Gary Vaynerchuk's Blog, page 11

What To Do After College? 12 Great Ideas Post College

College graduation season. It’s that time again, and I’m scared because I know exactly what happens around this month every year: panic. So many of you have graduated (or will be graduating) and still have no idea what you want to do with your lives, and you know what? That’s okay! You shouldn’t be stressed about that. In fact, what I’m scared about is that most of you don’t realize how much opportunity lies before you!

If you are in your early twenties, regardless of if you’re graduating from college or not, there are two things you should keep in mind: 

You are entering some of the greatest years of your life.This is your time to be massively risk oriented. 

This is not the moment to be practical or take the “safe” route. This is NOT the time to get the job Mom always wanted you to get. This is NOT the time to try to make as much money as you can just to save up to buy a sick car, big house, or fancy vacation. This IS the time, however, to realize that you have a five-year window (three for some, eight for others) for you to attack the life that you want to win. 

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In a COVID-19 world, it’s important that we remain open and able to adjust our expectations. If the pandemic has made anything clear, it’s that those perfect “plans” we have for our lives can go left at any moment. Now more than ever, it’s so important to prioritize health, safety, and living a life we actually enjoy! 

That being said, I can already hear the panic. “But Gary, what if I don’t know what I want to do with my life?” Listen, it’s okay if you don’t know what your “craft” is, or what you’re going to focus on for the next several years or decades. It blows me away how much pressure we put on young people – and young people put on themselves – to have their lives figured out. The truth is, “figuring it out” is a forever game. Of course you don’t know what you want to do yet – you haven’t even lived! 

The truth is that what you’ve been doing up until now is easy. Classes and school are easy because they’re structured. The real world? It’s hard. It changes every day and there is no curriculum telling you what comes next. The good news is that the hard stuff doesn’t kick in for you for another several years! Why? – because you don’t have all the baggage. 

Most of you don’t have children yet. Most of you are not married and have not yet promised your lives to someone else. I understand you might have college loans and I respect that financial debt is a real hardship, but one way or the other, that loan is going to be there whether you use these next five years to build something for yourself or not! I truly believe that you can wake up on your 26th or 27th birthday, start being practical, and still pay off your loans and any other debts. On the other hand, you can never wake up and get back the precious time you’ve wasted living by other people’s rules. Leaving the opportunity of “going for it” in those five years (especially if you have entrepreneurial DNA) is a mistake and actually lacks practicality. 

Understand that the land grab for happiness starts right now. With that said, here are 12 great ideas to explore post college. Why? Because you’re young and you can! 

* Note *
When I say “risk,” I am talking specifically about going after professional, personal, and creative opportunities that bring you happiness. I do not encourage unsafe behavior related to safety during the pandemic. As always, be safe, smart, and follow recommended public health guidelines!

1. TRAVEL AND LEARN

Too many kids never leave the town they grew up in, or they take one study-abroad trip in college before working their lives away. No more. Now is the time to go travel the country or the world! Grab a few buddies and take a road trip. Make use of your network and couch surf with friends in other states. Too expensive? Go sell or flip some shit you’re not using and travel hack for inexpensive flights. Don’t know how to get started? Check out my article, The Ultimate Flip: How To Find Free Stuff to Sell on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and Ebay. It’s possible. 

2. TAKE ON RISKS 

Now is when you go high risk, high reward. How you define “risk” is up to you and what you’ve cared about up to this point. It might be “risky” to go against your parents wishes. For someone else, “risk” might be quitting the safe, stable job they hate for a lower paying job they think they’ll love. Either way, you only perceive these things as risks because they don’t live up to the opinions of other people. You don’t want to disappoint, but guess what? That’s mentally hard – fake hard. The threat is mostly – or completely – in your head. 

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That discomfort you feel isn’t because you’re doing something wrong, it’s because you’re doing something different – something you actually want to do. If you can get past that fear and realize that risks come with rewards, you’ll be great.

3. FIND AN INTERNSHIP

So many people think internships are about learning an industry and gaining skills. In reality, that’s about 3% of the equation. I think the biggest value by far of being an intern is in building relationships. Don’t be a wallflower – network your ass off, put time on people’s calendars to meet over lunch. I don’t care where you intern, but you need to have a “shake hands and kiss babies” type of mentality. Meet everyone, be kind, take initiative, and please understand that the human connections you make will be the only true ROI of an internship. 

4. START YOUR OWN BUSINESS

Even if you’re about to graduate college, most people stay stuck in a “high school” mentality where they’re too afraid of what other people will think or say to actually execute on their ideas. If you want to start a business – and I’m talking, you have true entrepreneurial DNA – you’re going to have to get over it. Get over the noise, get over the trolls, get over the comments from the peanut gallery, put your head down, and do the work. 

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If you’re just starting out, you’re going to want to leverage social media to land clients. Provide value through written and video content on platforms like LinkedIn. Present your target audience with solutions to their specific problems. Once a week, make up a hypothetical scenario with a hypothetical budget, and actually teach people how your business would provide value. If you’re consistent in posting this kind of content every week, as often as you can, I believe in my heart that the clients will appear – but first, you have to give yourself permission to actually start the business! 

5. TAKE A LOWER PAYING JOB YOU LOVE 

If you didn’t know by now, more money does not equal more happiness. If you have a job with a great salary that pays for your great life in your great house…but you HATE your life Monday through Friday, that’s not winning. Winning can look like taking a different job for lower pay in a new industry that you’re excited about. If you want to quit your job but don’t know how, read this article. Trust me, there’s more to life than living for the weekend. Go find a job you enjoy and stop living for the weekend.  

6. LAUNCH A CREATIVE PROJECT WITH YOUR FRIENDS 

Go start that podcast, that band, that startup, that YouTube channel, that comedy troupe – whatever! If it’s on your heart and you have a couple of buddies down for the cause, do it. Use your twenties to flex your creative muscles as much as you can. 

7. TASTE DIFFERENT THINGS

This one is for those of you that don’t know where to start because you don’t know what your passions are. If you don’t know, good news – you can try literally anything. TASTE things. Try different jobs, industries, and projects just to get a sense for how they make you feel. If you ever feel pressured to do one thing or fit neatly into a box, just remember that I do garage sales, sports cards, wine, business, and now, NFTs. There IS no box. 

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8. BUILD INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Making connections is key even outside of the office. Not a social butterfly? No excuse. Social media makes it easier than ever to insert yourself into existing conversations and build relationships with people by sharing your $0.02. If you’re not sure what I mean, check out my article, The $1.80 Strategy to Grow Your Business or Brand. This works on virtually every social platform from Instagram to Twitter and LinkedIn. THIS is how you network in 2021.

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9. BUILD YOUR PERSONAL BRAND

I was 30 years old before I made my first piece of content – don’t be like me. Start early aka right NOW! No matter where you want to go with your life and career, you should be documenting everything you possibly can. Make shit – write, draw, paint, sing, film, edit – and then POST it. Put yourself out there, provide value, and build a community around just being you. 

10. GO TRY TO BECOME BEYONCE

You probably think I’m kidding but I’m 100% serious. Too many young people half-ass their dreams of a music career because someone – mom, dad, ex-girlfriend – told them it wasn’t practical. The truth is, what they’re really afraid of is that they’re not good enough to “make it” in music. If music is what you love, you should absolutely pursue it, BUT you’ve also got to be willing to put in the reps. 

Are people not responding to your music? Go release a song every day on SoundCloud or TikTok until something pops. Go produce 100 beats and collab with other artists. The simple fact of the matter is, if you want to be Beyoncé, you’ve got to bleed like Beyoncé. 

11. FIND YOUR IDOL AND WORK FOR FREE

I believe unpaid internships and work are highly underrated. So many people miss the point. In your early twenties, it’s not about stacking money, it’s about stacking opportunities. Want to be an artist or a designer or an entrepreneur or whatever? Go find your idol – that person whose life you want to live – and work for them for free. Soak up all the knowledge, resources, and network access they have to offer. That’s where the real payment is. 

Spoiler alert: it won’t be easy. You’ll need to get comfortable with rejection and being “left on read” by the people you reach out to. None of that matters. It literally takes one person and one response to get things going, so keep going, keep messaging, keep emailing until you get the “yes” you need. 

12. LIVE WITH 8 ROOMMATES

Some of you are probably freaking out, wondering how you can actually do any of this without real money. My answer to you would be that sometimes, you have to be willing to take a step back financially to take a step forward in life. These are the years where you can live in an apartment with eight roommates and split rent. These are the years when you can afford to eat inexpensive, crappy food. Too many people are unwilling to humble themselves and downgrade their lifestyle, even if it means upgrading their happiness! Ask yourself, what’s really important? 

I truly hope that you’ve gotten something from this article. This season often ends up being scary and stressful when it should be one of the most exciting and freeing periods of a person’s life. My parting words to you…You. Have. TIME. Breathe, taste things, and do stuff you actually enjoy. You have the rest of your lives to be practical. 

If you enjoyed this article, it would mean so much to me if you shared it on your favorite platform, or sent it to someone you know who’s about to graduate from college. Thank you! 

The post What To Do After College? 12 Great Ideas Post College appeared first on GaryVaynerchuk.com.

10 Ways to Protect Yourself from Scams

Hey everybody. Before we jump into the article, I encourage you to join the Discord community for my upcoming NFT project! Just a fun place to connect, hang out, ask questions and get set up properly for the big launch on 5/5! Hope to meet you there! 

Team GaryVee here!

With the launch of Gary’s NFT project quickly approaching, Gary really wants to ensure that his community is set up the RIGHT way. While we’re excited for 5/5, nothing is more important than making sure you are well informed and prepared to set up your wallets and accounts with maximum protection. Unfortunately, there are a number of shady characters on Discord and other social media platforms with malicious intent. These people impersonate Gary with fake but believable usernames and photos in an attempt to scam Gary’s community out of their personal info and money.

