Bitcoin • Wealth • Freedom

Naval Ravikant Doesn't Believe in Retirement

a "dangerous fantasy for people trapped in jobs they hate."

💡

Build wealth that works for you.

🎨

Do work that feels like play.

🧘‍♂️

Need less to be happy.

Work for decades, defer happiness, and hope to be free someday?

What if you didn't wait? What if you saw the future—and acted?

Most Millionaires Will Never Own 0.05 Bitcoin

And That's Okay — They're Normal. You're Not.

In 2025, Steve is a millionaire. He's not a tech bro or crypto anarchist. He's a well-off, well-adjusted adult with a healthy portfolio.

That's $1 million net worth. He's in the top 1%, with the house, the vacations, the stability. You try to talk to Steve about Bitcoin. You explain it plainly: "At $100,000 per coin, your net worth is 10 BTC. But globally, there are less than 0.3 BTC per millionaire. That's how scarce this asset is." Steve listens. He nods. He even appreciates the thought. But he doesn't act. Why? Because Steve is normal.

$400,000home equity

$350,000in retirement accounts

$200,000in brokerage

$50,000in cash

2032— Bitcoin is $1.8M

Steve's worth has doubled. He's now worth $2 million.

The world has shifted. Bitcoin has proven itself. Steve finally acts: He puts 30% of his cash and 20% of his safe assets into Bitcoin. His friends say he's nuts. "Sure, 5% is fine — but this much? That's too aggressive." Now Steve owns 0.06 BTC. It's a start.

$800Khome equity

$650Kretirement

$450Kbrokerage

$100Kin cash

2036— Bitcoin is $3.7M

The fog lifts. Bitcoin isn't an "investment" anymore — it's the base layer of money.

Steve's net worth is $2.7 million. He holds $250K of Bitcoin. He gets bolder. He refinances 30% of his home equity, 70% of his brokerage, 50% of his retirement holdings, and 50% of his cash. After taxes and fees, he ends up with 0.32 BTC. Almost half his wealth is now in Bitcoin. And yet… he's uneasy. Over time, he trims the position.

2045— Bitcoin is $13 Million

Steve is 20 years older. Wiser. Bitcoin is no longer a contrarian play — it's a pillar of the new economy.

Steve's net worth: $5.8M. But even now, he isn't fully satisfied. His cash and stocks feel… fragile. So he acts one final time. He converts most of his traditional liquidity — $400K — into 0.02 BTC. He now holds 0.3 BTC.

$3.6Min Bitcoin (0.28 BTC)

$1.2Mhome equity

$600Kretirement

$250Kbrokerage

$150Kcash

The Mantra is Simple:

Get Off Zero

Stay humble. Stack sats. Teach others. But don't expect them to follow.

Some are Steves.
Some are you.

🟠 Choose wisely.

From Accumulation to Preservation: The Shift Traders Learn Too Late

There's a silent killer in the crypto world—and no, it's not market volatility. It's ego disguised as strategy. It's the belief that what worked for your $10K portfolio will still work when you're managing $1M or more.

It took me far too long to learn this.

Like many others, I got into crypto during the wild west era. Back then, taking big swings felt like the right move—and in many ways, it was. When your entire bankroll is $1,000 or even $10,000, going down 50% isn't life-ruining. It stings, but it doesn't change the trajectory of your life. You can rebuild. You're not gambling your family's future or your peace of mind. You're risking a small stack to chase asymmetric upside.

Risk Looks Different at $1M+

When you cross into six or seven-figure territory, your job is no longer to accumulate—it's to preserve.

If you've built up a $1M portfolio, going to $2M will certainly feel great, but it won't double your quality of life in the way going from $1K to $100K might. Conversely, a catastrophic drawdown that takes you from $1M back down to $50K? That absolutely changes your life.

The Art of Shifting Gears

The hardest part of this shift isn't technical—it's psychological. When you've built your fortune by taking big risks, it feels counterintuitive to pull back. But that's the lesson: what got you here won't get you there.

And if you ignore that lesson, the market will teach it to you the hard way.

Final Thoughts: Should You Be So Lucky

If you're early in the game, don't be afraid to play hard. Take smart risks. Swing for the fences.

But should you be lucky enough to build something meaningful—six figures, seven figures, more—do not make the mistake I did. Recognize the moment when your goal should shift from chasing more to protecting what you've built.

Because wealth isn't just about numbers going up. It's about freedom. And freedom only lasts if you learn how to preserve it.