Your Valentine’s Day Gift Guide For That Special Someone Who Won’t EVER Stop Talking About Bitcoin–Even During Crypto Winter
Valentine’s Day is a time when friends or romantic partners come together to appreciate each other… But what do you give someone who’s into crypto? That’s the same question we had when looking for gifts for our most cherished crypto nerds.
As it turns out, it’s not as easy as handing them 500,000 satoshis in a Bitcoin Lightning Wallet (although that’s not a bad start!). That’s why we put together this list of Canadian crypto gift ideas for your favourite BTC or web3-loving human. Read on to find out more about the various ways you can give the gift of crypto this Valentine’s Day.
Best Gifts for Crypto Enthusiasts
Buy (the dip, and) these gifts for the special crypto enthusiast in your life.
Bitcoin Books
There are dozens of books available on the subject of crypto and blockchain technology. One of the most influential voices in blockchain technology today is Andreas Antonopoulos, who wrote one of the best books on these complex and groundbreaking ideas, titled The Internet of Money. This is a more philosophical book about cryptocurrencies. The book explores how financial systems have evolved over time and how we ended up with central banks. It also tells the history of money and includes a detailed analysis of how cryptocurrencies work.
In Bitcoin Billionaires, Ben Mezrich has written an interesting account of the rise of Bitcoin, from its obscure origins to its rise to $20,000 per coin. It’s a fast-paced and gripping read, full of drama and excitement. When reading this book, your loved one can get great insight into how this coin came to be and what might happen next, told through the story of its main protagonists, The Winklevoss twins, following their extensive settlement against Facebook’s Zuckerberg.
If your loved one isn’t just interested in Bitcoin, but also wants to learn about other cryptos, then Cryptoassets: The Innovative Investor's Guide to Bitcoin and Beyond may be a great pick for them. This is a very thorough book that explains the history of cryptocurrencies, how they work, and what you need to know if you want to invest in them.
Bitcoin Is Venice: Essays on the Past and Future of Capitalism is one of the latest books on cryptocurrencies, and it’s definitely worth a read. It gives a broad and thorough overview of cryptocurrencies, and it’s a must-read for anyone who wants to know more about how bitcoin incentivizes long-term (“low time preference”) thinking–the kind which led to the scientific and artistic boom of the Enlightenment and Renaissance eras.
Audiobooks make great crypto holiday gifts for friends who are always on the go. Audiobooks can enhance their experience by teaching them something new, whether they're driving, cooking, or running. The Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous is now available in audiobook format, and it’s a genre classic. If your crypto-lover-lover hasn’t read it yet, get it. It will blow their busy crypto mind. It’s an analysis of what might happen if cryptocurrencies become the dominant method of exchange. In this book, author ‘Saif’--as he’s referred to in the industry–explores the potential of Bitcoin as a new form of money. He looks at the history of money, why Bitcoin is a better choice than gold, and how central banks can be replaced by a decentralized system of transactions. Just about anyone can get up to speed on cryptocurrency technology and industry with this book.
Bitcoin / Meme Clothing
It is hard to have a truly romantic celebration without the appropriate threads. When it comes to crypto-inspired apparel, there are now many options available to you when choosing to gift something to your loved one(s). From hoodies with Bitcoin and Ethereum logos to sweaters and pullovers that feature phrases like "FOMO," "BTFD," and "HODL," the options are endless.
A pair of cozy socks will also make an excellent gift. As with shirts and sweaters, crypto-themed socks are available in various sizes and designs. Try the Bitcoin rollercoaster socks! In addition, you can also purchase alpaca socks, which have become Bitcoin's somewhat unofficial mascot. Doesn't that sound like a good conversation starter?
Crypto Gift Cards
Crypto-themed gift cards are among the most popular gifts that people have been giving over the holiday season over the last few years. Why stop at Valentine’s Day? Several major retail outlets accept digital currencies in exchange for highly sought-after items.
A great example is Bitrefill's Balance Card, which lets users spend their loaded currencies on Amazon.com, Google Play Stores, Nike, Sony and hundreds of other merchants with just a few clicks. A wide range of bitcoin amounts can be added to the gift cards, starting at $50 and going up to $1,000.
Furthermore, yours truly (NDAX) now offers holiday-themed digital gift cards so users can send and receive crypto gifts easily and instantly. In return for coins and tokens, existing platform users can redeem them for a variety of products.
Hardware Wallets
You can't beat a hardware wallet like a Ledger or a Trezor when gifting Bitcoin/crypto gear. Gifting this to someone ensures they won't lose their coins in a hack, and hence, that you love them.
Hardware wallets are a cost-effective way to store crypto since the cheapest ones are only about $70. In addition to being easy to use, hardware wallets are also highly secure. In particular, the Ledger comes with a very user-friendly application called Ledger Live. Using this program is even accessible for those who have never used crypto before.
Can’t choose between the different hardware wallets to give as a gift? Here are some picks:
- TREZOR One: TREZOR One is an extremely secure cryptocurrency hardware wallet, and Trezor provides detailed instructions on how to set it up, so your crypto assets can safely be stored at once.