NEVER! https://t.co/L4J87ETK0B

— Gary Vaynerchuk (@garyvee) April 29, 2021

Please know that neither Gary nor anyone on Team GaryVee has ever or will ever reach out to you asking for your wallet seed phrase or private keys, nor will we ask you for money or your social security number. If you receive a DM, email or message of any kind asking for money or sensitive information, it is likely a scam! As always, be very cautious with any personal details you share. 

Check out these resources on avoiding cryptocurrency scams from the FTC and Coinbase. For now, let’s jump into 10 tips to help protect yourself against scams, frauds and phishing attempts. 

1. Never Send Money to Someone You Don’t Know

Of course, a request from a stranger asking for money, crypto or personal information is always a red flag. No matter what enticing offer they claim to have, it’s never a good idea to send your money to anyone you do not personally know.

2. Never Share Personal Information with Someone You Don’t Know

Some scammers won’t ask for money outright, but will instead request sensitive private information such as your address, phone number, bank account or credit card numbers or social security number. This information can be used to commit identity theft and should never be freely shared. 

3. Never Assume the Name or Profile You See is the Right One

Many scammers are savvy enough to bypass the “stranger danger” roadblock by impersonating trusted or well-known figures. They will go as far as to use Gary’s name, the names of his companies or employees in messages to lure you into a false sense of security. Look beyond this name-dropping tactic and never assume that the source of the message is legitimate without verifying.

For reference, check out this article for a comprehensive list of all of Gary’s official social channels. If the name or username contacting you is not on this list, you can assume that it is not affiliated with Gary or any of the VaynerX companies. 

4. Look Out for Spam Messages

If someone is spamming you with message requests aka repeatedly reaching out, be wary. Scam artists can be very persistent and will likely try to contact you several times on more than one platform or phone number. While we love engaging with the community, Team GaryVee will never harass Gary’s supporters with spam. 

5. Always Verify Official Websites and Links

Like fake phone numbers and social media profiles, scammers will often create entire websites that look eerily similar to official sites on which you conduct business. Oftentimes, the URL address will be off by only a few letters or characters, and the site might even feature a passable replica of an authentic logo. These fraudulent sites will often be sent to you via email or text message, but be sure never to click on any suspicious links and to always carefully check the URL address. For instance, check this Coinbase anti-phishing resource to learn how to identify fake sites masquerading as the real cryptocurrency exchange. 

In regards to getting set up for Gary’s NFT project, be sure that you only access the official Coinbase and MetaMask websites and apps. 

6. Never Share Your Private Key or Seed Phrase

As covered in our article, How to Make a Cryptocurrency or NFT Wallet, private keys and seed phrases are like the golden keys to your crypto. They must never — ever — be shared, lost or left susceptible to discovery or theft. Sharing your public address is fine, but remember, if someone has access to your private key or seed phrase, they can steal your funds with ease. Take a look at this guide for secure seed phrase storage. 

Many scammers will take advantage of people by asking them to verify their wallet address to win a prize or some other incentive. Do not fall for it. 

7. Beware of Advance-Fee Schemes

Advance-fee schemes are fairly common with both traditional and cryptocurrency. In these cases, someone will ask you to send a sum of money or crypto in exchange for the promise of a greater reward later. Victims send funds willingly because they believe they are making an investment, only to see their money disappear. 

8. Beware of Get Rich Quick Schemes

Generally, you want to be wary of any “opportunities” claiming to be able to get you a large sum of money quickly or overnight. As Gary often cautions, making investments in search of a quick buck is short-sighted and will often lead to disappointment. Be careful of falling prey to human greed — especially in the NFT world, where many early projects will fizzle out.

99% of NFT’s won’t be good investments and there will be some massive crashes in the next 12 to 24 months .. many will get confused and think it was a fad.. that’s when it gets really good .. this will be an interesting decade … oh and that 1% will be all-time returns

— Gary Vaynerchuk (@garyvee) February 28, 2021

9. Beware of Requests for Cryptocurrency, Wire Transfers or Gift Cards

Scammers will commonly offer enticing opportunities and require that you pay them in crypto, money transfers or gift cards. This is often an indication of a scam because these funds are almost always non-recoverable. Remember, stolen crypto is gone forever. There is no bank, government or other authority that can help you recover your funds, and scammers know that. If you receive this kind of request, don’t respond. 

10. Beware of Covid-19 Scams

As of March, Americans had lost $382 million in Covid-related scams. These scams were tied to everything from vaccines to stimulus checks and unemployment benefits. Sadly, many scammers are preying on the vulnerability of people who are scared and looking for relief and answers during this difficult time. Stay vigilant and look out for scams using pandemic buzzwords as a way to extract money or information.

RemindersIf an opportunity feels suspicious, inauthentic or too good to be true, it most likely is.Always back up your private keys/seed phrases in secure locations, and never share them with anyone, under any circumstances.Do not send money, crypto or sensitive personal information to people you don’t know.Never assume a website is legitimate. Always do your research and check for the official site, logo and URL address.

We know that so many of you are excited for Gary’s NFT project launch. Sadly, there are many people out there waiting to take advantage of that enthusiasm by setting traps. Please, remain vigilant for scams, secure your private information and use discernment when it comes to the people and companies with whom you do business. If you are ever unsure about the legitimacy of a text, DM or message claiming to be from Gary or his team, please do not hesitate to let us know so that we can flag suspicious activity. You can also report and/or block fake accounts on their respective platforms. 

If you enjoyed this article, please share it on your favorite platforms and encourage others to stay safe and informed. Thank you! 

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Swan Sit, The Serendipity of Life and Business

It’s been one of the more rewarding parts of my career to advise what I believe will be the next generation of entrepreneurs, executives, and leaders. I firmly believe there are employees at VaynerX right now who will go on to be Fortune 500 CMO’s, direct Oscar winning films, and achieve a degree of career success far beyond their wildest dreams. I feel a profound sense of gratitude and responsibility for being able to help guide the careers of so many, and when that guidance begins to play out I get to see the true serendipity of life and business on display.

Swan Sit is someone whose friendship I value deeply and I’ve had the pleasure of having lots of thoughtful career conversations with her over the years. She has been an absolute force in the marketing and branding world. Achieving a corporate pedigree that many dream of, she is an executive at some of the world’s highest profile brands. As an Executive Director at Estée Lauder, she was early to adopt social media and eCommerce as others in the beauty space grew complacent. She’d go on to join the Revlon team as Vice President of Global Digital, overseeing digital innovation and massive launch campaigns. This set her up for her next venture at Nike as VP of Global Digital Marketing, where she was a part of the Emmy-winning “Dream Crazy” campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick and ran digital product, operations, and supply chain for the multi-billion dollar North American ecommerce business.

Somewhere between Revlon and Nike, Swan and I spoke about what her next move should be. What I knew to be true then, as I do now, is that she’s one of the most progressive business minds who truly understands the juxtaposition of Fortune 500 business and Day 1 entrepreneurship. She’s one of the few executives I’ve advised who has the creative DNA that allows them to make magic, unite teams, articulate a grand vision, and see beyond the quarterly numbers. Her EQ is as impressive as her IQ, and I knew it was only a matter of time before that would be on display for a much larger audience.

After her time at Nike, she went on to take a number of Board Director roles for publicly traded companies and advise several early stage companies like Ani Energy, where she serves as CMO and an Operating Partner at AF Ventures. Each of these experiences has set her up for the moment that will eventually make Swan a household name.

Last year, before anyone reading this heard of the platform you all know today as Clubhouse, Swan dove in head first. She spent countless hours on the platform, flexing her breadth of experience, deep relationships, and firm understanding of the social and digital space. In just under a year, she’s grown to 3MM followers on the platform, becoming one of the top 30 most followed people — even more than me. What’s most fun for me about that is, I know she’s just getting started.

That’s why it brings me great joy to announce that Swan will be signing with VaynerTalent, where we’ll help manage her next chapter and career. Swan will speak on stages alongside me, she’ll go on to write books, and have a long career as what I’m sure will put her in the conversation for one of the most celebrated interviewers of our time.

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It’s only fitting that the person to help me manage Swan’s career would be someone that has earned my trust and proven himself —  another person I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and guiding, and someone who I’ve seen a lot of myself in, Nick Dio.

Dio walked into the VaynerMedia offices almost a decade ago. He was a Jersey kid who tweeted at me endlessly and took an unpaid internship until he inevitably won over enough people at VaynerMedia to get a full-time job offer. Over that time, I’ve jammed with Dio within VaynerX, placing him in roles and experiences that would make him equal parts operational, creative, strategic, and executional. He’s proven his ability to earn trust, be loyal, and do right by others. Last April, I called Dio on a Sunday night and told him I was ready to relaunch VaynerTalent and that I thought he could be a very powerful Talent Manager. Without hesitation, he was ready to step into his next and possibly final role at VaynerX.

I give you the context of these life experiences for both Swan and Dio because it has been the serendipity of life and business that has led us to this moment. A high-profile executive who I adore matched with a hard-working Jersey kid, both of whom embody the qualities I look for in those I advise: empathy, kindness, compassion, and unwavering work ethic.

I wanted to share this with you all because like many things, I like being on the record, and as many times as I’ve been historically right about social platforms, technology, and business, I also am often right about people and their potential.If you want to follow Swan and her journey, you can follow her on Clubhouse, Instagram, and Twitter and reach out to her manager Nick Dio for any business, partnership, or collaboration opportunities ndiodato@vaynertalent.com.

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5 Things To Do To Best Prepare for 5/5

What’s happening on May 5, 2021? Yes, it’s Cinco de Mayo, but it’s also the day I launch my very own NFT project. This article will take you through the 5 simple steps you should take to prepare. 

If you already know what’s up and you’re still not ready…what are you waiting for? 

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5/5 – it’s going DOWN. 

This project is the culmination of my life’s work, tailor-made with my OG community in mind! There will be a combination of purchasable tokens and free giveaways to benefit as many of you as possible. This is bigger than collectible art — this is me giving back real value for the long-term. 

