Bitcoin is the leading cryptocurrency on the market, as numerous individuals seek alternatives to the current economic system due to systemic failures and regulatory issues. Since its release in 2009, Bitcoin’s value has increased considerably, and more cryptocurrencies have appeared, creating the crypto market we know today ―an accessible, decentralized, and trustworthy ecosystem.
Bitcoin has become so widespread that everyone can acquire it, whether they buy Bitcoin with credit card or P2P trading through reputable exchanges. However, the buying process must be based on thorough research showing the asset price’s pros and cons during a given time. Unfortunately, not all learning sources are to be trusted, and crypto users fall into the trap of being unknowledgeable or impatient and ruin their portfolios.
But in 2024, we’re making better decisions, so we have sustainable results. So, here are some tips on choosing reliable information sources to invest in Bitcoin like a pro.
Learn to identify fraudulent websites
Like most people, you’ll seek information online, on websites where actual investors offer valuable advice. But not all are sincere, so they create fraudulent websites through which scams can be done easily. These websites must be avoided at all costs, as even one random click can take you to unwanted pages or trigger a corrupt file download.
One of the first signs of a phony website is a promotion of high returns with low risks, which sounds too good to be true. In the investment industry, this is a blatant scam. Regardless of how much money you need, avoid falling into this trap because scammers will only take more money from you.
Other aspects to be wary of include spelling and grammar errors that are nowhere to be seen on reputable websites. At the same time, scammers won’t provide any contact information, or it will prove to be fake, so always check phone numbers and physical addresses to ensure they exist.
Disbelieve questionable social media influencers
Influencer marketing is approached by plenty of companies as it offers them access to their target audiences. However, not all influencers are to be trusted because most aren’t even trying the products they promote. Moreover, some influencers might be hiding under the impression they’re professional investors or traders, and some might not be able to notice it.
Social media influencers who are not to be trusted usually excessively promote Bitcoin investments, so you may see a few daily posts on this subject on their social media account. At the same time, they’re vague about how they achieved such a high number of Bitcoins in such a short time, raising questions about their integrity.
But what’s more noticeable is their limited knowledge of Bitcoin. Many people know what Bitcoin might be, but only a few have undergone deep research to find benefits, risks and strategies. Therefore, these influencers might use ambiguous terms when discussing Bitcoin investments without clearly explaining their approach.
Establish an evaluation process
Evaluating the sources you get the Bitcoin information from is crucial. Still, it takes time to notice when something’s off or if the website’s creator truly has experience in crypto investments. Reviewing the source’s credibility should be done based on some requirements because, in this industry, getting an expert’s opinion doesn’t ensure success.
If you take it logically, when checking a website’s information in any other sector, you want to find objectively presented data, unbiased and supported by other reliable sources. You should start by reviewing the source’s credibility, whether it’s a crypto website, YouTube channel or Instagram account. This involves checking if the source is considered reputable among other investors.
Looking for biased opinions to identify tricky sources. Although crypto is a relatively new industry, a few facts cannot be doubted, such as the market’s volatility of the complexity of diversifying your portfolio. Therefore, when someone delivers information that includes personal bias, they automatedly alter its credibility, because it cannot be proven as generally valid.
Expand your research area
Considering how vast the internet is, you can find reputable information resources in multiple places, so don’t stop at blogs, websites and social media. Usually, similar people are divided into these sectors, meaning they share and follow the same ideas, so you won’t find something new there.
Therefore, you can expand your research area to podcasts, where investors share their experiences with different cryptocurrencies and exchanges. This will help you gain insight into what it means to be a Bitcoin investor and debunk some myths about Bitcoin. Sometimes, famous podcasters can be trustworthy, but research on less popular ones might not encourage people to buy Bitcoin to get rich.
There are also classes on specific platforms that take you step by step in the learning process. Such materials and learning styles will help you balance studying with your lifestyle and expose you to other students or experts.
Don’t forget Bitcoin’s white paper
Users get so excited about Bitcoin that they want to absorb the entire information as quickly as possible, so they forget about the white paper. The document created by Satoshi Nakamoto is available online, and it comprises a few introductory pages on what Bitcoin is, how transactions are made and how incentives are provided.
The white paper also includes some calculations that prove how difficult it would be for the blockchain to be altered, which might give you some trouble if you’re not a mathematician. But these features are also converted to code, so you might be able to process the information and even try to prove it yourself. You’ll find a few helpful references to expand your knowledge at the end of the white paper.
Bottom line
Since the first cryptocurrency was created in 2009, it has changed people’s views on how money can be leveraged and invested for maximum income. Since it’s pretty new on the market, users must research and learn as much as possible to access it safely and make the most of their investments. Indeed, being a Bitcoin investor can be tricky due to scammers and unreliable sources. However, you can spot fake news and choose the correct information if you learn how to spot scams.