Virgin's first time: How I did it

[ChicagoFit]

The promise of an easy crypto payment evaporated the moment I engaged the vendor. I’d warned them: "Crypto novice here. I need hand-holding." I envisioned a seamless, step-by-step tutorial. Instead? Radio silence. It wasn't clear the vendor knew enough English to help, even if the desire existed.

With the vendor a dead-end, I pivoted to the digital gurus: YouTube and AI. After hours of video tutorials, I laid out my predicament to Gemini, which delivered a set of supremely confident, gospel-like instructions. The first commandment: "Thou shalt only proceed on thy Android phone".

Next, the wallet hunt. Exodus came highly recommended—the "easiest wallet to use," according to forum whispers. The download was instant. The letdown, immediate. The sleek app on my screen bore little resemblance to the outdated versions glowing in the YouTube guides, injecting a shot of pure anxiety into an otherwise "straight forward" process. Just as I was poised to fund it, Gemini intervened with a brilliant, fee-avoiding suggestion: use Google Wallet and link a debit card. I complied. The result? A furious, futile battle. Google Wallet and Google Pay flatly refused to talk to Exodus, resulting in a rage-quit and the swift installation of a new combatant: Coinbase.

A fresh start meant new YouTube primers. Coinbase seemed deceptively simple. Except that it wasn't Coinbase anymore—it had become Base. After downloading "Base," I finally achieved a small victory: successfully funding the wallet with $300 straight from my bank. It worked! After a day or two of clearing time, I was ready for the final transaction.

The target: $282 in USDC. The vendor sent the weapon: a QR code specifying USDC via Solana (sol). For several agonizing days, the Base wallet rejected it, spitting out the same cryptic pop-up: "the QR was not recognizable". I tried a million different times and in a million different ways, feeling like I was wrestling a digital ghost. Then, without a word of explanation, the vendor sent a new QR code. This one was for USDC via Ethereum. Bang! The transfer went through immediately. The relief was immense.

The money was successfully delivered. Victory tasted sweet—until the vendor delivered the punchline. The products I wanted from the US warehouse were suddenly out of stock. They would ship from China instead, promising arrival in ten days or less. After that whole crypto odyssey? I gave the green light. Stay tuned for the update!

 

[Svartr]

I placed my first order today, my anxiety couldnt deal with Crypto even though I'd setup a Kraken account and transfrerred the funds I ended up doing a payment via Alibaba which stressed me out enough 😅

Next time I'll put my big girl pants on and use crypto.

Now I wait...

 

[oldrunnerguy]

Wow. My first time was just a few days ago. I consulted my friend Gemini Pro and told it to walk me through it like I was 4 years old. I downloaded Coinbase and Exodus on my beloved Android phone, which I guess makes me a social outcast. I purchased Bitcoin, and Coinbase told me to spin their lottery wheel for free crypto. So I did and got $10 more for free. After clearing time, Coinbase showed everything good to go so I transferred it to my Exodus wallet (holy shit, they make damn sure you realize you better not lose those 12 special words!) I'm currently waiting to send my portion of the group testing cost to Janoshik. Overall, the experience was not too hard for this 67 year-old brain. I'm now fairly fluent in WhatsApp, Telegram, Coinbase, Exodus, and BTC. Now, if I could only understand this f*cking TikTok shit my children and grandkids keep talking about.

 

[Ruckus4519]

Wow. My first time was just a few days ago. I consulted my friend Gemini Pro and told it to walk me through it like I was 4 years old. I downloaded Coinbase and Exodus on my beloved Android phone, which I guess makes me a social outcast. I purchased Bitcoin, and Coinbase told me to spin their lottery wheel for free crypto. So I did and got $10 more for free. After clearing time, Coinbase showed everything good to go so I transferred it to my Exodus wallet (holy shit, they make damn sure you realize you better not lose those 12 special words!) I'm currently waiting to send my portion of the group testing cost to Janoshik. Overall, the experience was not too hard for this 67 year-old brain. I'm now fairly fluent in WhatsApp, Telegram, Coinbase, Exodus, and BTC. Now, if I could only understand this f*cking TikTok shit my children and grandkids keep talking about.

Dw about the Tiktok shit. The algo’s very responsive so you can get trapped in a niche, potentially an echo chamber

 

[piccolo101]

It took me quite a while to figure out how to add money to my Exodus wallet, even with the help of the guide. I bought PYUSD from Paypal but Paypal wouldn't let me transfer, even though I have verified my account. Coinbase didn't work for me either. In the end I just bought USDC-Sol and Solana from the Exodus app with my debit card.

After placing my first order I had to triple check that I sent the money to the correct vendor. I got their email from here but I also messaged them on Discord to verify that I did send them the money. It didn't help that this was during the new year holiday, which meant waiting quite a bit. I just recently received my tracking number so I'm hopeful it'll work out. While waiting for the tracking number I ordered from a different vendor (also from here), that has a US warehouse and took less than 12 hours later to receive the tracking number. Currently scheduled to arrive on Monday, so we'll see. Stressed but not as much anymore.

 

[mtomm]

I didn't see the shipping price listed, and was the using a card any issue?

I used Venmo and he adds 3%. Does take credit cards but it's a 6% fee. Shipping was $20 per package.

 

[attcbf]

I am still in the throes of getting my first transaction completed. I have read a lot about gubmnt cracdowns, frozen accts, and other horrors that made me very wary to get involved in the crypto world. Like chicagofit, I also turned to you tube and my friend, Claude. Told it I am looking for ease, minimal hold times, and low fees and found none of that.
After a week and more hours than I care to count, I am establishing my 3rd wallet, and no crypto in any of them. Wanted to do ACH with Kraken, but found out it has a 7-day wait period. Thought Moonpay was the answer, but found (1) they allow ACH only for sales, not purchases (even though support chatbot told me I could), and (2) then it keeps denying my debit cards (even though I have confirmed with banks that there are no crypto restrictions). Now turning to Gemini with hopes this nightmare will soon be over. Wish me luck.

 

[ChicagoFit]

I am still in the throes of getting my first transaction completed. I have read a lot about gubmnt cracdowns, frozen accts, and other horrors that made me very wary to get involved in the crypto world. Like chicagofit, I also turned to you tube and my friend, Claude. Told it I am looking for ease, minimal hold times, and low fees and found none of that.
After a week and more hours than I care to count, I am establishing my 3rd wallet, and no crypto in any of them. Wanted to do ACH with Kraken, but found out it has a 7-day wait period. Thought Moonpay was the answer, but found (1) they allow ACH only for sales, not purchases (even though support chatbot told me I could), and (2) then it keeps denying my debit cards (even though I have confirmed with banks that there are no crypto restrictions). Now turning to Gemini with hopes this nightmare will soon be over. Wish me luck.

thanks -- sometimes its comforting to know others have the same SNAFU.

 

[drzoid614]

This has been super helpful! All the crypto stufff is so scary for a newbie!!

 

[walkingdreadd]

You need to be very careful scanning QR codes to pay and I am guessing this time you got lucky. However, USDC on Base and USDC on Etherium share the same wallet format but if they do not have Base your money is gone forever most likely. I have made this mistake as well. You need to ensure you are the correct network when you purchase and transfer USDC. To transfer on any other network than Base you will need "gas" for the transfer usually whatver the network coin is, so Etherium on Etherium, SOL on Solana. Do not make another transfer until you understand how the networks work or you may just lose all your money.

 

[attcbf]

thanks -- sometimes its comforting to know others have the same SNAFU.

Update. I am ready to throw my computer, phone and anything else used to buy crypto against a wall. 😠 I have spent dozens of hours and many days waiting for various exchanges to fix the many hurdles i have run up against (analogy purposeful, as I have so far been unable to jump over the hurdles). Plus, came to discover that most emailed support msgs don't allow replies. Only way to communicate is via online chat, which for me, has not resolved anything. It is maddening.