I agree there’s a lot of poor projects .. it’s why I am motivated .. I want to create a blueprint that others can follow to bring wayyyyy more value to their audience and community and build long term https://t.co/ifocFY8OFy

— Gary Vaynerchuk (@garyvee) April 27, 2021

To participate, I’m encouraging you to educate yourself on NFTs or non-fungible tokens, and then get yourself set up to be ready for the launch. Team GaryVee and I have already prepared a few valuable, in-depth resources — linked at the end of this article — but here’s everything you need to do in 5 easy steps: 

1. Get a Crypto Wallet from MetaMask

There are tons of cryptocurrency wallet options, but I think MetaMask will be the easiest option for the masses to get involved. MetaMask is an Ethereum wallet available as a desktop extension or mobile app; super simple and FREE to set up. Run and get it done, ASAP!

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2. Pick an Exchange

Boom. You have your wallet…now you need to pick a cryptocurrency exchange that allows you to buy Ethereum, aka ETH. I recommend Coinbase, Gemini or Binance. Go make an account! I’ll wait…

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Please note that it is also possible to purchase ETH directly through MetaMask using a debit card. This is done via a third-party service called Wyre which you can access within MetaMask, however, this option comes with geographical restrictions. For example, Wyre is not currently supported in some states including Connecticut, Hawaii, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, Virginia and Vermont — see a full list here. 

For this reason, I recommend purchasing your ETH through an exchange like Coinbase. 

3. Be Aware of Transfer Delays and Limits

I’ve recommended Coinbase as a convenient and user-friendly exchange. Please note that Coinbase offers several different methods of payment. See the guide below: 

from Coinbase

As you can see, debit card and PayPal transactions are instant, however, they limit the amounts of crypto you can work with. I’m suggesting everyone get as much ETH as possible, but starting with at least 1 ETH is a good bet to cover a purchase plus gas fees. For this reason, you might want to go with a bank account or wire transfer for your payment method. These options allow you to move larger quantities, but be warned…this route comes with delays. 

Important Note  

If you wait until the last minute, you likely won’t be able to move your ETH in time for the project launch! Bank transfers can take a minimum of 5 days. That being said, you can reduce transfer delays by choosing to wire money directly from your bank to your Coinbase wallet. Check out these wire instructions from Coinbase. Then, simply transfer your ETH from Coinbase to your MetaMask non-custodial wallet. 

Don’t get caught slipping — make your account and purchase your ETH now. 

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4. Buy ETH

The time has come. You’re now ready and equipped to buy ETH. Why ETH? Ethereum is the native currency of the Ethereum blockchain, and the currency you’ll need to make purchases from my NFT project — or any others. Again, I’m suggesting that everyone get 1 ETH in their wallet, but also understand that you should never invest more than you can afford to lose. 

5. Transfer ETH to MetaMask and/or Hardware Wallet 

Lastly, once you’ve purchased your ETH on Coinbase or another exchange, you’ll need to transfer it over into your new MetaMask wallet. You can also connect your Ledger or Trezor hardware wallets to your MetaMask account for extra secure storage. 

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Still lost on NFTs, wallets or why the hell you should even care? If this is you, don’t worry! I’ve got you covered. Check out these resources the team and I have cooked up in the past few weeks — What is NFT? Non-fungible Token Guide will teach you what NFTs are and give you some perspective on why I’m so excited for them to change the relationship between culture and technology as we know it. How to Make a Cryptocurrency or NFT Wallet will give you an overview of how crypto wallets work and the different types, plus get you all set up with a functioning MetaMask wallet! Finally, 4 Steps to Make Sure You Have Ethereum in Your Wallet will walk you through buying ETH via Coinbase and transferring it safely to your MetaMask. 

Save this, share this, make a checklist out of it! I hope this article clears things up and gets you ready for my drop on 5/5. If you found it valuable, please don’t hesitate to share on your favorite platforms — I want everyone to win from this. 

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4 Steps to Make Sure You Have Ethereum in Your Wallet

Hey everyone! Team GaryVee, back again with a follow-up to our last article, How to Make a Cryptocurrency or NFT Wallet. By now, you understand the massive revolution that is NFTs. You also know that Gary is launching his own NFT project on 5/5, and that this project is truly the culmination of 15 years of work Gary has spent building and pouring into his community since his Wine Library TV days.

Gary is extremely proud and excited to launch his collection and we’re all very excited to see the ways in which this project and community continue to grow and develop… but first, let’s make sure you’re all set up with some ETH in your crypto wallet! 

If you haven’t read our last blog, you’ll want to check that out first before proceeding here. If you’re all caught up, great! That means you’ll have already set up your MetaMask wallet on desktop extension, mobile or both. 

With 5/5 quickly approaching, this article will guide you on how to actually get Ether into that wallet, step-by-step, to make sure you’re ready to be part of Gary’s project!

WHAT IS ETHER?

First, what is Ether? Ether is the native currency of the Ethereum blockchain. For a deeper understanding of Ether, how it works and its unique value, check out this resource from the Ethereum Foundation. For now, just understand that Ether is the second-largest cryptocurrency in the world by market value after bitcoin. Also known by its ticker symbol — ETH — it is highly valued by Gary and other crypto investors like Mark Cuban. Since Ethereum is the blockchain foundation for the booming NFT market, anyone looking to play or invest in that world will need to have some ETH. 

While you can buy this crypto directly using a wallet, there are often geographical restrictions. For this reason, we recommend buying ETH through an exchange like Coinbase and then transferring your holdings into your MetaMask wallet. 

STEP 1: CREATING A COINBASE ACCOUNT

Coinbase is one of the biggest and most trusted centralized exchanges and a very user-friendly platform for beginners. Its recent public listing marked a significant shift, bringing the world of cryptocurrency much more mainstream. Accessible online or via an app downloadable to your smartphone, Coinbase allows users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies, convert or exchange one coin or token for another, and then store or send and receive that crypto with others. It also keeps users up to date with the latest crypto news and developments in pricing. 

Something to note about Coinbase is that because it is a centralized exchange, users are required to provide official identification in compliance with government regulations. This means that you must be 18 years or older to use Coinbase, and you must provide certain sensitive information including photo ID and the last four digits of your social security number. Unlike many wallets, Coinbase conveniently allows for the purchase of crypto with fiat money, aka USD. Users can choose between a credit/debit card (Visa or Mastercard) or a bank account. Note that card purchases typically come with lower purchase limits and higher buy fees (this is not exclusive to Coinbase. Higher fees for credit card purchases are typical for many crypto services). 

That being said, please, PLEASE, note that your buys on Coinbase can take quite a while. Coinbase uses an ACH bank transfer system for payments made with your bank account, meaning that once you initiate a crypto purchase, it may take **minimally 5 days to be completed and for your holdings to be available to send from your coinbase account to a self custody wallet like MetaMask. As noted in our last article, you can avoid these delays by wiring money from your bank into your Coinbase wallet. Either way, be sure to get set up as soon as possible. 

You may use Coinbase on your computer, but it is commonly used as an app for both iPhone and Android. For a play-by-play on how to set up your Coinbase account in-app, follow the steps in this guide. 

STEP 2: BUYING ETHER

Remember, while you may be excited to get started, always use good judgement. Rule number one of investing in anything — including crypto — is to never invest more than you can afford to lose. It’s important to understand that all crypto assets correspond to different trading prices, which are subject to change frequently. In other words, the price of ETH may rise or fall depending on the day or even the time of day that you make a purchase. 

For Gary’s upcoming project launching on 5/5/21, we recommend having at least 1 ETH in your wallet to cover purchases and gas fees, or the additional costs of performing transactions on the Ethereum network. That being said, Gary and the team understand that cost is a valid concern, and we encourage you to be smart and do what is right for your own situation. 

Now, you’ve downloaded the Coinbase app and you’re all set up and ready to buy: 

Open your Coinbase app.From the homescreen, click the blue button with arrows at the bottom of the screen. Then, select “Buy” from the dropdown menu. This will open up a list of different crypto assets offered by Coinbase for buying and selling. (Alternatively, you can navigate to the “Prices” tab from the homescreen, click the crypto asset of your choice, and click “Trade.”)Click on the option for Ethereum (ETH) — be sure to note the current trading price listed on the right hand side. On the next screen, decide how much ETH you want to buy and enter in the amount. You can also denominate your purchase in ETH. After deciding on your desired amount, click the blue “Preview buy” button. On the “Order Preview” screen, review all of the information. You’ll see the amount of ETH you’re preparing to purchase as well as the price. Note that the trading price can go up or down before you’ve finalized your purchase. You’ll also see your preferred payment method, the fee that Coinbase takes for the transaction and finally, the total amount you will be charged. If all of this information looks good to you, click the blue “Buy now” button to purchase your ETH. You will be brought to a confirmation page and an additional confirmation will be sent to your email address. 

STEP 3: SENDING ETHER TO YOUR METAMASK WALLET

Congratulations, you now own ETH! Now, let’s send it over to your MetaMask wallet. 

In your MetaMask app, find your public address. This is a long number starting with 0x listed underneath your account name. Tap on this number to copy it to your clipboard. Once you’ve copied your address from MetaMask, go back into your Coinbase app and navigate to the “Portfolio” tab on the bottom of your screen. From there, click on “Ethereum” and click on your “ETH Wallet.” Then, click on the send icon on the right hand side of the screen.

Now, decide how much ETH you would like to send to your MetaMask address. You can choose a portion or send the max amount available. *We recommend sending a very small amount as a test transaction to ensure that the funds are received in your MetaMask. Sending a small test transaction out before adding large amounts of funds to ensure you have successfully created a wallet you can operate is a good idea. Also, please note that before sending any value to a wallet, it’s recommended to test your seed recovery phrase and ensure you have the same address after recovery before adding any value to a wallet from an exchange like Coinbase.Finally, in the “To” bar, paste the address you copied from MetaMask, add a note (optional) and hit “Preview send.” Once you finalize, you will have successfully sent your ETH from Coinbase into your MetaMask wallet! STEP 4: LINKING YOUR HARDWARE WALLET 

As a final, optional step, you may decide to link a hardware wallet to your MetaMask for additional cold storage security. Remember, cold storage wallets store your private keys independently of an internet connection on a USB or thumb drive-like device. Two of the most reputable and commonly-used hardware wallets are Ledger and Trezor. While MetaMask and other web wallets are great for storing smaller amounts of crypto, you may want to invest and pair your MetaMask with a hardware wallet for larger sums.

