What I Wish I Knew Before I Got Into Crypto

A crypto diary where I organize my thoughts, share what I learn, and document every mistake, win, and question along the way.

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  • Chapter 1: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the Layers You Never Knew You Needed

    Before I could understand how people made millions in crypto — or lost them overnight — I had to understand the basics.

    Not just “what is Bitcoin,” but how the system actually works.

    Because without that, I was just pressing buttons and hoping for magic.

    Let’s start with the first and most famous coin in the game.

    ⸻

    Bitcoin — The Beginning of It All

    Bitcoin was launched in 2009 by someone using the name Satoshi Nakamoto.

    Nobody knows who that really is — and that mystery is part of its legend.

    Bitcoin’s purpose was simple:

    To create a kind of money that didn’t rely on banks.

    It runs on a system called the blockchain — an open, digital ledger that records every transaction.

    No edits. No cheats. No middlemen.

    There’s a limited supply: 21 million coins. No more can ever be created.

    That’s why people call it digital gold — it’s scarce, simple, and intentionally slow.

    But Bitcoin wasn’t built for apps, games, or flexible smart systems.

    It was made to store value and transfer money securely.

    ⸻

    Ethereum — The Blockchain That Does More

    Ethereum arrived in 2015, and it changed everything.

    It wasn’t just digital money — it was a platform for building.

    Think of Ethereum like a giant computer that everyone can use at the same time.

    You can build apps on it.

    You can create your own tokens.

    You can launch smart contracts — code that runs automatically without needing permission or approval.

    Smart contracts allow people to interact directly — without platforms, banks, or middlemen.

    They’re used to build games, financial tools, digital art platforms, and voting systems.

    Ethereum became the foundation of Web3.

    But it came with issues: high fees, slower speeds, and heavy demand.

    So developers built on top of it — and that’s where layers come in.

    ⸻

    The Layers: 1, 2, and Now 3

    To make crypto usable at scale, the system evolved into layers — like building floors.

    ⸻

    Layer 1 — The Foundation

    Bitcoin and Ethereum are both Layer 1 blockchains.

    They are secure, decentralised, and transparent.

    But they can also be slow and expensive.

    Everything happens directly on-chain.

    ⸻

    Layer 2 — The Speed Boost

    Layer 2 blockchains are built on top of Layer 1 to make things faster and cheaper.

    They process transactions separately, then post a summary back to the main chain.

    Examples include Polygon, Arbitrum, and Optimism.

    Using Layer 2 is like taking a side road instead of sitting in traffic — you still get to the same destination, just faster.

    ⸻

    Layer 3 — Where the Magic Happens

    Layer 3 is where things start to feel normal again.

    Apps become easy to use.

    Interfaces are clean and simple.

    Most of the technical complexity disappears.

    You don’t see seed phrases, gas fees, or blockchain code.

    You just use the product — like any normal app on your phone.

    That’s the vision: crypto without friction.

    One day, using Web3 will feel as natural as tapping your phone to pay at a shop.

    ⸻

    What I Learned

    Bitcoin taught me about scarcity and security.

    Ethereum taught me that blockchain could be programmable.

    Layer 2 made crypto faster.

    Layer 3 is what will finally make it accessible to everyone.

    Once I understood these layers, the crypto world made more sense.

    And I stopped investing blindly — and started making informed decisions.

  • Introduction

    How I Turned £10 Into £77,000 — Then Watched It Disappear Like My Hopes and Dreams.

    I haven’t earned that million yet.

    But aiming for a million takes you further than aiming for nothing.

    If I lost money, I didn’t really lose it.

    I paid for education.

    And education is always expensive.

    I had just come home from work.

    Hair messy. Brain tired. Energy gone.

    Still in my factory boots, I collapsed onto the sofa and did what any overwhelmed adult might do after a long day:

    I bought a token called HarryPotterObamaSonic420Inu.

    Why?

    Because the name made me laugh.

    Because it was trending.

    Because it felt like wild, silly magic.

    And clearly, I wasn’t in the best mindset to make responsible decisions.

    But in that moment, I felt like a financial genius.

    “This is it,” I whispered, opening Coinbase Wallet like it held my future.

    “This is my chance.”

    And for a short time, I was right.

    Sort of.

    ⸻

    The next morning, I opened my wallet — and couldn’t believe my eyes.

    £40,000.

    From a £10 token.

    I stood up. I couldn’t breathe.

    For a split second, I thought, “Should I Google how to buy a flat in London as a crypto millionaire?”

    It sounded ridiculous — and yet, it didn’t feel impossible.

    Looking back, that moment became one of my first real experiences of paying for education.

    An expensive lesson I now share almost for free — so others don’t have to learn it the hard way.

    But the very next day…

    £1.82.

    Saying I was disappointed would be an understatement.

    It felt like being slammed by reality.

    I blamed myself for not selling.

    Greed had taken over.

    You always think, “Just a bit higher, then I’ll exit.”

    But I didn’t.

    I just sat there, in that quiet, soul-crushing silence —

    the kind where even your past self feels embarrassed.

    ⸻

    But I wasn’t done.

    Not yet.

    “Let’s try again,” I thought.

    “Surely it’ll work this time.”

    So I invested more: £100.

    And again, the price skyrocketed.

    £2,000… £5,000… £77,000.

    I was back.

    I felt confident, in control.

    I was already imagining new plans and new beginnings.

    But then came the twist:

    I couldn’t sell.

    Trading had been locked by the developers.

    The liquidity pool? Fully under their control.

    The smart contract? Far from decentralised — more restrictive than any traditional system I’d ever seen.

    The price kept climbing.

    But not for me.

    I was holding digital numbers that looked like money — but weren’t.

    ⸻

    And that’s how I learned what a rug pull really feels like —

    emotionally, financially, and mentally.

    But surprisingly, that disaster turned out to be the best investment I ever made.

    ⸻

    I began reading smart contracts.

    I checked whether developers could remove liquidity.

    I started understanding real utility.

    I learned to spot red flags faster and more clearly.

    ⸻

    This blog isn’t about winning.

    It’s about learning.

    It’s about making mistakes — and learning how not to repeat them.

    I’m CryptoMama.

    And I turned £10 of chaos into a journey more valuable than any online course.

    Welcome.

    This is where it begins — with honesty, experience, and the roadmap I wish I had when I started.

  • What I Wish I Knew Before I Got Into Crypto

    Real stories. Hard lessons. Honest insights from someone who chose to learn the hard way — so you don’t have to.

    ⸻

    From memecoins and rug pulls to real research and smarter investing, this book takes you through the chaos, clarity, and courage it takes to survive the crypto world as a beginner — and come out stronger.

    Written with warmth, wit, and lived experience,

    this isn’t a technical manual.

    It’s a story-driven guide for curious minds, cautious investors, and anyone who’s ever asked:

    “Am I too late?”

    ⸻

    By CryptoMama

    Swindon, UK · 2025