Page 6 - 07 November 2025

PAGE 6 · THE REPORTER 7 NOVEMBER 2025

worth a lot less tomorrow, or safe. Write the seed phrase
a lot more; nobody knows. If on paper or metal, and lock it
you need steady cash for away. Don't store the seed in
wages, the shop, or the the cloud or on your phone.
family budget, don't use Try a small test transfer first,
crypto for that. Treat any so you know the process
sum you put in as money you works before you move
can afford to lose, at least in anything serious. If you're
the short term. Decide looking after money for
beforehand how much that others, consider arrange-
is, and don't let chat groups ments where more than one
or headlines change your person has to agree before
mind. funds move, which reduces
“Bitcoin for the Bewildered” will be published in a the risk of one mistake
series of 4 articles. This is a less of a laugh-out-loud Second, who looks after the wiping you out.
piece, aimed to give readers a clearer sense of what coins matters. You can leave
Ons wens die volgende tagtigjariges van harte geluk this whole Bitcoin business really means, not just the them on an exchange, where Third, scams are every-
met hul verjaarsdae en wens hulle alles van die beste currency itself, but the ideas behind it.... a company keeps them for where, and they are basic. If
vir die toekoms toe: you, or you can hold them someone promises guaran-
yourself. Leaving coins on a
teed returns, it's a lie. If a
We congratulate the following octogenarians on their Bitcoin for the big, reputable exchange is social-media account asks
birthdays and wish them everything of the best for the easy for trading, but you you to move coins to prove
future: Bewildered don't control the secret keys, something, walk away. If an
Miemie Brummer, 90 op 16 November so you're trusting the email asks for your seed
phrase, that is a criminal
Maria Vorster, 83 op 5 November Part 3 - The Risks and How company's security and trap; never give it out.
balance sheet. Holding
Judy Herman, 80 op 31 Desember coins yourself means you Phishing sites and fake apps
to Not Lose Your Shirt control the keys, which is are common, so always
safer long term, but it also check web addresses and
Right, it's the sensible bit we world, treat it like a means you are fully use official apps. If you're
all skim and then panic temperamental farm dog, responsible. Lose the seed tempted by an investment
about later, the part about useful if you handle it phrase, lose the coins; scheme, do your homework
what can go wrong, and how properly, dangerous if you there's no customer service and assume you will lose
to avoid looking an idiot. ignore it. number to call. your money.
B i t c o i n a n d o t h e r First, Bitcoin and most other A seed phrase is the master Fourth, some projects offer
cryptocurrencies are full of cryptocurrencies move backup for a wallet, usually high returns using automatic
possibility, but they are also around a lot, sometimes 12 or 24 words that recreate code, and sometimes that
full of risk. If you're going to wildly. That means the your private keys, so write it code has bugs or is written to
poke your head into this money you put in can be steal money. That world is
down on paper or metal,
store it offline in a safe place, called decentralized finance,
and never share it or but you don't need the label
STANDING ADVERT photograph it. For example, to know the rule: if you don't
an illustrative 12-word understand how it works,
don't put money in. Audits
phrase looks like this: river
SPECIAL tuna table orange better and fancy reports help, but
they are not a guarantee.
wagon crisp mango ladder
coin whisper cabin, but do Fifth, simple mistakes are
not use this phrase; it is only surprisingly costly. Send
Commit to placing an advert for an example. Warning: never coins to the wrong address
use any example phrase and they're usually gone.
12 inserts (or more) and receive you see written down, Send one token type to the
always generate your own wrong network and they're
usually gone. Always double-
40% DISCOUNT device and keep it offline. check addresses, copy and
seed phrase on the wallet
paste carefully, and test with
If you hold them yourself, do
it properly. For anything a small amount first. Keep
software up to date and use
Adverts may be placed more than pocket-change, two-factor authentication on
weekly, every second week or monthly use a hardware wallet, a accounts, preferably with an
small physical device that authentication app rather
Contact us for a quotation: stores your private keys than SMS.
THE REPORTER, Barkly East offline and signs trans- Sixth, taxes and rules matter.
actions without exposing the
Tel: 045 9710016 • email: news@bereporter.co.za keys, think of it as a USB In many places, selling or
using crypto creates taxable
events, so keep records of
dates, amounts and fees.
Rules change, and new
regulations can affect how
easy and expensive it is to
The Reporter which is registered at the Post Office as
trade or send crypto.
a newspaper is printed and published by the
Plain rules you should stick
proprietors, Barkly East Reporter cc (Reg No.
to: start small and learn, use
2002/024771/23) at 28 Greyvenstein Street, Barkly
reputable services, never
East.
store your seed in the cloud,
Copyright on all materials in The Reporter reserved use hardware wallets for
by the proprietors. meaningful sums, test
everything with small
transfers, and don't borrow
to buy crypto. Finally,
remember that human
nature is the biggest risk.
Greed, fear and trying to
Hierdie lys van funksies en gebeure word keep up with mates make
gepubliseer in ‘n poging om te verhoed dat people do daft things. Sleep
belangrike fondsinsameling pogings bots. Funksies on it, ask sensible questions,
geplaas op voorwaarde dat ‘n advertensie later and if it still smells like
geplaas word. ‘n Rekening sal gestuur word trouble, walk away.
indien daar nie ‘n advertensie geplaas word nie. Next week I'll finish the series
with the useful bits: how
NOVEMBER 2025
businesses might accept
15 Polymer Earring Making Course (CMR) payments, simple ways
22 AGS Shalom 4x4 Mannedag families could use crypto for
DECEMBER 2025 remittances, and a final
thought on whether you
6 Barkly East SUMMER FESTIVAL
should bother joining the
13 MOSHESH Classic: Tennis, Pickleball, Social party.
Paddle, MTN Biking
Logan Lamont