Luckily, MetaMask makes this very easy with a “Connect Hardware Wallet” functionality built into the desktop extension. For more information on this process, check out this MetaMask Support guide.  Please note that the wallet address of a hardware wallet is different from the one created during the setup for MetaMask, so be sure you are using the correct address. MetaMask doesn’t let you remove the one you create when you first setup the MetaMask extension, and the hardware wallet must just be added as an additional. 

There you have it! You’ve now gone through the necessary steps to purchase Ether on Coinbase and transfer it safely to your MetaMask wallet. Again, remember the rules of crypto — always be smart with your investments and safe with your private keys. We’ll see you on 5/5! 

Thank you for reading. If you found this article helpful, please consider sharing it with a friend interested in crypto, NFTs in general or Gary’s upcoming project. 

The post 4 Steps to Make Sure You Have Ethereum in Your Wallet appeared first on GaryVaynerchuk.com.

4 Steps to Make Sure You Have ETH in Your Wallet

Hey everyone! Team GaryVee, back again with a follow-up to our last article, How to Make a Cryptocurrency or NFT Wallet. By now, you understand the massive revolution that is NFTs. You also know that Gary is launching his own NFT project on 5/5, and that this project is truly the culmination of 15 years of work Gary has spent building and pouring into his community since his Wine Library TV days.

Gary is extremely proud and excited to launch his collection and we’re all very excited to see the ways in which this project and community continues to grow and develop… but first, let’s make sure you’re all set up with some ETH in your crypto wallet! 

If you haven’t read our last blog, you’ll want to check that out first before proceeding here. If you’re all caught up, great! That means you’ll have already set up your MetaMask wallet on desktop extension, mobile or both. 

With 5/5 quickly approaching, this article will guide you on how to actually get Ether into that wallet, step-by-step to make sure you’re ready to be part of Gary’s project!

WHAT IS ETHER?

First, what is Ether? Ether is the native currency of the Ethereum blockchain. For a deeper understanding of Ether, how it works and its unique value, check out this resource from the Ethereum Foundation. For now, just understand that Ether is the second-largest cryptocurrency in the world by market value after bitcoin. Also known by its ticker symbol — ETH — it is highly valued by Gary and other crypto investors like Mark Cuban. Since Ethereum is the blockchain foundation for the booming NFT market, anyone looking to play or invest in that world will need to have some ETH. 

While you can buy this crypto directly using a wallet, there are often geographical restrictions. For this reason, we recommend buying ETH through an exchange like Coinbase and then transferring your holdings into your MetaMask wallet. 

STEP 1: CREATING A COINBASE ACCOUNT

Coinbase is one of the biggest and most trusted centralized exchanges and a very user-friendly platform for beginners. Its recent public listing marked a significant shift, bringing the world of cryptocurrency much more mainstream. Accessible online or via an app downloadable to your smartphone, Coinbase allows users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies, convert or exchange one coin or token for another, and then store or send and receive that crypto with others. It also keeps users up to date with the latest crypto news and developments in pricing. 

Something to note about Coinbase is that because it is a centralized exchange, users are required to provide official identification in compliance with government regulations. This means that you must be 18 years or older to use Coinbase, and you must provide certain sensitive information including photo ID and the last four digits of your social security number. Unlike many wallets, Coinbase conveniently allows for the purchase of crypto with fiat money, aka USD. Users can choose between a credit/debit card (Visa or Mastercard) or a bank account. Note that card purchases typically come with lower purchase limits and higher buy fees (this is not exclusive to Coinbase. Higher fees for credit card purchases are typical for many crypto services). 

That being said, please, PLEASE, note that your buys on Coinbase can take quite a while. Coinbase uses an ACH bank transfer system for payments made with your bank account, meaning that once you initiate a crypto purchase, it may take **minimally 5 days to be completed and for your holdings to be available to send from your coinbase account to a self custody wallet like Metamask. As noted in our last article, you can avoid these delays by wiring money from your bank into your Coinbase wallet. Either way, be sure to get set up as soon as possible. 

You may use Coinbase on your computer, but it is commonly used as an app for both iPhone and Android. For a play-by-play on how to set up your Coinbase account in-app, follow the steps in this guide. 

STEP 2: BUYING ETHER

Remember, while you may be excited to get started, always use good judgement. Rule number one of investing in anything — including crypto — is to never invest more than you can afford to lose. It’s important to understand that all crypto assets correspond to different trading prices, which are subject to change frequently. In other words, the price of ETH may rise or fall depending on the day or even the time of day that you make a purchase. 

For Gary’s upcoming project launching on 5/5/21, we recommend having at least 1 ETH in your wallet to cover purchases and gas fees, or the additional costs of performing transactions on the Ethereum network. That being said, Gary and the team understand that cost is a valid concern, and we encourage you to be smart and do what is right for your own situation. 

Now, you’ve downloaded the Coinbase app and you’re all set up and ready to buy: 

Open your Coinbase app.From the homescreen, click the blue button with arrows at the bottom of the screen. Then, select “Buy” from the dropdown menu. This will open up a list of different crypto assets offered by Coinbase for buying and selling. (Alternatively, you can navigate to the “Prices” tab from the homescreen, click the crypto asset of your choice, and click “Trade.”)Click on the option for Ethereum (ETH) — be sure to note the current trading price listed on the right hand side. On the next screen, decide how much ETH you want to buy and enter in the amount. You can also denominate your purchase in ETH. After deciding on your desired amount, click the blue “Preview buy” button. On the “Order Preview” screen, review all of the information. You’ll see the amount of ETH you’re preparing to purchase as well as the price. Note that the trading price can go up or down before you’ve finalized your purchase. You’ll also see your preferred payment method, the fee that Coinbase takes for the transaction and finally, the total amount you will be charged. If all of this information looks good to you, click the blue “Buy now” button to purchase your ETH. You will be brought to a confirmation page and an additional confirmation will be sent to your email address. 

STEP 3: SENDING ETHER TO YOUR METAMASK WALLET

Congratulations, you now own ETH! Now, let’s send it over to your MetaMask wallet. 

In your MetaMask app, find your public address. This is a long number starting with 0x listed underneath your account name. Tap on this number to copy it to your clipboard. Once you’ve copied your address from MetaMask, go back into your Coinbase app and navigate to the “Portfolio” tab on the bottom of your screen. From there, click on “Ethereum” and click on your “ETH Wallet.” Then, click on the send icon on the right hand side of the screen. Now, decide how much ETH you would like to send to your MetaMask address. You can choose a portion or send the max amount available. *We recommend sending a very small amount as a test transaction to ensure that the funds are received in your MetaMask. Sending a small test transaction out before adding large amounts of funds to ensure you have successfully created a wallet you can operate is a good idea. Also, please note that before sending any value to a wallet, it’s recommended to test your seed recovery phrase and ensure you have the same address after recovery before adding any value to a wallet from an exchange like coinbase.Finally, in the “To” bar, paste the address you copied from MetaMask, add a note (optional) and hit “Preview send.” Once you finalize, you will have successfully sent your ETH from Coinbase into your MetaMask wallet! STEP 4: LINKING YOUR HARDWARE WALLET 

As a final, optional step, you may decide to link a hardware wallet to your MetaMask for additional cold storage security. Remember, cold storage wallets store your private keys independently of an internet connection on a USB or thumb drive-like device. Two of the most reputable and commonly-used hardware wallets are Ledger and Trezor. While MetaMask and other web wallets are great for storing smaller amounts of crypto, you may want to invest and pair your MetaMask with a hardware wallet for larger sums.

Luckily, MetaMask makes this very easy with a “Connect Hardware Wallet” functionality built into the desktop extension. For more information on this process, check out this MetaMask Support guide.  Please note that the wallet address of a hardware wallet is different from one created during the setup for MetaMask, so be sure you are using the correct address. Metamask doesn’t let you remove the one you create when you first setup the MetaMask extension, and the hardware wallet must just be added as an additional. 

There you have it! You’ve now gone through the necessary steps to purchase Ether on Coinbase and transfer it safely to your MetaMask wallet. Again, remember the rules of crypto — always be smart with your investments and safe with your private keys. We’ll see you on 5/5! 

Thank you for reading. If you found this article helpful, please consider sharing it with a friend interested in crypto, NFTs in general or Gary’s upcoming project. 

The post 4 Steps to Make Sure You Have ETH in Your Wallet appeared first on GaryVaynerchuk.com.

How to Make a Cryptocurrency or NFT Wallet

Hey everybody. I wanted to write this article for two reasons:

It’s just a good article to write as many of you navigate these uncharted crypto waters.I am currently working on something very cool that is going to happen in early May, and it is very important to me that my OG community is disproportionately benefitting from it.

With that said, I know that many of you have not yet created a wallet that is functional for NFT purchasing. You may have a Coinbase account at this point, but very few are actually set up to buy an NFT. Let’s fix that.

I want to say this, though, before you read the rest of this article. Many of you made fun of your parents 10 to 15 years ago when they were scared to put a credit card into a website to buy something. You ragged on them or you made jokes behind their backs…Today, you’re in the same exact position your parents were in. Many of you are now hesitant to open a MetaMask account or even a basic Coinbase account. I just want to remind you that you have become your parents — everyone’s worst nightmare . 

So please, use that line to inspire you to take this article seriously and set up your wallet. The NFT revolution is here and I want you to be ready. I’ve asked my content team, Team GaryVee,  to help write the rest of this article in as much detail as possible, so I hope that you enjoy it. 

Team GaryVee here

Hello everyone, and thanks for reading and your interest in Gary’s NFT project! After a strong response to Gary’s What is NFT? article, we wanted to continue the crypto conversation with a guide on how to set up your own cryptocurrency wallet. Starting off with a general overview on wallets and how they work, we’ll then take you through the exact steps you need to take to create a wallet compatible with purchasing not just Gary’s upcoming NFT project, but any NFT that might be of interest to you. We hope our outline will provide you with the knowledge and foundation you need to make your entry into this space as safe and seamless as possible! 

