Since the inception of the first digital blockchain currency in 2009, the landscape of cryptocurrency has been marked by a series of dramatic rises and falls. Bitcoin millionaires have emerged, vanished, and re-emerged, reflecting the volatile yet lucrative nature of the market. In this dynamic environment, new crypto coins have proliferated, with some mirroring Bitcoin’s astounding gains of 1,000%, 2,000%, or even higher.

This phenomenon naturally raises a critical question: Is it too late to invest in cryptocurrency? To shed light on this issue, let’s explore insights from two industry experts.

**Investing in Cryptocurrency: Too Late or Not?**

Johnny Gabriele, who leads decentralized finance at CryptoOracle Collective, a prominent decentralized Web3 advisory service, firmly believes it’s not too late to dive into the cryptocurrency market. “The approval of ETFs in the United States is a recent development and will continue to attract attention from broader investment circles as they evolve,” he noted. “The shifting regulatory landscape is a positive sign for this asset class. Despite regulatory uncertainties, crypto has demonstrated remarkable resilience and is here to stay.”

Echoing this sentiment, Ian Major, co-founder of Joltz, a Bitcoin infrastructure company, emphasized that the opportunity in crypto is far from over. “It’s easy to see Bitcoin’s rapid ascent and think you’ve ‘missed the boat,’ but that’s a misconception,” he said. “With around 100 million users globally, Bitcoin’s current adoption level is akin to the internet’s adoption in 1998. We know how transformative that was. The adoption curve of Bitcoin and other cryptos resembles the S-shaped curve typical of revolutionary technologies like electricity, automobiles, the internet, and mobile phones. This suggests that most of the appreciation potential lies ahead.”

**Getting Started with Crypto Investments**

For those new to cryptocurrency or just beginning their investment journey, here are some essential tips:

**Stick With the Majors**

Gabriele advises newcomers to focus on major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana through dollar-cost averaging. “Avoid chasing trends like meme coins or AI coins when you’re starting out,” he recommends.

**Educate Yourself**

Understanding the technology behind cryptocurrency is crucial for new investors. “You don’t need to be an expert,” Gabriele says, “but having a broad understanding of how it works will help you manage the volatility.”

**Choose Your Custody**

As you learn more, you’ll discover various ways to hold crypto assets. “For long-term holding, ETFs or exchanges like Coinbase are suitable options,” Gabriele explains. “But if you want to explore NFTs or engage with Decentralized Finance (DeFi), learning how to self-custody your crypto is essential.”

**Be Cautious About All Crypto Assets**

Major warns that many of the over 10,000 existing crypto assets are either scams or doomed to fail. “Bitcoin, the first successful cryptocurrency, has organically grown to become the best-performing asset over the past decade,” he notes. “Newcomers should be wary of new cryptos promising to ‘improve’ on Bitcoin. Bitcoin’s unique status as a monetary good means its network effects are different from traditional financial assets like stocks. Historically, monetary goods exhibit strong ‘winner-take-all’ dynamics, as evidenced by Bitcoin holding about 57% of the total crypto market.”

Major adds that with new ‘layer 2’ technologies enhancing Bitcoin’s utility, new investors should consider starting with Bitcoin, which remains unchallenged in its dominance.

**The Impact of Regulatory Changes on Cryptocurrency**

Understanding how regulatory shifts might affect cryptocurrency is vital for investors. Major points out that the political landscape is evolving with growing interest in digital assets. “There’s a famous quote attributed to Gandhi: ‘First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.’ Many believe we’re in the ‘then they fight you’ phase, as seen in ‘Operation Chokepoint 2.0’ in 2023, where banks were pressured to avoid crypto. However, this stance has shifted significantly within a year.”

Major continues by noting that both political sides now recognize the importance of cryptocurrency for their constituents. “Each quarter brings new disclosures from politicians holding crypto assets,” he observes. “While future regulatory changes might pose challenges for the industry, Bitcoin’s game theory seems to be unfolding as expected. Major asset managers like Blackrock have adopted a stance of ‘if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.'”

By understanding these insights and following expert advice, potential investors can make informed decisions about entering the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency.