Crypto newbies learn to cope with wild swings in digital coins portfolio

New York

AFTER researching digital currencies for work last year, personal finance writer JR Duren hopped on his own crypto-rollercoaster.

Mr Duren bought US$5 worth of litecoin in November, and eventually purchased US$400 more, mostly with his credit card. In just a few months, he experienced a rally, a crash and a recovery, with the adrenaline highs and lows that come along.

"At first, I was freaking out," Mr Duren said about watching his portfolio plunge 40 per cent at one point. "The precipitous drop came as a shock."

The 39-year-old Floridian is part of the new class of crypto-…