Editor’s Note: If you’re not investing in crypto, you’re leaving a lot of money on the table. As cryptocurrency assets this year build on their huge gains of 2023, I asked our new crypto investment specialist, Alex Benfield, to introduce himself. Alex is making quite a name for himself as a crypto “whiz kid” and we’re fortunate to have him on the team.

Hello, everybody. My name is Alex Benfield, and it’s my pleasure to introduce you to the profitable world of cryptocurrencies.

I’ve been a cryptocurrency investor, researcher, analyst, and writer since 2017. I’ve covered all aspects of this market in the seven years I’ve been in crypto and have worked in many different positions in the crypto industry from data scientist to cryptocurrency financial writer.

I’ve been managing my own personal cryptocurrency investment portfolio for seven years and have also created and managed investment portfolios for clients in previous positions. I do all this out of a love and passion for all things cryptocurrency. I love this market for what it stands for and what it can help people achieve.

My passion for cryptocurrency is not the only reason I continue to devote my time and energy to this market. Investing in cryptocurrencies is one of the best ways to make money today. Many people see the lurid headlines and have heard of the brutal bear markets and wild upswings in price and can get scared away from this market entirely.

Those people are being scared away by the very aspect of the cryptocurrency market that provides so many trading opportunities, i.e. the volatility. Volatility is like the wind to a trader’s sails. Traders need price movement to make money, and a good trader can make money regardless of the direction of prices.

The cryptocurrency market has provided me with many trading and investment opportunities throughout my seven years, and I have been able to vastly improve my quality of life.

When I began my crypto journey, I was but a simple cog in the corporate machine, a research analyst at a big company spending my days in a gray cubicle. Almost immediately after investing my first few thousand dollars into crypto I saw it jump five times in value in a matter of just a few months.

Since that point in time, I’ve been able to use this market to move across the country twice and buy my house in sunny South Florida. I’ve also built up a six-figure investment portfolio and used blockchain-based loans to buy my first boat. Crypto has been kind to me, and it can do the same for you.

The pioneers of cryptocurrency, the so-called cypherpunks, held a belief that individuals should hold the keys to their own financial freedom. That they should have the right to hold custody of and transact their own currencies without the help or permission of a middleman, like the banking system. They believed that individuals should be able to support and run this new financial system, and in doing so they could share this financial freedom with others.

All around the world there are people who struggle to gain access to the traditional banking system or fall victim to predatory banking, high rates, and transaction fees. However, this new financial system helps to bank the unbanked. As long as they have access to the Internet, they can participate in this new financial network.

The world of cryptocurrencies was born out of that ethos, with the creation of Bitcoin (BTC) in 2009. Since then, a plethora of other cryptocurrencies were built on this new blockchain technology and an industry and market have been created. Next-gen technologies have begun to sprout up in this cryptocurrency market, and we are still just in the beginning stages of this financial and technological revolution.

Along the way there have been some amazing investment opportunities. Early investors in Bitcoin and Ethereum (ETH) have made whopping returns, and new technologies are blossoming in this market.

Take a look at the following price chart, which depicts Bitcoin’s sharp ascent:

The investment opportunities are endless. Not only can this new technology provide financial freedom, shelter from governmental oversteps, and bank the unbanked, but the market also provides boundless opportunities for participants to build wealth.

For some reason, though, many people still feel that they’ve missed out on the tremendous gains of the crypto market…that they’re too late to the game. After all, in a decade and a half, the collective cryptocurrency market has grown from being essentially worthless to an almost $2 trillion market cap.

However, the cryptocurrency industry is still in its nascent stages, and we’re just scratching the surface of its potential. I firmly believe that the next generation of economic powerhouses is emerging.

Bitcoin and Ethereum continue to dominate the scene; there’s still a vast amount of wealth to be generated from these established cryptocurrencies alone. Yet, when we delve into the realm of newer crypto projects and the dynamic altcoin market, it becomes evident that the opportunities for profit are even greater than initially perceived. As these innovative projects mature and gain traction, they present a myriad of avenues for investors to capitalize on the evolving landscape of digital assets.

I’ll soon be launching a new crypto newsletter that will cover the expansive realm of cryptocurrencies. In such a fast-paced industry, it can be difficult to keep up with breaking news. Not only will I do that for you, but I’ll also provide you with market analysis and highlight certain cryptocurrencies that I think have potential or are important to study. Keep your eye out for Crypto Investing Daily. I look forward to helping you realize your financial dreams.

PS: Hi, it’s John Persinos again. As the above article makes clear, crypto represents a lasting revolution in finance, investing and consumer behavior. Consider this: Bitcoin, the leading “blue chip” cryptocurrency, gained a whopping 156% in price in 2023. This bullishness has extended throughout the crypto segment and the momentum is likely to continue throughout 2024.

Every portfolio should have some sort of exposure to crypto. But you need to be informed, to make the right choices. Start receiving our FREE e-letter, Crypto Investing Daily. Click here now!

John Persinos is the editorial director of Investing Daily.

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This article previously appeared on Investing Daily.