2025 New Year’s resolutions for any crypto advocate

From mainstream adoption to the election of a pro-crypto administration in the US, the past year has solidified crypto’s place as a transformative force within the global economy. The turning of the new year is the perfect time for crypto fans to reflect on, and refine their approach to the digital asset market.

Whether one is a seasoned investor or a passionate newcomer, adopting some meaningful resolutions that change your approach can help you thrive. From spending smarter to educating others, these resolutions aren’t just about personal growth but rather about shaping the future of a technology that’s rewriting the rules of finance.

Be more vigilant for scams, rug pulls and dumb tokens

Despite countless warnings and educational resources, crypto scams continue to claim victims at an alarming rate. The severity of this issue was starkly illustrated on Nov. 14, when a record-breaking 31 rug pulls occurred in a single day, resulting in cumulative losses of $15 million that month alone. 

Most recently, the Hawk Tuah (HAWK) dump was a sobering reminder of how many people willingly ape into tokens that are obviously terrible ideas, if not outright scams. Following HAWK’s launch, its market capitalization skyrocketed to $490 million, only to crash by 91% to $41.7 million in less than three hours. 

Do your research, be skeptical toward promises of quick profits, and remember that scammers prey on people’s greed — so be fearful when you notice yourself getting greedy. Even seemingly legitimate projects backed by known figures should be scrutinized as much as possible.

Transform your BTC into a passive income opportunity

Bitcoin (BTC) has evolved over the past year into something greater than a mere store of value (SOV). While critics once pointed to Bitcoin’s limited functionality compared to other blockchains, the landscape has changed dramatically with the emergence of innovative layer-2 (L2) solutions and smart contract platforms.

Projects like Stacks, Rootstock, Liquid, and Babylon have redefined Bitcoin’s capabilities, bringing sophisticated DeFi functionalities (referred to as BTCFi) to the network — effectively bridging the gap between Bitcoin’s robust security and Ethereum-like programmability, enabling everything from yield farming to lending and liquidity provision.

Numbers-wise, the market has responded emphatically to these developments, with the total value locked (TVL) across all Bitcoin-based DeFi protocols surging from $306 million in Q1 2024 to an impressive $7.4 billion by Q4 (representing a staggering 2,180% increase).

While some Bitcoiners are still nervous about transforming or bridging their BTC for use on an EVM-compatible chain, projects like Core Chain enable users to earn yield while still maintaining custody of their Bitcoin.

Related: Bitcoin price ‘stuck in a void between liquidity’ on NYE — Will 2025 open bring the volume?

Encourage your TradFi friends and family to dip a toe into Bitcoin 

The crypto market reached unprecedented heights recently, with its total capitalization surging past $3.9 trillion during November. This milestone, coupled with growing institutional adoption, has opened up diverse investment pathways that suit more traditional investors

The landmark approval of eleven US spot Bitcoin ETFs in 2024 was a watershed moment. These offerings, managed by financial giants like VanEck, WisdomTree, and Franklin Templeton, among others, have enabled crypto exposure accessible through traditional investment accounts.

There are also ETF opportunities for assets like Ethereum (and potentially even XRP in the near term) —  as well as offerings from BlackRock and Fidelity that seek to minimize volatility-related risks. For instance, BlackRock’s BUIDL platform offers a tokenized fund investing user capital across dollar-equivalent assets like cash, US Treasury bills, and repurchase agreements. It is backed by short-term US Treasurys and currently has $540 million worth of assets under management (AUM).

Make more payments using crypto 

With the number of cryptocurrency owners reaching 562 million in 2024 — up from 420 million in 2023 — there’s never been a better time to start using digital assets for daily purchases, especially with the infrastructure for spending crypto having matured significantly over the past year. 

Services like Bitrefill allow users to deploy their Bitcoin, Ether (ETH) Tether (USDT), USD Coin (USDC), etc for everyday transactions, offering gift cards, mobile top-ups and much more for over 1,650 businesses across 170 countries. Similarly, BitPay has devised a robust platform that enables businesses all over the world to seamlessly accept various cryptocurrencies.

A growing number of brick-and-mortar retailers have integrated crypto payment solutions into their digital frameworks. To this point, US-based convenience store chain Sheetz recently announced that it had started accepting Bitcoin and Ethereum payments across all 750 of its stores, making it possible for customers to buy everything from a cup of coffee to gas using their digital tokens.

The travel industry, too, has embraced this technological revolution, with platforms like Travala.com accepting crypto for hotel bookings and flight reservations, amongst other things. 

Upgrade the security of your crypto assets

Portfolio consolidation and secure storage have never been of more importance. Rather than spreading one’s funds across 620 little-known tokens stored across multiple exchanges and hot wallets, investors should consider consolidating their holdings into a carefully selected mix of proven cryptocurrencies and storing them in cold storage solutions. 

Popular hardware wallets like Ledger and Trezor are the gold standard for storage thanks to bank-grade security solutions for digital assets, protecting them from online threats while offering complete control over one’s private keys.  

This shift toward cold storage solutions has gained a lot of momentum, with the amount of BTC held across different centralized exchanges (CEXs) having dropped to historic lows over the last twelve months.

Crypto firms and DAOs tend to use multisignature setups to access onchain smart wallets, like Safe Wallet. 

Share your crypto knowledge, but don’t pressure your friends

There remains a fine line between sharing insights and proselytizing to a point where others invest in something they don’t truly believe in. 

As a result, the most effective crypto advocates historically have been those individuals who have focused on explaining the technology’s potential and real-world applications while acknowledging its risks and complexities. 

Instead of promising quick profits or pressuring friends and family to invest, crypto enthusiasts should consider sharing their journeys, lessons learned, and factual information with their peers — thus helping build credibility for the entire ecosystem while respecting everyone’s individual financial decisions.

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