Brain Bro Accepts Exclusive Interview with CoinDesk, Discussing His Experience with Bitcoin in College and Transition into the Cryptocurrency World, Eventually Focusing on Developing into a Blockchain Youtuber. What Are His Views on the Industry? Any Advice for Beginners Just Starting to Explore Cryptocurrencies?
Brain Bro, also known as BrainBro, greeted CoinDesk at TempoHouse in Taipei, a popular hub in Taiwan’s cryptocurrency community. With a friendly demeanor and a sharp mind, Brain Bro quickly engaged in conversation, revealing his journey from a novice to a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency world. His YouTube channel, “Chain Learning,” has amassed over 200,000 subscribers in just two years, guiding countless beginners into the world of cryptocurrencies. Despite his success, Brain Bro humbly admitted that he was once a beginner himself, sparking curiosity about his transformation into a well-known figure in the industry.
CoinDesk: Can you share the “unusual” reason why you first got involved with cryptocurrencies while in college in 2018?
Brain Bro: Unlike many others, my interest in cryptocurrencies began during my second year at a university, where I attended a psychology class in 2018. The professor invited a cryptocurrency Key Opinion Leader (KOL) to discuss the concept of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) in psychology, using Bitcoin as an example. The KOL highlighted Bitcoin’s four-year halving cycle, citing the market bull run in 2016 and 2017 to illustrate investors’ FOMO mentality. Intrigued by this, I approached the KOL after class to learn how to buy Bitcoin. Many of my classmates were investing in stocks, and hearing about Bitcoin made me eager to explore this new and legitimate investment opportunity.
CoinDesk: What was the turning point for you to transition into becoming the content creator “Brain Bro”?
Brain Bro: By 2020, I had gained a deeper understanding of cryptocurrencies and actively participated in various blockchain projects, including DeFi and Web3 wallet initiatives. I realized the significant contributions of the crypto industry to the world, dispelling misconceptions about Bitcoin as a fraudulent or money laundering tool. Amid preparations for a student exchange program in the US, I felt overwhelmed and sought a creative outlet. Thus, I ventured into YouTube, leveraging my knowledge of Web3 to educate others on the proper understanding of cryptocurrencies. This marked the birth of the “Brain Bro” channel. While initially unaware of the term KOL (Key Opinion Leader), I was surprised when others referred to me as a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency community. Witnessing the influx of new entrants due to the NFT craze, I acknowledged that true KOLs were those specializing in NFTs, not myself.
CoinDesk: How do you view the influx of newcomers into the cryptocurrency space at different periods?
Brain Bro: The surge of newcomers during the NFT boom significantly altered the community dynamics, leading to a shift towards metaverse concepts and platforms like Meta. These newcomers are sensitive to crypto gaming and often diversify their strategies after profiting from NFTs. In contrast, OGs (Original Gangsters) are early participants who engaged in the ICO era and predominantly hold Bitcoin and top 30 market cap tokens, showing less interest in meme coins or tokens. While recent entrants may initially focus on meme coins, engaging in trends like meme farming, runes, and symbols, the resurgence of Bitcoin in recent months indicates a shift in market sentiment. However, I believe now is not the peak time for new entrants to join the market; the right moment has yet to arrive.
CoinDesk: With the current environment being newcomer-friendly, how do you perceive the trend of new users primarily entering through centralized exchanges?
Brain Bro: I completely agree that centralized exchanges serve as pivotal gateways for developers, investors, traders, educators, and information seekers. These exchanges offer a comprehensive suite of tools and services, enhancing accessibility and security for newcomers. Notably, exchanges like Bitget provide a wide range of products and maintain high security standards, instilling confidence in users. Their features, such as spot, derivative, trading bots, and copy trading, offer a seamless experience. Personally, I find Bitget user-friendly and often utilize it for trading. For beginners, simply storing tokens on the platform can facilitate yield farming, earning popular tokens in a low-risk manner.
CoinDesk: What is your opinion on copy trading features, given the diverse feedback within the community?
Brain Bro: I maintain a neutral stance on copy trading, emphasizing that it is a tool for investment neutrality. Selecting a reliable exchange and choosing reputable traders are crucial aspects of successful copy trading. Many novice investors prioritize a trader’s win rate and ranking, overlooking essential factors like risk-reward ratios. Effective copy trading involves researching traders like studying cryptocurrencies, rather than being swayed by superficial data. Bitget’s copy trading system provides detailed insights into traders’ activities, offering a user-friendly interface for convenient analysis.
In the past month:
– Copy trading profits exceeded 15 million USDT
– Overall trader revenue shared amounted to over 1.41 million USDT
– Total profitable trades from copy trading surpassed 8.6 million
– Cumulative copy trading profits exceeded 500 million USDT
CoinDesk: Considering the evolving landscape of exchanges, what further advancements and innovations do you envision for centralized exchanges?
Brain Bro: I anticipate a hybrid model for exchanges, balancing centralized and decentralized functionalities. Integrating Web3 wallet features, such as Bitget Wallet, can enhance security and user autonomy, addressing concerns like asset protection and automated responses to unforeseen events. By expanding hybrid capabilities and focusing on DeFi integration, exchanges can offer a more balanced approach to users, leveraging the strengths of both centralized and decentralized systems. Ultimately, promoting positive development in the crypto ecosystem through transparency and innovation is key to driving the industry forward.
CoinDesk: Would you agree that centralized exchanges prioritize user security and risk mitigation, ultimately benefiting users in reducing potential risks?
Brain Bro: Indeed, security forms the foundation of exchanges, and their continuous development aims to minimize risks and enhance user protection. Despite concerns raised post-FTX bankruptcy, centralized exchanges play a vital role in facilitating newcomers’ entry into the crypto space and serve as centralized hubs connecting users to various decentralized destinations. A hybrid exchange model that combines the best of centralized and decentralized features offers a promising direction for the future. As the industry evolves positively with transparency and user-centric approaches, the potential for centralized exchanges to obtain licenses and adapt to changing regulations bodes well for blockchain’s future in finance.