WHAT ARE CRYPTOCURRENCY WALLETS? 

Cryptocurrency wallets are software used to communicate with blockchain networks to safely access, send and receive crypto funds or assets. Simply put, the software stores your crypto just like traditional wallets store your cash and credit cards. Where things get interesting is in the storage mechanism. Unlike fiat money — aka USD, CAD, etc. — which you store in a bank, crypto assets are stored on the blockchain. Just like you use a debit card to access your paper money at an ATM, you use your crypto wallet to access your crypto on the public ledger. The crypto wallet does not actually hold physical items — instead, it holds unique digital passwords or “private keys” which allow you to transact on the blockchain.

Crypto wallets come in the form of devices, mediums or smartphone applications and help you access records of transaction history that are held on the ledger. Simply put, if you want to actually use your crypto, you’ll need a wallet to do so.

CUSTODIAL VS. NON-CUSTODIAL

When it comes to storing your crypto, let’s talk about two options: custodial or non-custodial wallets. Check out this detailed comparison, but we will give you the breakdown here. 

Custodial Wallets

Many people make their first crypto purchases on centralized exchanges. These are online marketplaces where you can buy, sell and store a variety of cryptocurrencies. Many of you may have heard of Coinbase, one of the most popular centralized exchanges in the United States and a great option for beginners! Exchanges like Coinbase are known as “custodians” because they have custody over your cryptocurrency. In other words, when you make purchases with the Coinbase app, Coinbase holds your crypto for you in its own “custodial” or “hosted” wallet. This way, Coinbase acts as a third-party with ownership of your private keys, and you are trusting the platform with the responsibility of keeping your crypto safe and secure.

Custodial wallets are a convenient gateway into the crypto world. It’s as simple as signing up for a Coinbase account with your email address, verifying your identity with a photo ID, choosing a strong password and linking your credit card or bank account to start buying. While Coinbase is great for holding small amounts of crypto and buying major cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and Ether, the company does not yet offer NFTs — although they may soon be considering it. 

For now, if you want to be able to purchase NFTs, you’ll need to have what is called a non-custodial wallet. 

Non-custodial Wallets 

For full control over your crypto assets, a non-custodial wallet is your best and safest bet. With these wallets, there is no third-party involved and you are the owner of your own private keys. While this is ideal for security, it also comes with great responsibility. More on the importance of private keys in just a bit. For now, let’s talk about where non-custodial wallets come into play. 

Say you have a Coinbase account but you now want full control over your crypto. Good news, you can transfer your crypto holdings from Coinbase into your own non-custodial wallet! This is especially helpful for those of you looking to store large amounts of crypto, or for people looking to purchase NFTs. Since NFTs exist mostly on the Ethereum blockchain, you would need to purchase Ether on Coinbase and then transfer it to your non-custodial wallet, which you would then use to buy an NFT from online marketplaces such as NiftyGateway, OpenSea, Rarible, etc. You can also buy Ether directly using a non-custodial wallet like MetaMask! If you want to be ready for Gary’s upcoming project, MetaMask is what he recommends. Don’t worry, we’ll get you set up by the end of this article

For the purposes of this article, we will be focusing specifically on non-custodial wallets, which come in several options: software (web, mobile or desktop), hardware and paper. Before we dig deeper into each category, let’s explore how wallets actually work. 

HOW DO THEY WORK?

Every cryptocurrency wallet functions using public keys and private keys. These keys work in tandem to make secure and verifiable cryptocurrency transactions on a blockchain. For definitions of these and more important cryptocurrency terms, check out this guide from One37 or see this more in-depth explanation to learn more about keypairs and encryption. For now, let’s go over the basics. 

Public Keys and Addresses

Wallet addresses are derived from a public and private key pair, and identify your account on the blockchain, thus allowing you to receive crypto. Think of an address like an email address — you can share it anywhere! Whoever knows your address can send you crypto. An Ethereum address will always start with 0x and then a string of 40 alphanumeric characters. It may also appear as a scannable QR code. 

Private Keys & Seed Phrases

Every public key is mathematically linked to a private key in a unique key pairing. A private key — which appears as a string of alphanumeric characters — is used to digitally sign a transaction to authenticate your transactions on the blockchain. One private key can generate several wallet addresses. 

Seed Phrase > Private Key > Public Key > Address

A seed phrase is a group of 12 or 24 words usually generated within the wallet software that can be used to derive your private key. Further, your private key can be used to derive your public key — however, it is important to note that your public key cannot be used to recover your private key or seed phrase. Therefore, guard your private keys and seed phrases with your life! Check out this guide on best practices for storing your seed phrase safely. 

WHY YOU SHOULD ALWAYS PROTECT YOUR PRIVATE KEYS

It sounds dramatic, but we cannot stress this enough. Private keys and seed phrases must NEVER be shared with anyone or left susceptible to discovery or theft. Think of a private key like a password or better yet, a PIN number — whoever has it has access to your crypto assets. Why is this so important? Unlike traditional money, stolen crypto is lost forever. There is no bank to call and report the theft; not even the government can help you recover lost or stolen assets. For this reason, when you create a crypto wallet and receive your private key and/or seed phrase, be sure to store it offline in a secret, safe location only accessible to you. Never store your keys in online notebooks unencrypted, or type into any website.

TYPES OF CRYPTOCURRENCY WALLETS 

Remember, there are a few categories of crypto wallets. Let’s explore each option. 

Software Wallets – HOT storage

Software wallets are considered to be “hot storage,” a term referring to any wallet that has been directly connected to the internet. Software wallets can be further broken down into several wallet types — web, mobile and desktop.

WEB WALLETS 

e.g. MetaMask Chrome extension, Mycrypto.com
Web wallets include both browser extensions and websites, and can be used on most computers with access to the internet. MetaMask browser extension is a great web option generally accepted on all web3 applications. This makes them extremely convenient, however, they are vulnerable to cyber attacks.

MOBILE WALLETS

e.g. MetaMask Mobile, Rainbow, Argent
Mobile wallets are accessed via smartphone apps. As they are easily downloadable right to your phone or mobile-device, these wallets are great for everyday, on-the-go access and purchases. Just like your computer, you should always keep your phone updated and protected. 

DESKTOP WALLETS 

e.g. Mycrypto client-side
Desktop wallets are software programs downloaded and installed directly onto your PC or laptop. Private keys are input into this software and never leave the original machine onto which they were downloaded.

While convenient, software or hot wallets are best used only for storing smaller amounts of crypto due to the risk of hackers or viruses.

COLD storage
On the flip side, “cold storage” wallets store your keys independently of an internet connection, providing higher security and protection.

HARDWARE WALLETS 

e.g. Ledger, Trezor
One of the most secure options, hardware wallets are physical devices you can buy that allow you to make transactions without exposing your seed phrase or private keys to the internet. Hardware wallets typically look like a USB or thumb drive which you connect to your computer or laptop when making a transaction, and then remove once finished. Since your private keys are stored on the device itself and not on a computer or online platform, hardware wallets are very hard to exploit. 

PAPER WALLETS 

Paper wallets are really just a way to store the private key and public key pair for your account on a piece of paper. They can be a way to store crypto keys you don’t plan to access for a long time, but are generally deemed obsolete in lieu of seed phrases.

WHERE TO GET A CRYPTOCURRENCY WALLET 

Depending on your specific needs, you can download your crypto wallet to your computer (desktop) or phone (mobile), create it on a web browser (web), buy it from a store (hardware) or print it out (paper). Where you go to get your crypto wallet depends on need and personal preference. Great options include the Rainbow mobile wallet, Ledger or Trezor for hardware or one of our favorites as a browser extension — MetaMask! 

MetaMask is an Ethereum wallet available for both web and mobile, and in our opinion, it’s one of the best crypto wallet options on the market and perfect for anyone interested in buying an NFT.  Since its launch in 2016, MetaMask has gathered over one million monthly active users and is proving to be a popular, trusted option among Gary’s community:

Want to learn more? Visit the MetaMask FAQ Support page. 

HOW TO SET UP A METAMASK WALLET ON DESKTOP

Here is how to create a MetaMask desktop wallet via a Chrome extension. You can also use other browsers such as Firefox and Brave. Whatever you choose, it is very important that you only download from the official MetaMask site.

Go to MetaMask.io Click either of the “Download” buttons on the homepage.Click “Install MetaMask for Chrome.” You will be automatically taken to the Google Chrome web store. Click “Add to Chrome” and add the extension. Once installed, you will be able to view the MetaMask fox head icon in the top right corner of your browser by clicking on the puzzle piece icon. Click “Get Started” and choose between importing an existing wallet or setting up a new one. Let’s assume you don’t have an existing wallet and need to create one. Click “Create a Wallet.” Create and confirm a password according to MetaMask’s guideline of 8 characters minimum. Make sure your password is unique and not being used for anything else. Agree to the terms of use and hit “Create.” Congratulations! You are now the owner of a MetaMask wallet! Once you’ve created your wallet, you will be able to view your seed phrase (the 12 word sequence used to recover and backup your wallet). Remember, this must be hidden and never shared with anyone. Do not take a picture or screenshot of your seed phrase — instead, write it down immediately on a piece of paper and put it in a secret, safe location. Even better, write your seed phrase down on 2-3 pieces of paper and store each paper in a separate secure location (like one in a personal safe and one in a bank safety deposit box). Alternatively, you can download the seed phrase and keep it offline on an encrypted hard drive. Having multiple backups of your seed phrase is good practice just in case one copy is ever lost or destroyed. After documenting your seed phrase, click “Next.” Confirm your seed phrase by clicking on the correct words in the correct order of your 12 word sequence and click “Confirm.” Click “All Done.” Optional – you can leave your new account as “account 1” or choose to rename it.