- Ledger Nano S: A secure chip and a proprietary operating system ensure high-level security with the Ledger Nano S hardware cryptocurrency wallet. In addition to giving investors control over their private keys, it is backed by one of the biggest names in the industry. The Ledger Nano S supports over 1,100 cryptocurrencies (23 of which are supported directly by Ledger and the rest by third-party applications).
- Ledger Nano X: With top-notch security, the Ledger Nano X is an impressive cryptocurrency hardware wallet. The Nano X, and the rest of the Ledger product line, are extremely popular due to their security and ability to send and receive crypto assets and tokens. The Nano S and X are similar in terms of functionality–but Nano S is better for investors who want to hold small amounts of crypto, while Nano X is better for investors more active in the crypto market.
Ledger or Trezor hardware wallets are reusable and can store multiple cryptocurrencies, making hardware wallets some of the best crypto gifts available.
Printed/Framed Copy of the Bitcoin Whitepaper
If your loved one is a true crypto enthusiast, consider gifting them a printed/framed copy of the famous Bitcoin whitepaper. There is no doubt that it is one of the most influential white papers ever published. The person on the receiving end will appreciate the clear and disciplined manner in which this white paper was written, as well as the brilliant insights it contains.
Bitcoin Neon Sign
Crypto investors want to show off their nerd flag in honour of the crypto top dog, so why not do it with a light-up beacon of love? A bright Bitcoin neon sign is the perfect addition to any Bitcoin enthusiast's home office, kitchen or lair... Or try the famous midcentury-modern style bitcoin price ticker, for a more understated, sophisticated (and expensive) look and feel.
Crypto Mining Rig
You can't go wrong with a crypto mining rig for Valentine’s Day. It’s as romantic as one can get, short of diamonds and pearls. Although it can be quite expensive, it still beats dishing out a month’s salary for a 14-carat ring. Mining rigs are powerful computers that are used to mine cryptocurrency for profit–and like diamonds and other precious metals and stones–or bitcoin itself–they’re a great store of wealth. How does mining work?
Transactions on the blockchain, such as sending cryptocurrency to another wallet, don’t occur in a vacuum. Making a transaction requires computing power, hence the gas fee. What is the source of this computing power? Crypto mining is a solution to this problem.
A computer's processing power is loaned to the blockchain when mining. By using hashes, the blockchain verifies and authenticates transactions. A blockchain computation requires a hash function that meets the demands.
Now that you understand how mining works, how can you set up a mining rig? Several people believe that all the computing power of a computer comes from its processor. Instead, GPUs (graphics processing units) do the heavy lifting. Globally, GPUs are in short supply. You can't find them these days, and if you do, they'll be much more expensive than their MSRPs (manufacturer's suggested retail prices). Mining GPUs such as the GeForce RTX 3080 from NVIDIA are among the best.
Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) are more cost-effective than GPUs. An ASIC is a computer designed specifically for mining. It can perform up to 100 terra hashes per second (TH/s). However, a good GPU like the RTX 3080 is capable of 40 mega hashes per second (MH/s). However, great computational power comes at a high price. An ASIC miner can cost up to $10,000.
(Heck, just being able to demonstrate that you understand mining is likely to get your special someone in the mood for love.)
NFTs
If you're looking for an even more unique gift than cryptocurrency, consider NFTs. If your gift-recipient is a collector, then it’s truly the ideal gift.. In the same way that Ether is transferred after you purchase an NFT, an NFT can also be transferred after you buy it.
Your Favourite Human’s Favourite Coin
We left the best for last, you can simply send your loved one their favorite cryptocurrency from NDAX in 3 simple steps:
- Log into NDAX and click “Send Gift” from your NDAX dashboard (web app) or from the settings menu in NDAX’s iOS or Android mobile app.
- Choose your holiday/event of choice (including Christmas, New Year’s or a more general-themed greeting).
- Pick your crypto, and the gift amount, and send! (Writing a cheesy but sincere love note to go along with your gift will always be suggested, but is totally optional.)
Crypto Gifts for Valentine’s Day: Recap
You can give your loved one a wide variety of Canadian crypto gifts this Valentine’s Day. The most difficult part will be deciding what to buy: You can buy them luxurious bitcoin themed alpaca socks, a riveting book, a framed copy of Satoshi’s famous white paper, or gift them crypto directly on NDAX. Your creative side might also inspire you to send them a heartfelt NFT or surprise them with crypto merch (such as a massive ASIC mining rig–why not!?)
Your loved one might benefit from crypto-related audiobooks and online courses if they are new to the world of crypto. But again, there is no doubt (in our minds) that a cutting-edge water-cooled ASIC mining rig could quite possibly be one of the most romantic Valentine’s Day crypto gifts that you can offer your loved one in 2023, bar none. (Stop laughing–we’re serious!) Despite the fact that it could cost up to $5,000, the investment could pay off in a couple of years… (As always we encourage you and your Valentine to always DYOR–do your own research.)
Finally, using the NDAX gift feature, you can send funds directly to another NDAX user's account without paying any fees or waiting for the funds to be transferred to the blockchain, because it all happens ‘in house’.
Have a great Valentine’s Day and as always–you are welcome! Over here at NDAX–we live to serve. ❤️