by Daniel Taylor
April 2023
Jeremy’s journey into crypto with the Zumo app.
Welcome to the Zumo ‘Crypto Journeys’ feature, where we talk to people from all walks of life and take a deep dive into how they got into crypto, what they’ve learnt so far, and their tips and advice on how to make the most of your crypto experience.
Crypto is for everyone, so let’s get comfortable talking about it!
Jeremy, welcome to the Zumo blog! Can you tell me a bit about yourself – where you’re from, what you do, what got you into crypto in the first place? What’s your crypto story?
I’m Jeremy – I’m a 49-year-old business owner and I live in London. For me, it all started when my business was put on ice during the first lockdown and I found I suddenly had more time on my hands. Like everyone else, we bought a puppy who was an absolute nightmare at night, so very often I would be downstairs at all sorts of ungodly hours, discovering new podcasts and following people on Twitter. A purchase of ‘The Bitcoin Standard’ very quickly gave me the conviction that not only was Bitcoin here to stay, it was going to transform many aspects of global money.
Speaking of transformation, how do you think crypto has changed since you first got involved? What’s your crypto journey been like? And what lessons have you learnt along the way?
Well, a nation state has adopted Bitcoin and more institutional commitment seems to have given it more credibility in the mainstream than 12 months ago. I first bought Bitcoin around 10 months ago, and will continue to purchase it as I don’t see what benefits my UK bank account has to offer on spare money I would like to make a return on. The way I see it, there are only ever going to be 21 million bitcoin (probably more like 18 million as some are lost) so ideally I would like to have as large a share as possible.
I’m not a tech guy and many other projects I feel aren’t truly decentralised, so having dabbled with some alt coins I’m now 100% bitcoin only. The reason being is I understand it whereas many other projects I don’t.
Bitcoin does require time studying to give you the confidence to invest, but there is so much great material out there. It’s no different to wanting to buy an investment property. You would spend hours searching websites, emailing agents and doing viewings. Then all the legal process behind completion.
How did you come across Zumo? What made you choose it and how does it fit in with how you use crypto more broadly?
I appreciated the fact that Zumo is non-custodial – the ability for me to take responsibility with my own seed phrase made me far more comfortable than with some of the other big-name custodial options.
What tips would you have for someone just entering the crypto space? What should they be aware of and what advice would you give them?
Get invested into bitcoin and then, as you learn and research, your conviction will build and probably you will invest more. In my opinion everyone needs to partake at some sort of level as the potential upside is so large over many many years.
How does crypto fit into your broader finances? Is there a particular strategy you’re following? Do you have any tips when it comes to managing your money? What role does crypto play in your personal finances?
To be honest, it has taken over. My bank account is used for my monthly costs. Anything spare I try to put into bitcoin, and especially when it looks like the price is undervalued.
So what excites you most about crypto? What trends do you have your eye on and what do you expect to see in the years to come?
Everything excites me. It’s going to change the financial system we have all become accustomed to far more than most people can realise. International money transfers will be huge in onboarding countries and probably many more watching how El Salvador works out. The money spent on remittance fees in many countries is outrageous. Corporate adoption will be interesting to watch and also the products i.e. lending that will enable people to hold their crypto assets but borrow fiat currency against them much like a traditional property remortgage.
Finally, do you have a message you’d like to share with the Zumo/crypto community?
Learn and study as much as you can. Have a long term view as opposed to a short term trade.
