2 days ago
Beginner's guide to crypto: Why I started investing in bitcoin
One of the most common things I hear from people when I bring up Bitcoin is some version of: 'I'm curious — I just don't know where to start.'
The person who finally said yes to getting started was Natasha Hatherall-Shawe. She's a well-known Dubai resident, founder and CEO of TishTash Marketing Agency, a seasoned investor, and someone I've known professionally for more than a decade. We were texting one afternoon when our conversation veered into crypto. She asked a few questions and I answered as best I could. Then I said what I say to everyone at some point:
'Why not just get some?'
Most people hesitate. They say they'll think about it. They don't do it.
But in very short order — the course of our discussion — Natasha downloaded a platform I mentioned, signed up, and bought her first stack of sats. That's short for satoshis, the smallest units of Bitcoin.
In the way a smart person would start a new exercise routine, she didn't overthink it or procrastinate, make a big plan or go too deep. She just took one small step — and that is the foundation of any action.
And that's the thing: you don't need to go all-in to start exploring Bitcoin or crypto, in general. You don't need a course, a coach or a financial advisor. You don't need to wait until you 'understand everything'. This investment is the opposite of all that. It's accessible to all of us. You just need a small amount — an amount you're willing to lose — and a little curiosity.
From that place, everything shifts. Suddenly, you're watching the charts and noticing the headlines. You are involved in an entirely new financial system. You've got skin in the game, and that changes how you learn. I dare you to not be excited about it.
Bitcoin is accessible in a way most people don't realise. It's fractional —meaning you don't have to buy a whole coin (now more than $100,00). You can put in a few dirhams.
And once you're in, the confusion starts to fade. Not all at once — the terminology is still foreign and the platforms don't always make things easy — but you begin to see it's not as mysterious as it seemed.
You also start to see how many of us have been trained to believe financial systems are for someone else — someone smarter, someone richer, someone 'in the know'. That conditioning runs deep. Many people have completely outsourced their finances to headlines and advisers.
Crypto flips that dynamic. You don't need permission. Just a little action.
Of course, there are issues in the space. The branding of crypto is still messy. I'm not that excited about people getting kidnapped and tortured for their Bitcoin, although I don't suppose many thieves would bother for my small haul. And depending on what company you keep, there's almost always a lingering cultural cringe when you bring it up — like you're falling for something unserious or unstable.
That's why community matters. Finding a group, a friend, a trusted resource —someone to help you cut through the noise and remind you that yes, this is confusing, and yes, it's okay to not know everything yet. Regardless, you and I both deserve to be here. One of the easiest places to start getting acquainted is X and TikTok. If you are a newcomer, and especially of you are a woman, I'd suggest Bec Jones (@becejones on X and @cryptobec_ on TikTok) for how adept she is at explaining complex topics.
It's still the wild west in some corners. But if you stick to reputable exchanges, go slow, and only invest what you can afford to lose, you've lowered your risk significantly.
You can then do what many people do — what Natasha later told me she's planning to do — and invest a small, fixed amount every month. Some people do this every week, or even every day. This strategy is known as dollar-cost averaging. And no matter how you invest, it's as close to a can't-lose strategy as there is, helping average out market volatility and building your confidence over time.