Finally was able to buy USDT, only for that exchange to refuse to let me transfer to my wallet. Support chat was escalated, but I have been waiting all week for the hold, or whatever it is, to be released, and the support has ghosted me. I am so frustrated; now thinking of sticking with US web-based sellers, at 3x the cost of overseas. And unfortunately, I don't know anyone personally that can help me, even for a fee, to get this all set up for me.

 

[walkingdreadd]

Update. I am ready to throw my computer, phone and anything else used to buy crypto against a wall. 😠 I have spent dozens of hours and many days waiting for various exchanges to fix the many hurdles i have run up against (analogy purposeful, as I have so far been unable to jump over the hurdles). Plus, came to discover that most emailed support msgs don't allow replies. Only way to communicate is via online chat, which for me, has not resolved anything. It is maddening.

Finally was able to buy USDT, only for that exchange to refuse to let me transfer to my wallet. Support chat was escalated, but I have been waiting all week for the hold, or whatever it is, to be released, and the support has ghosted me. I am so frustrated; now thinking of sticking with US web-based sellers, at 3x the cost of overseas. And unfortunately, I don't know anyone personally that can help me, even for a fee, to get this all set up for me.

Cash out back to your bank account, get metamask and follow the guide I posted in this section.

 

[drzoid614]

Made my first crypto order! USDT and Etherium. Seems to have gone thorugh! Wish me luck!

 

[tendency]

The promise of an easy crypto payment evaporated the moment I engaged the vendor. I’d warned them: "Crypto novice here. I need hand-holding." I envisioned a seamless, step-by-step tutorial. Instead? Radio silence. It wasn't clear the vendor knew enough English to help, even if the desire existed.

With the vendor a dead-end, I pivoted to the digital gurus: YouTube and AI. After hours of video tutorials, I laid out my predicament to Gemini, which delivered a set of supremely confident, gospel-like instructions. The first commandment: "Thou shalt only proceed on thy Android phone".

Next, the wallet hunt. Exodus came highly recommended—the "easiest wallet to use," according to forum whispers. The download was instant. The letdown, immediate. The sleek app on my screen bore little resemblance to the outdated versions glowing in the YouTube guides, injecting a shot of pure anxiety into an otherwise "straight forward" process. Just as I was poised to fund it, Gemini intervened with a brilliant, fee-avoiding suggestion: use Google Wallet and link a debit card. I complied. The result? A furious, futile battle. Google Wallet and Google Pay flatly refused to talk to Exodus, resulting in a rage-quit and the swift installation of a new combatant: Coinbase.

A fresh start meant new YouTube primers. Coinbase seemed deceptively simple. Except that it wasn't Coinbase anymore—it had become Base. After downloading "Base," I finally achieved a small victory: successfully funding the wallet with $300 straight from my bank. It worked! After a day or two of clearing time, I was ready for the final transaction.

The target: $282 in USDC. The vendor sent the weapon: a QR code specifying USDC via Solana (sol). For several agonizing days, the Base wallet rejected it, spitting out the same cryptic pop-up: "the QR was not recognizable". I tried a million different times and in a million different ways, feeling like I was wrestling a digital ghost. Then, without a word of explanation, the vendor sent a new QR code. This one was for USDC via Ethereum. Bang! The transfer went through immediately. The relief was immense.

The money was successfully delivered. Victory tasted sweet—until the vendor delivered the punchline. The products I wanted from the US warehouse were suddenly out of stock. They would ship from China instead, promising arrival in ten days or less. After that whole crypto odyssey? I gave the green light. Stay tuned for the update!

Nicely written and congrats on the excellent start to your peptide and health improvement program!

 

[Jone5y87!]

I placed my first order today, my anxiety couldnt deal with Crypto even though I'd setup a Kraken account and transfrerred the funds I ended up doing a payment via Alibaba which stressed me out enough 😅

Next time I'll put my big girl pants on and use crypto.

Now I wait...

