In the fast-moving world of cryptocurrency, many dream of striking it rich—but few do so without relying on luck. Behind every lasting success story is a foundation of strategy, discipline, and deep market understanding. In this deep dive, we explore the proven path to building real wealth in crypto, guided by insights from Jason Choi, a full-time crypto-native angel investor, co-founder of Tangent, and former General Partner at The Spartan Group—one of Asia’s earliest institutional crypto funds.
Having co-led investments in over 80 companies and helped scale a fund from $9 million to $500 million in assets under management, Jason brings hard-earned wisdom to the table. His viral Twitter thread—inspired by Naval Ravikant’s “How to Get Rich Without Getting Lucky”—applies timeless principles to the volatile crypto landscape.
Let’s unpack the core strategies that separate consistent winners from those who merely get lucky.
Discovering Crypto: The First Step Toward Financial Clarity
For many, crypto begins as curiosity. For Jason, it started with a fascination for decentralized systems and financial sovereignty. But true discovery isn’t just about buying Bitcoin or jumping on meme coins—it’s about understanding the technology, the incentives, and the long-term vision behind blockchain innovation.
👉 Discover how early insights can lead to smarter investments—start learning today.
Entering crypto with intention means asking: What problem does this solve? Who benefits? Is this sustainable? These questions form the foundation of intelligent participation, not speculation.
The Cost of Experience: Biggest Losses and What They Teach
Every seasoned investor has a story of loss. Jason’s biggest mistake? Overleveraging during a bull run, convinced the momentum would never stop. When the market corrected, the position wiped out a significant portion of his portfolio.
But here’s the truth: losses are tuition. They teach risk management, emotional control, and the danger of overconfidence. Jason now follows strict rules:
- Never invest more than 5% of portfolio value in a single speculative asset.
- Always take partial profits during parabolic moves.
- Keep a portion of gains in stable assets to compound safely.
These aren’t rigid formulas—they’re evolved behaviors born from painful experience.
Profit-Taking Rules & Risk-Taking: Discipline Over Emotion
One of the hardest skills in crypto investing is knowing when to sell. Greed whispers “Hold longer,” while fear shouts “Get out now!” Jason combats both with a structured approach:
- Tiered Exit Strategy: Sell 25% at 2x, 25% at 5x, hold the rest for asymmetric upside.
- Time-Based Review: Reassess holdings every 90 days—does the thesis still hold?
- Narrative Shifts: If the market story changes (e.g., from DeFi to AI tokens), question whether your asset still fits.
Risk-taking isn’t about betting big—it’s about placing smart, informed bets with controlled exposure.
How to Get Rich in Crypto Without Luck: Core Principles
Wealth in crypto isn’t accidental. It follows patterns. Here are Jason’s non-negotiable principles:
- Focus on fundamentals: Adoption, team quality, tokenomics, and use case matter more than hype.
- Be early, not first: You don’t need to buy Bitcoin at $1. You need to understand its value before mass adoption.
- Compound knowledge, then capital: The more you learn, the better your decisions—and the higher your returns.
- Build in public: Share insights, engage with communities, grow your network. Visibility creates opportunity.
- Own your stack: Self-custody your assets. Relying on exchanges is like renting wealth.
These principles aren’t sexy—but they’re sustainable.
The Dunning-Kruger Effect in Crypto: Why Beginners Think They’re Experts
Crypto’s low entry barrier creates a dangerous illusion: anyone can be an expert overnight. The Dunning-Kruger effect—where novices overestimate their skill—is rampant in bull markets.
People see 10x gains and assume it’s skill, not luck. Then the market turns, and portfolios collapse.
Jason warns: True expertise comes from surviving multiple cycles. It’s not about predicting tops and bottoms—it’s about staying solvent through crashes and emerging with capital intact.
Realizing Your Worth: The Psychology of Money
Getting rich isn’t just about numbers—it’s about mindset. Many self-sabotage because they don’t believe they deserve wealth.
Jason emphasizes financial self-worth:
- Track your net worth monthly.
- Set income goals independent of market conditions.
- Invest in yourself—courses, mentors, tools.
Money flows where confidence and competence meet.
Spotting Crypto Narratives Before They Go Mainstream
Markets move on stories. AI tokens, RWA (real-world assets), DePIN, modular blockchains—each cycle has a dominant narrative.
Jason’s method for spotting them early:
- Monitor developer activity on GitHub.
- Watch which projects VCs are quietly funding.
- Engage in niche forums (e.g., Discord, Farcaster).
- Ask: What problem is this solving that wasn’t possible before?
Being early on a narrative beats chasing momentum.
👉 Stay ahead of the next big narrative—explore market trends now.
Financial Management After the Bull Run
When fortunes are made, new challenges arise: lifestyle inflation, tax burdens, and decision fatigue.
Jason’s post-bull-run checklist:
- Pay taxes promptly—avoid legal risk.
- Move 30–50% of gains into non-correlated assets (real estate, equities).
- Set up a family office or advisory team if net worth exceeds $5M.
- Keep investing—wealth compounds best when reinvested wisely.
Wealth preservation is harder than wealth creation.
Networking = Wealth: The Hidden Lever
In crypto, who you know often matters as much as what you know. Jason credits much of his success to relationships built over years—founders, investors, developers.
Attend events (not just virtual ones), contribute value before asking for favors, and stay consistent in engagement.
Your network isn’t just social capital—it’s financial leverage.
Unpopular Crypto Beliefs That Might Be Right
Jason holds several contrarian views:
- Ethereum might not dominate forever—modular blockchains could fragment its lead.
- Most NFTs will go to zero—but utility-based ones will power digital identity.
- Stablecoins will become the primary on-ramp, not Bitcoin.
Challenging consensus thinking is how alpha is found.
Predictions for the Next 12 Months
Looking ahead, Jason sees:
- Increased institutional adoption via spot ETFs.
- Growth in Bitcoin L2s solving scalability.
- Regulatory clarity in major markets (EU, US, Singapore).
- A shift from pure speculation to revenue-generating protocols.
The next bull run will be more mature—and more accessible to those prepared.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can you really get rich in crypto without luck?
A: Yes—but only with discipline, continuous learning, and risk management. Luck might start your journey; strategy sustains it.
Q: How much should I invest in crypto?
A: Only what you can afford to lose. A common rule: no more than 5–10% of your total portfolio unless you’re highly experienced.
Q: What’s the best way to learn about crypto investing?
A: Combine hands-on experience with study. Read whitepapers, follow on-chain data, listen to founder interviews, and track macro trends.
Q: Should I hold through bear markets?
A: If your thesis remains strong and you believe in long-term adoption, holding quality assets through downturns often yields the best returns.
Q: How do I avoid scams in crypto?
A: Stick to projects with transparent teams, audited code, and real use cases. If returns seem too good to be true—they are.
Q: Is now a good time to start investing in crypto?
A: Time in the market beats timing the market. Start small, stay consistent, and keep learning.
👉 Begin your journey with tools trusted by millions—start exploring now.
Final Thoughts
Getting rich in crypto isn’t about catching lightning in a bottle. It’s about showing up consistently, learning relentlessly, and making rational decisions when others act on emotion. Jason Choi’s journey—from early believer to institutional investor—proves that wealth in this space is built, not stumbled upon.
Apply these principles, stay patient, and let compounding work its magic.
Core Keywords: crypto investing, how to get rich in crypto, risk management in crypto, crypto wealth building, spotting crypto narratives, profit-taking strategies, networking in crypto, financial management after bull run