You're about to delve into one of the most fascinating technological innovations ever devised – and I'm a little jealous. You see, when I first heard about bitcoin in 2012, it was still quite new, and I certainly wasn't looking for it. It kind of … found me. It was easy to dismiss the notion of “digital money” as a fad or a fraud – and that's precisely what most people did way back then.

Come to think of it, most people are still dismissing it. What a huge mistake – one that you're not making, judging by the fact that this book is in your hands. Unlike most people, you're ready for the knowledge you're about to obtain. Good for you!

You might not yet understand what bitcoin is, or the blockchain technology that underlies it – but that's okay. At least you won't get quizzical glances when you tell friends and family what you're reading about. Come to think of it, the fact that there's a book you can read on the subject is a huge advantage I didn't have back in 2012. So, yeah, I'm a little jealous.

Since you're still in the book's foreword, you're to be forgiven if the subject still makes little sense. A perplexed expression was certainly on my face the first time I heard of bitcoin, despite (or because of) my knowledge and experience in the financial field. Digital money? What is that? I wondered. And more to the point, why do we need it? It took me about a year to fully understand the answers. It wasn't easy to get the information; there weren't any books available. And as I'd talk about crypto, most people dismissed the idea as a fad or fraud.

They're wrong, of course. As you'll discover in this fine book by Jake Ryan and James Diorio, blockchain technology and the digital assets it makes possible are revolutionary – the most profound innovation in commerce since the invention of the Internet. Unfortunately, most people don't yet realize this – giving those who do a distinct set of advantages. By learning about this new tech, you'll be able to incorporate it into your life sooner than others – giving you both career and investment opportunities that evade others.

If there's a downside to this tech, it's the fact that most people still don't get it. And over the past decade, I've found that those with the greatest disdain tend to be the people with the least amount of knowledge about it. Unfortunately, that still includes most financial professionals. As a group, financial advisors are as uneducated about crypto as everyone else – and that's a problem, considering that they collectively manage two‐thirds of all American investors' money.

What's an investor to do when their advisor knows nothing about this new asset class? Take control: learn about it yourself – and find an advisor who did the same.

And this book is great place to start. By the time you finish, you'll have a better understanding of blockchain and digital assets than most people. Along the way, you'll discover that Jake and James are great guides. Their passion pops off these pages, thanks to their knowledge and training as computer scientists, along with their expertise in AI and hedge fund management. They link AI, IoT, and robotics to blockchain technology; the result will be autonomous systems used in every industry and by every government to boost productivity and generate, transfer, and store value.

This technological revolution is just getting started, and the convergence of AI and blockchain will change how we live, work, and play. That makes Crypto Decrypted essential, and, by choosing to read it, you're taking an important step toward the future.