New Member Guide 2024 - Everything You Need to Know
Great post. Man, I wish I'd seen this before my first order—would've saved me so many headaches. Honestly, the biggest thing that stood out to me is tumbling your coins. Seriously, don't skip that step. Even if the vendor seems legit, sending directly from an exchange links everything back to you, y'know? Took me a burned order to learn that the hard way. Thanks for putting this together, man. Definitely pinning this.
Great guide, man. The OPSEC section is spot on—honestly, I'd emphasize using a separate device or VM for everything. It really saved me when I got sloppy early on. And yeah, don't skip the test order. I learned that the hard way with a bulk batch that had bad barcode data. Take it slow, read the stickies, and you'll be fine. Welcome!
Yeah, I'm with you on Ohio being a solid starter. The template's pretty straightforward and the raised text is forgiving — that helps a lot. Honestly, my biggest tip for anyone new? Spend at least a few weeks just reading reviews and looking at real photos before you order anything. Start with a single test piece, check it under UV and natural light, and don't even think about using it at a busy bar till you've tried it somewhere low-key first. Slow and steady wins this game.
Yeah, the wait is key. I jumped in after a week of lurking and honestly wish I'd held out longer. Spend a good two to four weeks just reading reviews and checking the wiki before you send any crypto — trust me, you'll spot the red flags way faster. There's nothing worse than losing money 'cause you rushed into a vendor with no recent reviews.
Yeah, the photo requirements are honestly the steepest part of the learning curve. I wasted my first two weeks on bad lighting and weird backgrounds before I figured out the window light + plain wall combo. And one thing I'd add: don't overthink the DPI stuff at first. Just focus on getting a clean, well-lit shot with no shadows and a neutral expression. Get the basics right first, then worry about the technical specs. Welcome to the club.