transact business or trade. It puts the power into the hands of the people, and the banks don't make any money. That's why it represents a threat to the current monetary system of the governments in the world.

That is the most basic level explanation of what Bitcoin and cryptocurrency is, and we'll get into much more detail as time goes on. This is a good starting point, and you'll want to continue to learn so you will be able to plan for investing. And you better have a sense of urgency about it. Why?

It is due to the fact that we are in the stage of change that is called the "Early Adopters". At this stage of change, this is where innovation hits critical mass and we experience massive growth. A good example would be the arrival of the first iPhone.

You can probably remember when you first heard about the development of Apple's first smartphone, but you had no idea it would change the world. Within a few months after the first iPhone was released, we hit critical mass. Years later, the majority of everyone in the world, regardless of their socioeconomic level, carries a smartphone.

This is exactly the point we are at right now regarding cryptocurrency. If you ask your friends about it, it is possible that 9 out of 10 have heard about Bitcoin but have not had any experience buying or trading with it. That will rapidly change.

Getting on the band wagon now could mean the difference between living at your current financial level, or living in a wealthy state beyond your wildest dreams. But if you wait to enter the market along with the majority of people, you won't be able to capitalize on the explosive growth from a financial standpoint.

Carlton Flowers
The Crypto Keeper