For those who are newbies to crypto, they often rub their eyes to double-check what they are hearing! From ‘Cryptocurrency is money moving in the air’ to the ‘Me trying to explain to my parents that crypto is real money’ meme reels, many investors find it difficult to explain what crypto actually is.
And, now you have finally approached your parents to tell them you invest in crypto. You calmly sit with them, thinking: “This is the moment. I’m finally explaining blockchain, cryptocurrency, decentralized finance, and my sky-high.”
The typical “what on earth is that?” question
“Investing in something that we cannot hold?”, expect this whisper from parents
Parents always have that curiosity-driven question, “What new thing is that? “What are you bringing up today?” So, if you put the crypto topic in front of your parents, obviously, they may become dubious at first, argue, or agree with it, because they are wired to think in dollars and cents, and suddenly, you’re using blockchain and tokens.
The quick expert mode
Narrates financial loss stories from 30 years ago, only to warn you to be careful
Out of thin air, your dad or mom may start throwing financial wisdom from the 1980s. They may tell you the blue financial stories of a person who lost millions of dollars after investing in certain assets. They may also ask you to diversify into gold or keep money in the bank.
The panic mode is on
Parents hear ‘crypto’ and may think ‘gambling’
You could expect lines like this from your parents: “Are you sure you’re not going to lose everything?” or “Are you gambling your future away?” Since crypto is a mystery for most people across the globe, your parents may also raise the same doubts.
The curiosity-driven questions
Intrigued by the intangible money, they clear more doubts
Once the panic mode fades, curiosity creeps in. Your parents ask detailed questions: “How do you even buy cryptocurrency?” or “Do I need a wallet? Can I invest too?”
The big names-dropping phase
They roll out some BTC stories or ETH price hikes, to keep track of crypto news
After a while or a month, some parents try to prove they are “in the know” zone. They would mention Bitcoin’s original price, all-time highs, all-time lows, or what Elon Musk praised about Dogecoin in a dinner conversation.
The Silent observation
A close observation of cryptocurrencies, is it worth investing in?
This is the level where they withdraw from panic, commentary, question modes, and switch to observation mode. Although confused, they may silently observe what’s happening in the market or how you have invested in crypto. They watch everything to prove either right or wrong.
The proud moment and the grand finale
Half interest + half confusion — proud moment unfolds as they admire crypto
A proud-but-confused stage with weirdness in mind, this is where your parents would finally reach. “I don’t really get crypto, but it sounds interesting and smart”. You can see the interest in their eyes, a partial admiration, and relief combine to form their readiness to learn about crypto. But their underlying worry about risk will persist.
After a rollercoaster of panic, confusion, curiosity, happiness, and pride, your parents might now be a bit aware of what cryptocurrency is. But wait, dear crypto nerds, keep in mind that you don’t have to go for strong arguments when talking about crypto. Have patience and calmness, explain the technology with examples, and then? Your parents may or may not trust cryptocurrencies — it varies depending on them.
