The Stock Market and Bitcoin are very different.

Yes, they are two completely different things. You are comparing an exchange for buying and selling stocks to a single cryptocurrency. Bitcoin is not a market.

In terms of trading crypto vs trading stocks, the two markets are pretty much the same. The periods of volatility in the crypto market don't make it a Ponzi scheme. And it's getting harder to differentiate them when both respond to the Fed adjusting interest rates or supply chain issues or oil prices or wars. Interesting how both the crypto market and my retirement portfolio took a big dip last year at the same time.

But I feel like we're not even really talking about the same thing. It seems like you don't make any distinction between Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies or blockchains. And you certainly don't seem to have any knowledge of the tech that makes these distributed applications possible, much less the practical applications of that tech beyond "gambling".

I don't worship Bitcoin. I've just taken the time to understand how it works as well as several other blockchain projects. I did the same thirty years ago when the web was just taking off and that understanding has served me well.

So I'll reiterate - stop thinking of Bitcoin as money. And further, stop thinking of cryptocurrency as Bitcoin. And lastly, buy some crypto and hold it. Your great grandchildren may thank you some day.