It’s that easy! You can now access your MetaMask wallet via the fox icon in your browser and begin purchasing and receiving crypto! If you already have Ether in your Coinbase, you can use your brand new Ethereum address (the long number at the top of your wallet page starting with 0x…) to transfer them over into your MetaMask wallet. If you don’t have a Coinbase account, you can buy Ether directly through MetaMask in some U.S. states, however, Coinbase is our favorite way to get Ether into your MetaMask wallet at the moment. 

HOW TO SET UP A METAMASK WALLET ON MOBILE 

MetaMask also offers a mobile wallet option for both ios and Android. Here are the steps to use MetaMask on your phone if you’ve already set up the desktop extension: 

Download the MetaMask app to your smartphone (App Store for iPhone or Google Play Store for Android). Click “Get Started” Click “Sync with MetaMask extension” Open your MetaMask desktop extension, go to Settings > Advanced, Click on “Sync with Mobile” and enter your password.Using your phone’s camera, scan the QR code to start syncing. 

Now you will be able to access your MetaMask account from either your desktop or your phone! If you do not have the desktop extension and wish to create your first MetaMask account on mobile, follow the same steps above, but click “Create a new wallet” instead of “Sync with MetaMask extension.” Then, follow the rest of the prompts to choose your password and see and confirm your seed phrase. 

If you prefer to keep your crypto in cold storage, you can easily connect a hardware wallet like Ledger or Trezor to MetaMask. This gives you the security of a hardware wallet with the ability to connect with any MetaMask/web3 enabled sites. 

IMPORTANT NOTE! 

We know that many of you are itching to get started in the NFT world! Be aware that if you want to make an NFT purchase, you need to be set up about a week in advance! 

When you initiate a purchase on Coinbase, the platform uses what is called an ACH bank transfer system for payments with your bank account. This means that Coinbase will take **minimally 5 days to actually complete your transaction and make your Ether available in your account. Therefore, if you’re interested in transferring Ether purchased on Coinbase into your MetaMask, we highly recommend you get set up NOW so you won’t experience any delays.

Better yet, you may want to avoid the ACH transfer delays altogether, with the option to wire money from your bank into your Coinbase wallet. Defer to your bank for their specific wire transferring process if you choose to expedite your deposits using a wire transfer.

Trust us, come early May, you’ll want to be ready to go! PS: Please make sure you have AT LEAST 1 ETH in your wallet for the project!

THE BOTTOM LINE

By now, we hope you have a much more comfortable understanding of how cryptocurrency wallets work and the different options available to you. Remember, safety first! Whichever wallet you choose, always protect your private keys and be mindful of the people with whom you transact. 

If you found value in this article, we would love it if you shared with any of your friends who have been asking about purchasing an NFT or setting up their own cryptocurrency wallet. 

The post How to Make a Cryptocurrency or NFT Wallet appeared first on GaryVaynerchuk.com.

HOW TO MAKE A CRYPTOCURRENCY OR NFT WALLET

Hey everybody. I wanted to write this article for two reasons:

It’s just a good article to write as many of you navigate these uncharted crypto waters.I am currently working on something very cool that is going to happen in early May, and it is very important to me that my OG community is disproportionately benefitting from it.

With that said, I know that many of you have not yet created a wallet that is functional for NFT purchasing. You may have a Coinbase account at this point, but very few are actually set up to buy an NFT. Let’s fix that.

I want to say this, though, before you read the rest of this article. Many of you made fun of your parents 10 to 15 years ago when they were scared to put a credit card into a website to buy something. You ragged on them or you made jokes behind their backs…Today, you’re in the same exact position your parents were in. Many of you are now hesitant to open a MetaMask account or even a basic Coinbase account. I just want to remind you that you have become your parents — everyone’s worst nightmare . 

So please, use that line to inspire you to take this article seriously and set up your wallet. The NFT revolution is here and I want you to be ready. I’ve asked my content team, Team GaryVee,  to help write the rest of this article in as much detail as possible, so I hope that you enjoy it. 

Team GaryVee here

Hello everyone, and thanks for reading and your interest in Gary’s NFT project! After a strong response to Gary’s What is NFT? article, we wanted to continue the crypto conversation with a guide on how to set up your own cryptocurrency wallet. Starting off with a general overview on wallets and how they work, we’ll then take you through the exact steps you need to take to create a wallet compatible with purchasing not just Gary’s upcoming NFT project, but any NFT that might be of interest to you. We hope our outline will provide you with the knowledge and foundation you need to make your entry into this space as safe and seamless as possible! 

WHAT ARE CRYPTOCURRENCY WALLETS? 

Cryptocurrency wallets are software used to communicate with blockchain networks to safely access, send and receive crypto funds or assets. Simply put, the software stores your crypto just like traditional wallets store your cash and credit cards. Where things get interesting is in the storage mechanism. Unlike fiat money — aka USD, CAD, etc. — which you store in a bank, crypto assets are stored on the blockchain. Just like you use a debit card to access your paper money at an ATM, you use your crypto wallet to access your crypto on the public ledger. The crypto wallet does not actually hold physical items — instead, it holds unique digital passwords or “private keys” which allow you to transact on the blockchain.

Crypto wallets come in the form of devices, mediums or smartphone applications and help you access records of transaction history that are held on the ledger. Simply put, if you want to actually use your crypto, you’ll need a wallet to do so.

CUSTODIAL VS. NON-CUSTODIAL

When it comes to storing your crypto, let’s talk about two options: custodial or non-custodial wallets. Check out this detailed comparison, but we will give you the breakdown here. 

Custodial Wallets

Many people make their first crypto purchases on centralized exchanges. These are online marketplaces where you can buy, sell and store a variety of cryptocurrencies. Many of you may have heard of Coinbase, one of the most popular centralized exchanges in the United States and a great option for beginners! Exchanges like Coinbase are known as “custodians” because they have custody over your cryptocurrency. In other words, when you make purchases with the Coinbase app, Coinbase holds your crypto for you in its own “custodial” or “hosted” wallet. This way, Coinbase acts as a third-party with ownership of your private keys, and you are trusting the platform with the responsibility of keeping your crypto safe and secure.

Custodial wallets are a convenient gateway into the crypto world. It’s as simple as signing up for a Coinbase account with your email address, verifying your identity with a photo ID, choosing a strong password and linking your credit card or bank account to start buying. While Coinbase is great for holding small amounts of crypto and buying major cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and Ether, the company does not yet offer NFTs — although they may soon be considering it. 

For now, if you want to be able to purchase NFTs, you’ll need to have what is called a non-custodial wallet. 

Non-custodial Wallets 

For full control over your crypto assets, a non-custodial wallet is your best and safest bet. With these wallets, there is no third-party involved and you are the owner of your own private keys. While this is ideal for security, it also comes with great responsibility. More on the importance of private keys in just a bit. For now, let’s talk about where non-custodial wallets come into play. 

Say you have a Coinbase account but you now want full control over your crypto. Good news, you can transfer your crypto holdings from Coinbase into your own non-custodial wallet! This is especially helpful for those of you looking to store large amounts of crypto, or for people looking to purchase NFTs. Since NFTs exist mostly on the Ethereum blockchain, you would need to purchase Ether on Coinbase and then transfer it to your non-custodial wallet, which you would then use to buy an NFT from online marketplaces such as NiftyGateway, OpenSea, Rarible, etc. You can also buy Ether directly using a non-custodial wallet like MetaMask! If you want to be ready for Gary’s upcoming project, MetaMask is what he recommends. Don’t worry, we’ll get you set up by the end of this article

For the purposes of this article, we will be focusing specifically on non-custodial wallets, which come in several options: software (web, mobile or desktop), hardware and paper. Before we dig deeper into each category, let’s explore how wallets actually work. 

HOW DO THEY WORK?

Every cryptocurrency wallet functions using public keys and private keys. These keys work in tandem to make secure and verifiable cryptocurrency transactions on a blockchain. For definitions of these and more important cryptocurrency terms, check out this guide from One37 or see this more in-depth explanation to learn more about keypairs and encryption. For now, let’s go over the basics. 

Public Keys and Addresses

Wallet addresses are derived from a public and private key pair, and identify your account on the blockchain, thus allowing you to receive crypto. Think of an address like an email address — you can share it anywhere! Whoever knows your address can send you crypto. An Ethereum address will always start with 0x and then a string of 40 alphanumeric characters. It may also appear as a scannable QR code. 

Private Keys & Seed Phrases

Every public key is mathematically linked to a private key in a unique key pairing. A private key — which appears as a string of alphanumeric characters — is used to digitally sign a transaction to authenticate your transactions on the blockchain. One private key can generate several wallet addresses. 

Seed Phrase > Private Key > Public Key > Address

A seed phrase is a group of 12 or 24 words usually generated within the wallet software that can be used to derive your private key. Further, your private key can be used to derive your public key — however, it is important to note that your public key cannot be used to recover your private key or seed phrase. Therefore, guard your private keys and seed phrases with your life! Check out this guide on best practices for storing your seed phrase safely. 

WHY YOU SHOULD ALWAYS PROTECT YOUR PRIVATE KEYS

It sounds dramatic, but we cannot stress this enough. Private keys and seed phrases must NEVER be shared with anyone or left susceptible to discovery or theft. Think of a private key like a password or better yet, a PIN number — whoever has it has access to your crypto assets. Why is this so important? Unlike traditional money, stolen crypto is lost forever. There is no bank to call and report the theft; not even the government can help you recover lost or stolen assets. For this reason, when you create a crypto wallet and receive your private key and/or seed phrase, be sure to store it offline in a secret, safe location only accessible to you. Never store your keys in online notebooks unencrypted, or type into any website.

TYPES OF CRYPTOCURRENCY WALLETS 

Remember, there are a few categories of crypto wallets. Let’s explore each option. 

Software Wallets – HOT storage

Software wallets are considered to be “hot storage,” a term referring to any wallet that has been directly connected to the internet. Software wallets can be further broken down into several wallet types — web, mobile and desktop.

