It's almost impossible to leave crypto...

I got involved with crypto back in 2013. I've seen Bitcoin go from a hundred bucks to 60k. I saw Ethereum launch and thought I was a financial genius when I sold my stack at $25 per coin a year or so later.

Innocent times.

Overall crypto has been good to me. I'm no multi-millionaire, but combined with a good job, other business interests and investments, crypto has given me significant financial independence and stability.

On a few occasions I have left crypto - sold all my remaining assets and told myself that I was done with it.

But the thing no one tells you about crypto is that once you're in, it's almost impossible to leave.

Time and time again I find myself drawn back in. Once you've done a few crypto market cycles, the FOMO becomes just too great. Even during the periods when I'd sold all my crypto, I still found myself occasionally looking up prices, and then wishing I wasn't on the sidelines. And then buying back in.

Psychologically it's very addicting - the promise of a new paradigm, wealth and a wild-west market. It actually reminds me of the early Internet, where logging on felt exciting and full of unknown possibilities. It's a unique mix of greed, tech, politics and hope - powerful stuff.

I don't have an addictive personality - I don't really do anything excessively or have any particular vices. Hell, I don't even like gambling. But for whatever reason I find it impossible to leave crypto behind.

As I said, for me it has been a financially benefial ride - but it does worry me a little at just how addictive it is, and I'm not sure if I'll ever truly be able to exit.