Review Your Crypto Crash Course Before the New Year

By Beth Canova

Happy New Year’s Eve!

Before we start 2024 — a year that is shaping up to be an exciting one in the crypto community. With several big macroeconomic forces on a collision course set to send prices into the stratosphere next year, I wanted to make sure you were ready for the run.

Turn Your Cash Into Crypto with Centralized Exchanges

That’s why I started the week by showing you how to convert your fiat into crypto by using a centralized exchange as an onramp. Once you hold some crypto, you’re ready to explore the myriad of opportunities the space has to offer.

Create Your Crypto Keys in 6 Easy Steps

But centralized exchanges have some serious drawbacks. The biggest one is that the exchange technically owns your crypto and trades it on your behalf. As we saw plenty of times in 2023, that means your crypto is more vulnerable to hacks while on a centralized exchange. It also means that, in the event of a run, centralized exchanges can freeze your account and prevent you from accessing your own crypto.

The solution? A self-custody soft wallet that ensures you, and only you, can control your crypto.

Find Extra Security in Hard Wallets

For even more security, investors — particularly ones following a long-term hold strategy — may want to consider hard wallets. These USB-like devices are not connected to the internet, making them much more secure. In this article, I break down the top three options on the market. All three have different strengths, giving investors flexibility and security.

Here’s What DeFi Can Do for You (Yes, You!)

With your crypto safely in your own wallet, you can now explore the myriad of opportunities available in the world of decentralized finance, or DeFi. Our analysts are over the moon about the various ways DeFi lets users control their own financial destiny and in this article, I explain exactly why and how you as a user can benefit.

How to Use 2 of DeFi’s Most Popular Platforms

Finally, we get to the good stuff: how to use DeFi. In this article, I break down the two most popular DeFi platforms, what they do and how you can use them to further your financial goals.

The world of cryptocurrencies can seem daunting. But as a foundation for your crypto experience, these articles can help you better understand and safely navigate the space to take advantage of all the opportunities there are … and all the ones that will arise in the frenzy of the coming bull market.

I hope you’re ready, because here comes 2024.

All the best,

Beth Canova
Crypto Managing Editor