Crypto Decrypted

Break through your "crypto curiosity" and uncover why blockchain innovation will revolutionize our economy, culture, and the future of investing—as well as how to navigate it safely.

Between the booms, crashes, jargon, and flashy memes, blockchain technology and digital assets have not been easy for ordinary investors to understand. Hopeful investors in blockchain, digital assets, and crypto everywhere have a lengthy list of questions—and the list keeps getting longer and more nuanced. But who do they turn to for answers?

In Crypto Decrypted, Tradecraft Capital’s Jake Ryan and James Diorio decrypt a new world that is hidden in plain view, accessible currently to folks “in the know.” This book is for anyone who finds themselves lost in the blockchain babble, exploring and explaining not only how to participate, but the often overlooked reasons why this new technology is relevant to every human being.

Ryan and Diorio dive in deeply, debunking common myths, clarifying major breakthroughs that are often disregarded, and providing easy-to-understand answers for both crypto newbies and blockchain enthusiasts, so they can move beyond the short-term to explore what great opportunities lie ahead for blockchain technologies while providing approaches to investing more safely and soundly so that you too can profit from this technological revolution.

You will learn:

• The basics of blockchain technology, which will allow you to better navigate this new world.
• The truth that debunks the six most common myths about crypto and blockchain.
• What the Byzantine Generals’ Problem is, why it is important, and how it will impact your future.
• Why blockchain technology is so important and how it is relevant to you—yes, you!
• The ways in which blockchain innovation will transform our financial systems, our economy, and society itself.
• How to participate in lower risk approaches in investing in digital assets to diversify your retirement portfolio.
• Why the Information Age is over and that we’ve already begun a new long-wave economic cycle, the Age of Autonomy® , what the Autonomous Economy will look like in the coming years, and how it will impact us.

Just as the internet revolutionized our world decades ago, blockchain technology will impact every person and businesses on the planet– for the better – in the decades to come.

Part i - Foreword i

Part ii - Introduction iii

Part iii - Note from the Authors v

PART ONE -- THE PRIMER 1

Chapter 1: What's the Big Deal About Blockchain? 1

Chapter 2: Bitcoin, the First Application of a Blockchain 24

Chapter 3: What Makes a Smart Contract Smart? 45

Chapter 4: What is DeFi? 60

Chapter 5: Metaverse, NFTs & Web 3.0 72

PART TWO -- DEBUNKING MYTHS 88

Chapter 6: Myth - Regulation Will Kill Crypto 90

Chapter 7: Myth -- Crypto Is a Bubble 97

Chapter 8: Myth - Crypto Is Bad for the Environment 117

Chapter 9: Myth - Crypto is a Fraud 126

Chapter 10: Myth -- Crypto Empowers Crime 140

PART THREE -- THE BREAKTHROUGH 150

Chapter 11: A Primer on Technological Innovation 150

Chapter 12: The Byzantine General's Problem 162

Chapter 13: Peer-to-Peer Models 172

Chapter 14: Trusting Trustless Transactions 186

Chapter 15: No Permission Required 191

Chapter 16: Digital Scarcity 200

Chapter 17: A New Decentralized, Autonomous Economy 209

Chapter 18: Liquid Venture 218

PART FOUR -- THE APPLICATION 226

Chapter 19: Signals v. Noise 227

Chapter 20: Interpreting Charts 244

Chapter 21: Crypto as Diversification in a Total Portfolio 260

Chapter 22: Savings, Borrowing, Income Strategies & Taxes 270

Chapter 23: Retirement 277

Chapter 24: Looking Ahead 283

What's Next? 298

JAKE RYAN is the Chief Investment Officer of Tradecraft Capital. He is a former computer scientist and software engineer, and an advisor to several venture-backed startups focusing on AI. He has contributed to Newsweek, Bloomberg, Ameritrade Institutional, Harvard Business Review, and Business Insider.

