My PayPal got banned for some random reason that they don't want to disclose, so I was pretty much stuck with using bitcoin for cross-border payments for when I was buying/selling videogame currencies. I then realized how important having a decentralized currency is.

I think I have a similar experience as you, an altcoin is the reason why I joined this forum and my first purchase of bitcoin was to use it to purchase the altcoin which was in their ICO phase at the time, i purchased my first bitcoin and invested it on that altcoin project, but unfortunately, it later rug pulled on investors and stole all our bitcoins, that was also my first experience of being a victim to scam, but after this incident, I started buying/investing in bitcoin and some other notable altcoins as a newbie day trader, this was how I grew to where I am Today.
All this happened in 2016 by the way.

What prompted me? Curiosity after all of my misconception about it during my teenager years.
Back in 2017 I got few Bitcoins, and it was the same year as I registered in here since I was trying to get along with people that are also holding Bitcoin like me. Started a little bit as a lurker guest on a side note.
But yeah, I learned some few more skills since I was trying to test the waters on doing more in crypto like trading. It all turned out to be just dogshit newbie experience for me since I ended up in a loss in the first try. I know I was still a newbie, but it was horrible experience.

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Good thing I was not blinded to altcoins out there.

Don't you just hate it when they keep your funds held for 180 days and you're just so helpless about it since their customer service is horrendous. I even tried to resubmit my valid ID, and they did not respond back to me.

Yes. You just spoke the truth, and you never would have known this if you never came across this forum, or search this question at the right place with experience users, because this forum indeed has all the information you could ever need in your crypto/Bitcoin journey, which is why it's the right place for all Bitcoiners. Moreover, Bitcoin has always proven to be a best choice for long term investment, due to the fact that it's volatility is not of all risk compared to altcoins

When I was in University a few years ago I was in quite a financial situation and always collected some spare change from the Internet in some way that I used to use a lot so at one point I found a bitcoin faucet which at that time bitcoin was still quite cheap and I started collecting things. that. But indeed at that time the price was not as high as it is today and I sold it at very cheap prices several times and even exchanged it for game vouchers

Also in 2013 or 2014—I can't remember exactly when—but my story is quite similar to yours. I had signed up on plenty of PTC sites, from which I only managed to earn a few dollars at most. Then, I came across BTCClicks, a PTC website paying in bitcoin, along with an abundance of BTC faucets that were available back then. I didn't understand much, but the faucets intrigued me, and I ended up spending a decent amount of time on them. Despite earning only a few dollars' worth of bitcoin, the whole concept fascinated me, and I ended up signing up on the forum.

I can't really remember when I purchased bitcoin, but I am sure I used it to buy altcoins. Mostly, I only earn bitcoin from here and trading then mostly store it in my wallet or try to buy promising altcoins, but since the bear market, I've usually cashed it out as foods are very expensive. I joined bitcoin in 2016, which is the time that ICOs were very well known, so that was also my first purchase of bitcoin to invest in it.

What incentivized me was the fact there were many offers online to earn bitcoins. I didn't purchase my first satoshis, as I could earn them performing tasks online. Since I didn't have money to invest back then, that was my opportunity to start collecting and saving btc for the future. And thanks to God it has been working so far.

You should purchase bitcoin because it's the main and most reputable cryptocurrency. It's the crypto with best long term chances, while guaranteeing safety to your investment. When you invest in btc you don't have to worry if the coin will be still demanded after several years, because we have the assurance bitcoin is king and will remain on top of crypto market.

If talking about the first bitcoin I got, it was probably from a faucet because I started with this market looking for something free with no investment. But like you, ironically, the first thing I invested in was a Ponzi project coin, not bitcoin. But after investing in those scam projects and altcoins, I almost lost everything, then I realized that only bitcoins last for a time and are the most worth investing coin. Currently, my portfolio still has altcoins but mostly bitcoin.

If I remember correctly then one of my friends who introduced me to the forum was one who send me bitcoin in my wallet(he was the one who set it up) for one of the translation work I had done for him and said it's new method of payment but was not much aware about it and the amount was also small so sell the coins and get $80-$90 don't remember figure exactly but now I regret it that even early encounter with it have not invested in it or hold it for long.But this is how it is and now still holds some of it for long term in mind.