WEB WALLETS 

e.g. MetaMask Chrome extension, Mycrypto.com
Web wallets include both browser extensions and websites, and can be used on most computers with access to the internet. MetaMask browser extension is a great web option generally accepted on all web3 applications. This makes them extremely convenient, however, they are vulnerable to cyber attacks.

MOBILE WALLETS

e.g. MetaMask Mobile, Rainbow, Argent
Mobile wallets are accessed via smartphone apps. As they are easily downloadable right to your phone or mobile-device, these wallets are great for everyday, on-the-go access and purchases. Just like your computer, you should always keep your phone updated and protected. 

DESKTOP WALLETS 

e.g. Mycrypto client-side
Desktop wallets are software programs downloaded and installed directly onto your PC or laptop. Private keys are input into this software and never leave the original machine onto which they were downloaded.

While convenient, software or hot wallets are best used only for storing smaller amounts of crypto due to the risk of hackers or viruses.

COLD storage
On the flip side, “cold storage” wallets store your keys independently of an internet connection, providing higher security and protection.

HARDWARE WALLETS 

e.g. Ledger, Trezor
One of the most secure options, hardware wallets are physical devices you can buy that allow you to make transactions without exposing your seed phrase or private keys to the internet. Hardware wallets typically look like a USB or thumb drive which you connect to your computer or laptop when making a transaction, and then remove once finished. Since your private keys are stored on the device itself and not on a computer or online platform, hardware wallets are very hard to exploit. 

PAPER WALLETS 

Paper wallets are really just a way to store the private key and public key pair for your account on a piece of paper. They can be a way to store crypto keys you don’t plan to access for a long time, but are generally deemed obsolete in lieu of seed phrases.

WHERE TO GET A CRYPTOCURRENCY WALLET 

Depending on your specific needs, you can download your crypto wallet to your computer (desktop) or phone (mobile), create it on a web browser (web), buy it from a store (hardware) or print it out (paper). Where you go to get your crypto wallet depends on need and personal preference. Great options include the Rainbow mobile wallet, Ledger or Trezor for hardware or one of our favorites as a browser extension — MetaMask! 

MetaMask is an Ethereum wallet available for both web and mobile, and in our opinion, it’s one of the best crypto wallet options on the market and perfect for anyone interested in buying an NFT.  Since its launch in 2016, MetaMask has gathered over one million monthly active users and is proving to be a popular, trusted option among Gary’s community:

Want to learn more? Visit the MetaMask FAQ Support page. 

HOW TO SET UP A METAMASK WALLET ON DESKTOP

Here is how to create a MetaMask desktop wallet via a Chrome extension. You can also use other browsers such as Firefox and Brave. 

Go to MetaMask.io Click either of the “Download” buttons on the homepage.Click “Install MetaMask for Chrome.” You will be automatically taken to the Google Chrome web store. Click “Add to Chrome” and add the extension. Once installed, you will be able to view the MetaMask fox head icon in the top right corner of your browser by clicking on the puzzle piece icon. Click “Get Started” and choose between importing an existing wallet or setting up a new one. Let’s assume you don’t have an existing wallet and need to create one. Click “Create a Wallet.” Create and confirm a password according to MetaMask’s guideline of 8 characters minimum. Make sure your password is unique and not being used for anything else. Agree to the terms of use and hit “Create.” Congratulations! You are now the owner of a MetaMask wallet! Once you’ve created your wallet, you will be able to view your seed phrase (the 12 word sequence used to recover and backup your wallet). Remember, this must be hidden and never shared with anyone. Do not take a picture or screenshot of your seed phrase — instead, write it down immediately on a piece of paper and put it in a secret, safe location or download the seed phrase and keep it on an encrypted hard drive. After documenting your seed phrase, click “Next.” Confirm your seed phrase by clicking on the correct words in the correct order of your 12 word sequence and click “Confirm.” Click “All Done.” Optional – you can leave your new account as “account 1” or choose to rename it.

It’s that easy! You can now access your MetaMask wallet via the fox icon in your browser and begin purchasing and receiving crypto! If you already have Ether in your Coinbase, you can use your brand new Ethereum address (the long number at the top of your wallet page starting with 0x…) to transfer them over into your MetaMask wallet. If you don’t have a Coinbase account, you can buy Ether directly through MetaMask in some U.S. states, however, Coinbase is our favorite way to get Ether into your MetaMask wallet at the moment. 

HOW TO SET UP A METAMASK WALLET ON MOBILE 

MetaMask also offers a mobile wallet option for both ios and Android. Here are the steps to use MetaMask on your phone if you’ve already set up the desktop extension: 

Download the MetaMask app to your smartphone (App Store for iPhone or Google Play Store for Android). Click “Get Started” Click “Sync with MetaMask extension” Open your MetaMask desktop extension, go to Settings > Advanced, Click on “Sync with Mobile” and enter your password.Using your phone’s camera, scan the QR code to start syncing. 

Now you will be able to access your MetaMask account from either your desktop or your phone! If you do not have the desktop extension and wish to create your first MetaMask account on mobile, follow the same steps above, but click “Create a new wallet” instead of “Sync with MetaMask extension.” Then, follow the rest of the prompts to choose your password and see and confirm your seed phrase. 

If you prefer to keep your crypto in cold storage, you can easily connect a hardware wallet like Ledger or Trezor to MetaMask. This gives you the security of a hardware wallet with the ability to connect with any MetaMask/web3 enabled sites. 

IMPORTANT NOTE! 

We know that many of you are itching to get started in the NFT world! Be aware that if you want to make an NFT purchase, you need to be set up about a week in advance! 

When you initiate a purchase on Coinbase, the platform uses what is called an ACH bank transfer system for payments with your bank account. This means that Coinbase will take *minimally 3 to 5 days to actually complete your transaction and make your Ether available in your account. Therefore, if you’re interested in transferring Ether purchased on Coinbase into your MetaMask, we highly recommend you get set up NOW so you won’t experience any delays. Trust us, come early May, you’ll want to be ready to go!

PS:  If you want to avoid the ACH transfer delays, you have the option to wire money from your bank into your Coinbase wallet. Defer to your bank for their specific wire transferring process if you choose to expedite your deposits using a wire transfer.

THE BOTTOM LINE

By now, we hope you have a much more comfortable understanding of how cryptocurrency wallets work and the different options available to you. Remember, safety first! Whichever wallet you choose, always protect your private keys and be mindful of the people with whom you transact. 

If you found value in this article, we would love it if you shared with any of your friends who have been asking about purchasing an NFT or setting up their own cryptocurrency wallet. 

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What is NFT? Non-fungible Token Guide

NFT. If you follow me on Instagram, you have heard me using this term a lot over the past few weeks. You may have watched a few videos, liked them and kept scrolling, or you may have asked yourself what has quickly become one of the most popular questions in my comments, DMs, and Twitter mentions: what the hell is an NFT? If that sounds like you, keep reading.

We are in the early days of the NFT world — I’m talking prehistoric — and with that has come both incredible enthusiasm and skepticism. For many, the jury is still out on NFTs and the impact that they will — or won’t — have on society. For me, NFTs represent a revolution that has been a long time coming. Almost ten years ago, I named “virtual currency” as the next big wave. In fact, with the exception of blockchain (which I of course didn’t see coming), I’d even say NFTs were top on my mind back then. Why? — because of Farmville.

On a micro level, Farmville was just a silly game where people planted virtual crops. On a much larger level, however, I watched people spend real dollars to buy virtual sheep, and it flipped a switch in my mind. I understood that our lives were becoming more and more digital and I realized that human beings need to communicate through our purchases. It’s why the fashion industry exists — if we weren’t compelled to send each other messages through the brands and logos we wear, everyone would be dressing the same. What these observations told me was that as technology advances, the things we own in digital form would become the new conversation starters. I knew that many wouldn’t understand because they weren’t able to look past the present moment, but NFTs are a reflection of behavior from a macro human standpoint, and they’re about to cause a bigger wave than anyone could have imagined. 

Like the internet in the 1990’s or social media in the early 2000’s, NFTs will go down in history as one of the most significant things to happen in modern technology and culture at large. Big statement — I know — so let me tell you why I’m so excited. For me, NFTs are the coalescence of many of my lifelong interests: collecting, trading/flipping, business, creativity and building community. Like entrepreneurship, wine, sports cards and social media, they’re going to become another “home” that will allow me to present a side of myself that many of you don’t normally see. Stay tuned for more on that later .

For now, understand that I’ve only just begun talking publicly about NFTs, but I have spent the last few months watching, listening, and learning. There have been countless hours spent discussing and going down rabbit holes with some folks just as amped up as I am — people like Scott Belsky, Kevin Rose, Matty aka DCLBlogger and more. I’m entering the NFT arena with a lot of enthusiasm, but also with tons of humility and respect for those who have truly been in the dirt. I’m here to respect the landscape and learn, first and foremost, and I encourage you to do the same. 

That being said, I truly hope this article will be a foundational guide for any of you who are green to the NFT space, or who simply want to understand my take on just how significant this shift really is. 

via GIPHY

WHAT EXACTLY IS AN NFT?

NFT stands for “non-fungible token,” but what the hell does that actually mean? Check out this comprehensive beginner’s guide from One37, but I’ll give you a breakdown from my own POV here:

NFTs are best understood as unique digital assets, and they exist in a variety of industries from digital art and virtual real estate to collectibles, gaming and more. Basically, any type of media can be minted or tokenized and turned into an NFT: art, trading cards, memes, gifs, video clips, audio clips, tweets, this article — anything. Once tokenized, these assets can be bought, sold and traded using cryptocurrency. 

FUNGIBLE VS. NON-FUNGIBLE

Fungibility basically means interchangeable; any two units that can be evenly exchanged are fungible. For instance, a $5 bill is fungible because two separate $5 bills hold the exact same value, and so for all intents and purposes, they are the same. On the other hand, let’s think about two Jordan Fleer 1986 rookie cards. They may present the same to the outside world, but they are definitely not interchangeable. Even if they look almost identical, there are distinguishing factors that tell them apart — like their centering, the coloring and the sharpness of their corners.

