As someone in their trentahin era, it’s important for me to already have a plan for my future in place. That means thinking about my health, retirement, and my investments. Investments are confusing enough because there are so many kinds with varying risk levels; now it’s even more mind-boggling with new options like crypto.
Photo / GCash
What I know is that crypto (also known as cryptocurrency) is a kind of virtual asset not tied to any financial institution. It is recorded on a blockchain, a public ledger that records all crypto transactions.
Beyond that, I know nothing else. It is, however, something I want to get into, or at least learn more about, because so many people love crypto.
Thankfully, I found an e-book that helped me understand the basics of crypto. It’s simple, easy to read, and short enough that even non-readers would appreciate and understand it.
The e-book is called The Beginner’s Guide to Crypto. It’s written by Luis Buenaventura, the GCash Head of Crypto, who explains what the asset is, why it’s popular, and how readers can take their first steps toward growing their money with it.
The Beginner’s Guide to Crypto is short, with only 20 pages, and it’s fully illustrated. Buenaventura breaks down crypto in a way that makes it easy, even for the most clueless noob, to understand. That includes me.
Photo / GCash
What I appreciated most about the book is its honesty. It’s easy to be dazzled by the possibility of crypto, especially when you hear stories about people who invested early and got rich. Buenaventura also illustrates this in the book: Bitcoin, which is a type of cryptocurrency, was priced at P3.8 million in 2021, a far cry from its 2019 price of P200,000.
The book, however, repeatedly notes that crypto is a high-risk asset that “changes wildly over time.” In one chapter, Buenaventura advised readers, “Because Bitcoin’s price changes a lot, it’s impossible to guarantee that you will always be profitable.”
For noobs, this is super important to remember.
While the author manages expectations, he also offers practical, easy-to-follow advice to improve readers’ chances and ensure a positive experience.
Below are other things that I learned from The Beginner’s Guide to Crypto:
- Buenaventura advises readers to build a strong foundation of low-risk investments before going into high-risk territory. He recommends having a portfolio of both low- and high-risk assets. Perhaps his best advice: “Don’t stress yourself out by holding nothing but high-risk stuff like Bitcoin or crypto, because you will spend all your time worrying that you could be losing money. Your mental health is far more important!”
- You can buy as little as P200 in Bitcoin.
- Bitcoin has a “fixed” supply, meaning people can’t create more of it.
- Experts have noticed that the biggest jumps in Bitcoin’s history usually happen four years apart. They have happened in 2013, 2017, 2021, and most recently, from 2024 to 2025.
- As in real life, it’s best to buy when prices are low. Buenaventura’s advice: “Whenever you notice that the price [for Bitcoin] has gone down by more than 6% in 24 hours, you are getting a good discount. If the dip is greater than 10% in 24 hours, you are getting a really great discount!”
- Because crypto is a high-risk asset, the value fluctuates frequently. When the value goes down, it’s important not to look at the price. If you followed Buenaventura’s advice, you would have a mix of low- and high-risk assets, and you wouldn’t be in any significant financial trouble.
- Stablecoins are perfect for those with a conservative risk appetite, as some of them maintain a steady value by tracking other financial instruments or fiat currencies, such as the U.S. dollar. Stablecoins don’t offer the highest profit, but as the e-book explains, they “aren’t as prone to losses in the short term.”
- Sell when happy. Buenaventura advises against hoarding crypto forever. He said, “The point of having savings and investments is to allow us to take better care of ourselves and the people we care about.”
Overall, I enjoyed reading The Beginner’s Guide to Crypto. Instead of promising readers instant riches, the e-book teaches financial understanding, informed decision-making, and responsible use. I think it is important to remember to make smarter decisions.
Photo / GCash
GCash is a platform that offers different types of crypto through GCrypto. I already use GCash for many of my financial needs, so it’s an easy entry point into crypto. GCrypto lets GCash users buy and sell crypto instantly, with coins carefully chosen by experts, low minimum investments, and built-in security features.
All you need to do is register, and then you’ll have access to secure, trusted, and curated crypto coins.
And if you use GCrypto, you have access to the Filipino edition of The Beginner’s Guide to Crypto. Anyone, regardless of experience or background, can start their crypto journey confidently with GCash. Finally, it’s crypto na gets mo.
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