GCrypto created a beginner’s guide to buying crypto – here’s what we think about it

Editor’s note: This content is sponsored by GCash and was produced by BrandRap, the sales and marketing arm of Rappler. No member of the news and editorial team participated in the production of this piece.

The thoughts expressed in this article aren’t financial advice. Readers are encouraged to do their own studying before getting into cryptocurrencies to understand their benefits and risks.

For many Filipinos, learning about finances can feel overwhelming. With the sheer number of technical terms to keep in mind, the seemingly limitless options for investment, and the stigma that financial growth can only be achieved by those more privileged, it’s no wonder that Filipinos feel stuck, not knowing where to start. 

Fortunately, the learning landscape has evolved. Waves of Filipino content creators help break down barriers, openly sharing basic concepts and practical first steps towards financial literacy. Their advice often begins with identifying and understanding accessible investment channels: digital banks with higher interest rates, cooperatives with varying risk levels, and many more.

Crypto has emerged as one of the many avenues for investment and financial growth. Despite crypto growing with other technological innovations like AI, their concepts are different from each other.

Unlike AI chatbots, where results can be expected instantly, investing in crypto will need a lot of diligence; crypto’s value is very volatile, after all. It requires research, caution, and a keen sense of monitoring the market. For many Filipinos, this is still considered abstract, complicated, and a little too unfamiliar to tackle.

Finance superapp GCash saw this as an opportunity to strengthen its commitment to promote financial inclusion for all Filipinos. In 2023, the app launched GCrypto, where users can buy and sell cryptocurrency by using their GCash balance. 

Entrepreneur, author, and artist Luis Buenaventura made an effort to make a localized learning material and created ‘The Beginner’s Guide to Crypto’, a nine-part illustrated story explaining finances and crypto in the Filipino cultural context.

The illustrated chapters take on a format akin to a web comic, where the story is laid out vertically for users to read through, scrolling until they reach the next chapter. Buenaventura’s guide adapts the concept of investing in crypto into a Filipino narrative — where it all starts with a scenario that hooks the ordinary Filipino, piques their curiosity on why some people’s lives improved significantly through Bitcoin, and then tugs them into understanding money, inflation, and eventually, crypto.

The guide also answers questions a lot of Filipinos may have regarding crypto buying, reframing the question “How do I start?” into “How do I start without losing?” 

In each chapter, Buenaventura adequately addresses the initial fears most Filipinos may have, helping them understand why, for instance, there are so many types of cryptocurrencies in today’s age. Is it compulsory to buy all of them? And most importantly, what should one do when their chosen cryptocurrency drops in value?

After identifying the fears, Buenaventura then lays out useful and easy-to-remember strategies for investing in crypto. For example, he recommends the “buy the dip” strategy, where users can take advantage of the moment when a cryptocurrency’s value decreases temporarily. He also recommends “selling when happy”, but not to the point of withdrawing all of your investments — just enough to buy yourself or your loved one a nice treat.

Once you’ve read through all nine chapters, you’ll certainly gain a foundational knowledge of cryptocurrencies and investing in them. The guide also leaves you a source of inspiration for the future, which you can possibly secure if you start exploring crypto buying wisely, which is made more seamless and convenient thanks to GCash’s GCrypto feature.

Curious? Always remember that crypto is a high-risk, high-reward investment – yes, there is potential for high returns, but you also expose yourself to a high level of risk. Always invest with disposable income (money you don’t mind losing). And if you’re ready to start learning more, read ‘The Beginner’s Guide to Crypto’ by Luis Buenaventura in GCrypto.

Want to test your knowledge on Crypto? Take this quiz: https://gcash.com/usapangpera/quiz/crypto. – Rappler.com