An NFT is a digital certificate representing a one-of-a-kind asset, just like a one-of-a-kind rookie card. Even if two assets appear identical, the metadata on the non-fungible token provides a stamp of authenticity that allows us to tell them apart. Still confused? No problem. Watch me explain NFTs in 60 seconds: 

HOW DO NFTS WORK?

For a detailed overview on how to create, buy and sell NFTs, I highly recommend you do more research, but allow me to give you the punch line. 

Creating NFTs

It all starts with a piece of content. This could be a photo, a drawing, a video clip…you name it. It can be an original, like a drawing or doodle you make yourself, or something already in existence, like the viral Doggface208 TikTok. 

Ethereum Blockchain

Once created, that piece of content is “minted” on the blockchain — in other words, it is turned into an NFT. A blockchain is an official ledger shared by thousands of computers, in this case storing a record of NFT ownership and transaction history. You can check out this in-depth blockchain guide, but for now, just know that most NFTs are part of the Ethereum blockchain. Once you officially create an NFT, it now lives in your digital wallet. Technically, nothing is stopping anyone from downloading or replicating your NFT from the internet…we drag and drop gifs and memes all the time — BUT the blockchain confirms your provenance aka proves your ownership of the original and authentic NFT. A common comparison is the Mona Lisa. Just like the one-and-only Mona Lisa exists only at the Louvre, your one-and-only NFT exists on the blockchain, and no copy, however exact, holds the same value. 

Once on the blockchain, your NFT is accessed using a wallet. This digital wallet is just the software which decrypts a seed phrase to access the account or address. That account or address is then listed as the owner of the NFT within the NFT contract, and that contract lives on Ethereum.

Selling NFTs

Next, you can choose to place your NFT up for sale. Check out this list of the most popular NFT marketplaces, but some you may have heard of include Nifty Gateway, OpenSea, Rarible and Makersplace. Within these marketplaces, buyers can either place bids or purchase your NFT for a listed price. 

Collecting NFTs

Alternatively, you could choose to buy and collect NFTs that you like or deem to be valuable, like pokemon or sports cards. If you think an NFT will appreciate in value over time, you might even hang onto it and decide to flip it down the line.

THE VALUE OF NFTS

You might still be wondering why NFTs are such a big deal. In my opinion, the value of NFTs comes from three things: utility, access and social currency. If you understand the concept behind membership cards, rewards on credit cards, tickets to VIP access-only events, you understand NFTs. If you’ve ever purchased skins or other virtual items for your video games, you understand NFTs. The reason you wanted that item was to be a utility in a world that you cared about, or to have the clout and bragging rights amongst your friends and others. NFTs are going to extend that same utility and “flex” of social currency to everything else. 

The reason people are buying NFTs is the same reason people wear clothes with designer logos, drive luxury cars or hang pictures on their wall with important people. It’s the same reason people care about blue checks on Instagram. Years down the line, I believe that we will all be checking out each other’s digital wallets and bonding over the mutual interests in our NFT purchases. Everyone will have some kind of NFT project, the same way everyone has a social media account. 

WHAT CAN BE CLASSIFIED AS AN NFT?

Basically anything can be an NFT. If it can exist digitally, it can be tokenized. Right now, much of the NFT buzz is coming from digital artwork. Instead of canvas and paint, many artists who create their works on the computer now have the option of minting their creations into NFTs. For example, “The First 5,000 days” — a piece by digital artist Mike Winkelmann aka Beeple — recently sold for $69 million at renowned auction house, Christie’s. Even memes are becoming art in NFT land, with a token of the popular Nyan Cat meme selling for $590,000. 

The first ever tweet — a 2006 one-liner by Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey — sold for $2.9 million, and even the NBA is getting in on the action with their NBA Top Shot marketplace. NBA Top Shot allows users to buy, sell and trade video clips of specific NBA highlights, like a LeBron James clip that recently sold for $200,000. 

ARE NFTS A FAD? 

NFTs represent a major cultural change, and history teaches us that with change comes mass skepticism and confusion. Many who have scoffed at the idea or viability of NFTs have simply not yet understood the larger implications. Like the concept of online dating in the ‘90s or riding in cars with strangers (Uber and Lyft), every idea is “crazy” until it’s not. NFTs will continue to be viewed as a “fad” by those who haven’t yet made the mindset switch to embrace where the world is headed. 

SHOULD YOU INVEST IN NFTS? 

That being said, NFTs are still an incredibly new market, and I implore you to exercise extreme caution with investing, especially in these early days. In fact, I believe that the vast majority of current or upcoming NFT projects are vulnerable to not being successful investments down the line. Why? People right now are very motivated by the quick buck. Many will rush in and buy projects just because someone has told them something will be worth lots of money later. The truth is that we are looking at a major supply and demand issue — there is going to be more supply over the next six months in NFT projects than anyone can comprehend, and most of it will be short-term transactions. If you take one piece of advice from me, it would be to only go for projects you truly believe to be long term plays.

Let me say this again one more time to make sure it’s super clear. Please do not act like NFTs are now a land grab to some quick cash. Many are going to end up getting burned from their purchases when a few months later their NFTs are down 80%. Instead, educate yourself and decide what projects or individuals you truly believe in. 

Horses & Jockeys

So, how do you evaluate your choices? I think of it as horses and jockeys. The underlying data, my personal enjoyment of the NFT and subjective opinion on its creative value — that’s the horse, but it’s also crucial to look at the jockey…aka who is the human behind this project? Do you believe in them and their ability to cultivate a real community with real excitement behind their work? I think it’s the artists that genuinely care about their communities that will win, and those will be the projects that stick around for the long haul. 

IS ALL THIS A BUBBLE?

As for those worried the bubble will pop, I say to sit tight. NFTs right now are in the same place that the internet stocks were in ‘98 to 2000. When the dot-com bubble burst and the stock market collapsed in March of 2000, everyone dismissed the internet, but that’s when I tripled down and it changed my life. Will there be a crash of NFT projects that are selling for lots of money right now? Absolutely. Will it eliminate the NFT market? I really doubt it. On a micro level, we’re looking at lots of risk, but if you zoom out, we’re looking at revolution. 

PROS AND CONS OF NFTS

When it comes to cons, there is going to be a lot of short term thinking, money lost, and high emotions. It’s also important to note the ongoing discussion surrounding the adverse effects of NFTs on the environment. Still, I am bullish on NFTs because I believe they represent a culture shift that will positively impact society in a number of ways. 

For one, NFTs will help everyday people realize their true destiny as artists. The same way that social media and the influencer space turned many into personalities and experts, NFTs will open the door for so many people with artistic inclinations to explore avenues they never saw coming or thought possible. I am confident that we’ll see many teachers, salespeople and accountants making the transition to a happy, healthy career in this space. 

Secondly, NFTs are a major shift for IP ownership. The fact that artists will continue to get royalties from the resale of their digital works will empower creators in a way we haven’t seen before. I think this will lead to a shift in the way art is perceived in general. Art will start to be viewed as a practical life path, and actually encouraged by skeptics and parents of creatives. 

TAKEAWAYSNFTs represent a major shift in culture and modern technology akin to the introduction of the internet or web 2.0 and social. Wild over-supply will lead to the collapse of a majority of NFT projects launched in the next few years, but the market will remain long-term.Crypto art will create immense opportunity for artists to capitalize on their IP, and for everyday people to discover their artistic callings.

When it comes to the world of NFTs — or anything, really — I say, have conviction, don’t convince. In other words, I’m not here to persuade you why NFTs matter or to push you to make any purchases. I’m just a consumer of human behavior who is massively excited to see where this takes us. Keep your eyes open . 

I hope you were able to find some value in this article. If so, do me a favor and consider sharing on your favorite platform! 

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Team GaryVee: Now Hiring Freelancers Globally

Hi everyone, this is Team GaryVee! 

Whenever we are looking to hire, the most frequently asked question is “Are you hiring internationally?” And now, for the first time ever, the answer is now YES! 

We are looking for kind, ambitious, talented, curious individuals who know Gary’s content like no other and are driven experts of social media! If you’re ready to dominate and are confident in your abilities to bring impact and add value to Gary’s brand, keep reading. 

Below are our open positions and links to apply! 

Team GaryVee Post Creative Strategist

What is a PCS?

Responsibilities

Understands the pulse of Gary Vaynerchuk and Team GaryVee’s community.
Ongoing monitoring of brand’s social channels & relevant online conversations looking for highest impact opportunities to engage (including proactive identification of conversations & communities strategically and creatively relevant for the brand).
Continuous active listening by responding to comments, responses, DM’s, etc. in a meaningful way, focused on a positive social experience.
Analyze brand and cultural signals to fuel creative output for Team GaryVee.
Lead surprise & delight initiatives across social channels.
Going beyond basic tracking to analyzing and drawing hypotheses, including providing regular observations + recommendations on the next steps.
Seek opportunities to insert the brand in social conversation, whether around relevant trending topics/news or engaging with social influencers/celebrities/other brands. Team GaryVee PCS Apply HERE Team GaryVee CreatorUses and creates on social media dailyHas an ability to make relevant content across all platforms and has extraordinary skills in at least one if not all of these: design, video editing, social media copywriting Videography or design education OR equivalent relevant experience, all applicants will be asked to provide recent content examples from social media accountsShows a demonstrable passion, curiosity and experience in making creative content on social media platforms – Tweets, TikTok videos, Instagram visuals, Youtube editsProficient in one or many of the Adobe Creative Suite programs and eager to continue to learn and evolve in other efficient and effective ways to make social first content: Adobe Creative Suite, mobile creator apps and in app editing (Instagram story creation, TikTok editing etc.) Responsible, accountable, deeply passionate about their own personal interests and hobbies, and of course kind, compassionate and empathetic because you love the magic of collaboration Team GaryVee Creator Apply HERE NOTE ON THE HIRING TIMELINE:

This is a rolling admissions process. We want to encourage qualified and interested applicants to apply to show your interest. When the hiring need arises, we will reach out to you for next steps, which will be a timed content creation challenge.  We appreciate your interest and patience.

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