I'm 28 and I've been thinking for a while now about whether I should invest a small part of my savings in Bitcoin or Ethereum. A lot of my friends have done it, but I'm not sure if it's really a good idea or if I should just put my money into regular ETFs instead.
With crypto you just have to accept that the volatility is brutal - your money can swing 30, 40, or more percent within weeks, while ETFs tend to grow at a steady pace. If you can handle that psychologically and it's really just a small part of your savings (say 5-10%), it might make sense to get to know the thing, but I wouldn't make it your main strategy. Most people who made money with it either got in early or just got lucky - it's never reliable. If you want to save long-term and stress-free, ETFs are way more sensible.
I'd be honest and say the question shouldn't be "crypto or ETFs" but rather "how much crypto, if at all". The distinction matters: with ETFs, you know what you've got - a diversified portfolio with traceable value development. With crypto you're paying for volatility and hope, not a business model. That doesn't mean it's stupid, but it's fundamentally different.
If you're really interested, then only use money you can completely lose without it changing your life. Maybe 5% of your savings max, preferably less. Here's a practical trick most people don't do: buy your position all at once and then stop checking constantly. People often lose their nerve because they check daily and panic at dips. If you're going to get emotional about it anyway, you shouldn't bother starting.
Your friends who've done it probably only tell you about their gains - confirmation bias is real. ETFs are boring, but they work. At 28 you've got time for long-term thinking, and over many years ETFs almost always beat crypto. If you notice this stuff distracts you during the day or you're sleeping poorly, it's definitely not right for you.
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