Bitcoin took another tumble this week, and like clockwork, social feeds filled up with hot takes, panic posts, and a few people pretending they “totally saw it coming.” Watching the cycle repeat reminded me of something I’ve had to learn the hard way: hype is not a strategy.
These big swings are part of Bitcoin’s entire personality. It thrives on speculation, excitement, and the idea that something new is about to change everything overnight. The problem is when people mistake that excitement for a foundation. It’s one thing to follow a trend because you genuinely understand why it matters. It’s a whole other thing to jump in because everyone else is yelling that you’ll miss out.
This is the same reason I used to give the same advice whenever friends asked if they should buy NFTs. My answer was always some version of: no, please do not put your real money into a screenshot of a monkey. The technology behind NFTs is interesting, but that does not make it a stable investment. Most of the NFT market was hype trying to pretend it was structure.
I look at Bitcoin the same way. If someone truly understands it and wants to treat it like a speculative side investment, go for it. If someone wants to make it the foundation of their financial future, that is where I say please rethink that plan. Bitcoin is volatile by design. That is not what you want as your primary investment strategy.
And honestly, the hype cycle isn’t limited to crypto. The loudest version of it right now is AI. Every company is racing to slap the word “AI” on their product because investors expect it and executives feel pressure to look futuristic. I work with AI tools every day, and I love what they can do, but even I can say that some companies are treating it like a magical solution instead of a piece of technology that requires real thought.
AI is a tool. A good one. It can speed up workflows, automate smartly, and unlock ideas you might not have considered. But it will not fix a broken product. It will not rescue a team with no direction. It will not magically turn a company with shaky operations into an industry leader. If you build on hype, you get hype level results.
Bitcoin, NFTs, AI hype, it all comes back to the same core idea. You need to know what sits underneath the shiny thing. What are the mechanics? What is the actual value? What is the purpose? And does any of it line up with your goals?
Chasing hype is easy. Anyone can do it, and it feels exciting right up until the moment the price drops or the trend shifts. Building something thoughtful takes more work, but it gives you a far better shot at long term success. Whether you’re exploring crypto, experimenting with AI, or deciding where to invest your time and energy, the foundation matters more than the buzz.
Hype fades. Solid strategy lasts.