JAMES DIORIO is the Chief Executive Officer of Tradecraft Capital. He is a serial entrepreneur, speaker, and executive with a foundation in computer science and a history of guiding ventures to realize their full potential. He is the author of the Crypto: Decrypted^® monthly blog, which focuses on education, insights and providing clarity in this often-misunderstood space.

Between the booms, crashes, jargon, and flashy memes, blockchain technology and digital assets have not been easy for ordinary investors to understand. Hopeful investors in blockchain, digital assets, and crypto everywhere have a lengthy list of questions—and the list keeps getting longer and more nuanced. But who do they turn to for answers?

In Crypto Decrypted, Tradecraft Capital’s Jake Ryan and James Diorio decrypt a new world that is hidden in plain view, accessible currently to folks “in the know.” This book is for anyone who finds themselves lost in the blockchain babble, exploring and explaining not only how to participate, but the often overlooked reasons why this new technology is relevant to every human being.

Ryan and Diorio dive in deeply, debunking common myths, clarifying major breakthroughs that are often disregarded, and providing easy-to-understand answers for both crypto newbies and blockchain enthusiasts—all so they can move beyond the short-term to explore what great opportunities lie ahead for blockchain technologies. The authors also explore approaches to investing more safely and soundly so that you can profit from this technological revolution.

Praise for CRYPTO DECRYPTED

“Crypto Decrypted does an amazing job identifying and demystifying popular crypto myths, explaining misunderstood, ignored and essential concepts of blockchain, and demonstrating overall how this technology will play into the next long-wave economic cycle. It’s clear that the Information Age has ended and that we are entering the Age of Autonomy. This book helps you get a good grasp on where we are headed in the near future and how to capitalize on it.”
— Anthony Scaramucci, Founder and Managing Partner, SkyBridge Capital

“Crypto Decrypted is the right book at the right time, primed to be the ultimate ‘explainer’ to all of your friends who want to explore, use and invest in cryptocurrency, or even just play in the Web3 world of NFTs, blockchain gaming and that spooky thing called the metaverse.”
— Michael Terpin, “The Godfather of Crypto” (CNBC), CEO, Transform Ventures

“Ryan and Diorio address controversial topics about crypto in a level-headed way. They make the foundations clear, such as the Byzantine Generals problem of trust, which in turn allows them to identify opportunities and explain why they are here to stay.”
— Risto Miikkulainen, Professor of Computer Science and Neuroscience, the University of Texas at Austin; Director of the UTCS Neural Networks Research Group

“If you’re looking for an informative and comprehensive guide to blockchain, cryptocurrency, and Web 3.0 then look no further than Crypto Decrypted. This book provides a detailed overview of blockchain technology, digital assets, the market today and in the future, and the opportunities associated with understanding it and investing in it.”
— Justin Donald, Bestselling Author, Podcast Host, and Founder of The Lifestyle Investor

“This book demystifies crypto like no other. The mainstream media has been portraying crypto with skepticism and doubt like the witch hunts during 15th century Europe. Jake and James address the most common myths and debunk them with clarity, simplicity, and elegance. Read this book over a weekend and don’t wait. You may be missing out on the chance of a lifetime for your financial independence.”
— Joshua Hong, Founder, Synesis One

“The power of crypto levels the playing field for everyone regardless of their location or social status. Jake and James provide a unique and welcome pause in the midst of this high-speed movement through their foundational read on the future of Digital Assets.”
— Tom Shaughnessy, Co-Founder Delphi Digital and VC at Delphi Ventures

“Ryan and Diorio are savvy fund managers who made the right calls during the ‘crypto winter.’ They’ve mastered long-run strategies for investors. Make Crypto Decrypted the book you read to make smart, sensible, profitable investing decisions in the changing markets of the post-2022 world.”
— Hon. J. Christopher Giancarlo, Former Chairman, US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Author of CryptoDad: The Fight for the Future of Money