I was recently the victim of identity theft, crypto ransomware, and a cybercrime. Hackers were able to break havoc onto my digital/personal life by stealing my mobile phone number through illegal SIM porting. I was not the first victim, and unfortunately, I will certainly not be the last. EXTRA PRECAUTION, replacing two-factor authentication (2FA) via SMS with 2FA via 3rd party app + hardware security tokens, and pressuring companies to invest in advancing cryptography are the best ways to minimize the risk of getting hacked.

This is a good faith attempt to democratize access to knowledge and summarize much of my findings after spending 2+ years researching and meeting dozens of teams and investors at the edge of this fast-moving emerging industry. The following is a living document that summarizes my macro understanding and evolving thesis around cryptoassets and blockchain using visualizations, data, and strategic analysis intended as a research tool for entrepreneurs and investors alike.

The following post analyzes trends in the cryptocurrency market, reviews Coinbase’s competitive positioning / business model / risks / prospects, and provides recommendations for the company to capture additional value by leveraging concepts taught in Wharton’s Tech Strategy MBA course.