Matt Millen is a Founding Member of the Denver Crypto Group (DCG), a community of people in Colorado who want to learn about cryptocurrency and blockchain. DCG holds weekly meetups and provides training “in mining, trading, and other facets of the Cryptosphere”. Like many investors, Matt’s journey to the crypto space is a unique one, which he recounts in our interview below.
BitIRA: What is your background, and how did that lead you to cryptocurrencies?
Matt Millen: My background is a bit random and not related to Crypto or tech at all. I went to college for Aviation Technology here in Denver. I earned my pilot’s license with instrument rating but decided not to pursue a commercial career in aviation. After college I started flipping houses in Colorado Springs and ended up working for a REIT where I managed a portfolio of homes in multiple states. The REIT work burned me out, kicking families out of homes in Gary, IN and Atlanta, GA was too much and I hated it. At the end of 2016 I decided I needed a career change. A good friend of mine was into Bitcoin from early on and I figured it was worth another look. After doing some research I realized the potential of Cryptocurrency and went all in, quitting my job and founding the Denver Crypto Group, which is my full time job currently!
BitIRA: How did you come to create the Denver Crypto Group, and what is the group’s mission?
Matt: I decided to create the Denver Crypto Group as a way to give back after Cryptocurrency treated me very well. I put all my savings into Bitcoin and Ethereum in early 2017, and by the summer those savings were worth a LOT more! The Denver Crypto Group’s mission is educating minds that are curious about the Cryptocurrency space. I truly believe Crypto and Blockchain will change our world, and the easier it is for new people to get up to speed, the better off we will all be.
BitIRA: For members of your group whose crypto knowledge is limited, what tips related to security do you give the most?
Matt: Understand that by owning Cryptocurrency you have a target on your back, if someone from a less fortunate country gets your hard earned Crypto, they could feed their family for years! Keep your crypto in a hardware wallet, not on Coinbase or some 3rd party website. Remember that if something in the Cryptosphere sounds too good to be true, it’s a scam! (Bitconnect…)
BitIRA: In light of the most recent downturn of the crypto market, what do you say to the newcomers who are hesitant to get started?
Matt: Now is the best time to get started! This tech is already changing our world! (Venezuela) When the next bull run occurs, the Cryptosphere will move at a blistering pace. Without prior knowledge, you’ll probably be overwhelmed. Start learning about Crypto now when the markets are slow, so that when it takes off you’ll be ready to jump in and reap the full benefits.
