Tell us about Decoding Crypto. 
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, we talk you through the most important crypto news in simple terms that anyone, no matter their knowledge, can understand. From Bitcoin to blockchain, NFTs to USDT, we break it all down for you, explaining the concepts you need to know to really understand crypto. So many people feel like they’ve missed the boat with crypto, but that’s just not true.

We’re still so early in the most exciting financial revolution of our time. With Decoding Crypto, you’ll be up-to-date with what’s happening in the space, and learn some really cool stuff along the way.

What's involved in making the podcast?
Ben Simpson is the CEO of Collective Shift and Edwina Stott is a journalist who’s been making documentaries about and reporting on crypto since 2017. Every day, first thing in the morning, we discuss what we want to talk about. Ben is often overseas (most recently Dubai, Singapore and the United States) and Ed is based in Brisbane, so we work around the time differences.

We’re both super engaged in the space, so we have plenty of ideas - the struggle is deciding which one to go with and what’s going to help people the most on their crypto journey. There are so many scams and dodgy projects in the space, we see it as our job to be the most trustworthy place in Australia to get up to speed with crypto, so you can learn how to get into the space with as little risk as possible.

Who is your audience?
We want to reach the people who’ve written crypto off as too complex, too risky and who believe they’re too late to the party. As the CEO of Collective Shift, Ben is on a mission to democratise crypto education and make it accessible to everyone. We firmly believe that crypto is here to stay and if that’s the case, it’s super important that people get educated now so they don’t miss out.

The other side of that conversation is that crypto, like traditional finance, is a heavily male-dominated space. For Edwina, this is something she’s keen to change. The whole point of cryptocurrency is that anyone, anywhere, can take control of their money. If that’s only open to the same white men who currently dominate our financial system, we are seriously missing out on a huge opportunity to level the playing field.

What are your thoughts on the performance of crypto in 2022?
Right now, we’re seeing economic troubles all over the world. Traditional markets are in turmoil, inflation is super high, and the cost of living is going up. These are all issues that Bitcoin and crypto have been designed to ease. People are seeing that the current financial system is flawed and they’re keen to explore the alternatives - enter crypto!

What do you expect from crypto in 2023?
Ben believes the crypto market will continue in a side-ways downward trend over the next 12 months due to the ongoing issues with some global centralised exchanges getting into financial trouble. This has had a big impact on the industry, which he thinks will be the catalyst to see an increase in Bitcoin and De-Fi adoption over the coming year.

Through decentralised exchanges, businesses and assets, we can avoid the risk of people and institutions mismanaging funds and trust software and code. Expect to see Bitcoin, De-Fi and NFT's with real-world utility as a trend going forward.

Any advice for those wanting to step into the crypto world?
Come join us! It’s not too late or too complicated. Once you start learning about crypto, you also start learning a lot more about our existing financial systems and that is a very good thing indeed. You gain more control over your finances and open up your investment opportunities, plus you can impress your buddies with all your new crypto knowledge!

There has never been a better time to get into crypto. The bear market (the quiet time that we’re in right now) is the perfect time to start learning. When things start moving again in the bull market, you will know how to maximise your investments, read the landscape and really understand what’s going on.

What advice would you give to PRs hoping to pitch to decoding crypto? 
We’re always keen to hear about cool things happening in the space. Send us an email at crypto@novapodcasts.com.au

Answers submitted by co-hosts of Decoding Crypto, Edwina Stott and Ben Simpson.