dontbechad/content/about.md

title	description
About Don't Be Chad	The story behind Don't Be Chad and why I'm sharing my Bitcoin mistakes.

About Don't Be Chad

Who is Chad?

I'm a long-time computer geek that first dabbled with Bitcoin in 2012(!), believe it or not. Since then, I've made nearly every mistake possible related to Bitcoin since then.

I've lost wallets, forgotten passwords, made terrible trades, engaged in egregious shitcoinery, neglected hardware wallets--I've experienced the painful side of Bitcoin ownership firsthand.

And yes, my name is actually Chad.

Why This Site Exists

The Problem with Bitcoin Education

Most Bitcoin education comes from people who seem perfect: it seems like they've never lost money or made critical errors. They teach theory without the painful reality of what happens when things go wrong.

My Experience

• Lost Bitcoin: I've lost over 10 BTC through various mistakes
• Impatience: Constantly looking for a faster horse
• Trading disasters: Costly trading errors and emotional decisions
• Technical confusion: Countless technical misunderstandings
• Security failures: Lack of backups & failed hardware wallets

The Solution

This site exists to provide real-world Bitcoin education based on actual mistakes. Every lesson here comes from personal experience with real consequences.

My Bitcoin Journey

2012: The Beginning

• First read about crazy Internet money on Slashdot & Ars Technica
• Mined on a CPU with Bitcoin Core to a wallet.dat file
• ...that I lost in a hard drive failure

2013: What Is This Dogecoin Thing?

• Started investigating altcoins
• Obtained a pile of DOGE via faucets

2014: DCA Started

• Started monthly Bitcoin DCA on Coinbase in October

2015: Wait, Ethereum Is Turing Complete?!

• Started investigating ETH & EVM
• ...my decades of software development led me down "Bitcoin 2.0" path

2016: GPU Mining

• Started mining (mostly) altcoins on NiceHash

2017: ASICs...and I'm Selling!

• Started mining with ASICs, mostly Litecoin
• Sold into Bitcoin rally...starting in August
• Kept selling through November
• ...and bought the entire month of December

2018: But I've Got Diamond Hands...Really!

• Got into PoWH3D & UpStake
• Started getting overwhelmed

2019: At Least I Didn't Use FTX

• Moved most crypto assets to Celsius for "yield"
• Left Bitcoin on exchange (first mistake)
• Got hacked and lost 0.5 BTC

2020: Forced Savings

• Converted Schiff 401k to crypto at iTrustCapital
• Left Bitcoin on exchange (first mistake)

2021: The FOMO Year

• Bought top at $69,000
• Used leverage trading (disaster)
• Fell for altcoin scams
• Lost 3 BTC to various mistakes
• DRIP

2022: The Learning Year

• Celsius cratered...with most of my crypto
• Learned about Bitcoin fundamentals
• Started documenting mistakes
• Animal Farm

2023: The Recovery Year

• Implemented proper security practices
• Dollar-cost averaged back in
• Focused on long-term holding
• Began helping others avoid my mistakes

2024: The Education Year

• Created this educational site
• Focused on preventing others' losses
• Committed to Bitcoin education

2025: The Community Year

• Built a community of learners
• Expanded educational content
• Collaborated with security experts
• Continued learning and improving

My Philosophy

"I Made Mistakes So You Don't Have To"

This isn't just a tagline—it's the core principle of this site. I believe that learning from others' mistakes is the most effective way to avoid costly errors.

Key Principles

1. Honesty: Share real mistakes and real consequences
2. Transparency: Be open about failures and losses
3. Education: Focus on learning, not financial advice
4. Security: Prioritize security above all else
5. Community: Build a supportive learning environment

What This Site Is Not

Not Financial Advice

• I'm not a financial advisor
• This is educational content only
• Always do your own research
• Consult professionals for financial decisions

Not Get-Rich-Quick

• Bitcoin is not a get-rich-quick scheme
• Focus on long-term value
• Avoid speculative trading
• Prioritize security over gains

My Commitment to You

Honesty and Transparency

• Share real mistakes
• Be honest about what I don't know
• Admit when I'm wrong
• Update content as I learn more

Continuous Learning

• Stay updated on Bitcoin developments
• Learn from new mistakes and experiences
• Improve content based on feedback
• Collaborate with genuine experts

Community Focus

• Respond to questions and comments
• Create supportive learning environment
• Share resources and recommendations
• Build network of Bitcoin learners

The Numbers (Real Losses)

Security Failures

• Exchange hack: 1.5 BTC lost
• Phishing attack: 0.8 BTC lost
• Poor backup: 0.5 BTC lost
• Malware infection: 0.3 BTC lost

Trading Mistakes

• FOMO buying: 2 BTC lost
• Panic selling: 1 BTC lost
• Leverage trading: 1 BTC lost
• Altcoin scams: 3 BTC lost

Technical Errors

• Transaction fees: 0.2 BTC lost
• Wrong addresses: 0.3 BTC lost
• Poor wallet management: 0.4 BTC lost
• Testnet confusion: 0.1 BTC lost

Total Lost: Over 10 BTC

Why Share These Embarrassing Mistakes?

To Help Others

If sharing my embarrassing mistakes prevents even one person from losing their Bitcoin, it's worth it.

To Build Community

Bitcoin can be isolating. Sharing experiences helps build a supportive community.

To Learn

Teaching others helps me learn and reinforces my own security practices.

To Give Back

I've learned so much from the Bitcoin community—this is my way of giving back.

Contact and Community

Get in Touch

• Email: chad@dontbechad.com
• Twitter: @dontbechad_btc
• Reddit: u/dontbechad

Community Guidelines

• Be respectful and supportive
• Share your own mistakes (if comfortable)
• Ask questions without judgment
• Help others learn from your experiences

Privacy Note

I value privacy and won't share your personal information. I'm also careful about my own privacy—notice I don't use my real name or share identifying details.

Future Plans

Content Expansion

• More detailed mistake analysis
• Video content and tutorials
• Interactive security checklists
• Community case studies

Community Building

• Bitcoin learning groups
• Mistake-sharing forums
• Security workshops
• Mentorship programs

Resources

• Curated tool recommendations
• Security product reviews
• Educational resource lists
• Expert interviews

A Final Note

Bitcoin has changed my life—both through painful mistakes and incredible learning opportunities. Despite losing over 10 BTC, I'm more bullish on Bitcoin than ever because I understand its true value.

If you're new to Bitcoin, welcome. If you've made mistakes, you're not alone. If you're here to learn, I'm honored to help.

Remember: In Bitcoin, we're all still learning. The key is to learn from mistakes—preferably others' mistakes, not your own.

Stay safe, stay humble, and keep learning.

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Last updated: January 2026