Teach me oh obi - wan please lol

 

[ChicagoFit]

As you may have seen from my OP, on March 4th, crypto was sent for Retatrutide, MOTS-c, and SS-31.

When I was deep into the logistics of the supply chain a drop of perspiration collected on my eyebrow. How many things could go wrong?

The package landed exactly ten days later on March 14th, and the reconstitution of the Retatrutide was as smooth as expected, with the solution sitting well within normal limits and ready for the next phase of the journey.

On the digital front, there is a lot of chatter about the transition from the traditional Coinbase exchange to the Base app on Android, but the shift is actually quite elegant once you have the right mental model.

Think of Coinbase as the airport—it is the necessary gateway where you link your bank account, clear the digital version of customs, and prep your bags for take-off. While you are in that terminal, the exchange has “custody” of your funds. But once you move those assets onto the Base network, you have officially reached your destination. You are in custody of the crypto.

This is where the magic happens and the power dynamic flips entirely. In the world of Base, you have moved into true self-custody. The moment your crypto hits that network, your bank and the exchange are no longer "interested parties" in your business transactions. You aren't just a passenger anymore; you are the pilot of your own digital economy. Whether it is fine-tuning a peptide package or securing your financial sovereignty, the goal is the same: taking total control.

Remember this from a former virgin: The process is like a penis. Sometimes its up. Sometimes its down. However, its never hard forever.

 

[Elocin]

Remember this from a former virgin: The process is like a penis. Sometimes its up. Sometimes its down. However, its never hard forever.

Found this thread while looking for info on Crypto. I know it’s old, but this had me rolling!! 😂😂

 

[Smiter]

I have been trying to fix the stupid Coinbase thingy for the last hour now. Such a filthy hassle. They need to use webcam to certify identity and cant recognize the document.

 

[Collo4sho]

Update. I am ready to throw my computer, phone and anything else used to buy crypto against a wall. 😠 I have spent dozens of hours and many days waiting for various exchanges to fix the many hurdles i have run up against (analogy purposeful, as I have so far been unable to jump over the hurdles). Plus, came to discover that most emailed support msgs don't allow replies. Only way to communicate is via online chat, which for me, has not resolved anything. It is maddening.

Finally was able to buy USDT, only for that exchange to refuse to let me transfer to my wallet. Support chat was escalated, but I have been waiting all week for the hold, or whatever it is, to be released, and the support has ghosted me. I am so frustrated; now thinking of sticking with US web-based sellers, at 3x the cost of overseas. And unfortunately, I don't know anyone personally that can help me, even for a fee, to get this all set up for me.

I just set up coinbase and used a debit card to purchase usdt. It wouldn't let me transfer to my exodus wallet because of a waiting period. I was all excited about gettin some goodies last night but went to bed empty and alone. Lol

 

[Tinlilies]

I used Venmo and he adds 3%. Does take credit cards but it's a 6% fee. Shipping was $20 per package.

Which vendor are you working with that allows Venmo?

 

[Summertime_fun]

The promise of an easy crypto payment evaporated the moment I engaged the vendor. I’d warned them: "Crypto novice here. I need hand-holding." I envisioned a seamless, step-by-step tutorial. Instead? Radio silence. It wasn't clear the vendor knew enough English to help, even if the desire existed.

With the vendor a dead-end, I pivoted to the digital gurus: YouTube and AI. After hours of video tutorials, I laid out my predicament to Gemini, which delivered a set of supremely confident, gospel-like instructions. The first commandment: "Thou shalt only proceed on thy Android phone".

Next, the wallet hunt. Exodus came highly recommended—the "easiest wallet to use," according to forum whispers. The download was instant. The letdown, immediate. The sleek app on my screen bore little resemblance to the outdated versions glowing in the YouTube guides, injecting a shot of pure anxiety into an otherwise "straight forward" process. Just as I was poised to fund it, Gemini intervened with a brilliant, fee-avoiding suggestion: use Google Wallet and link a debit card. I complied. The result? A furious, futile battle. Google Wallet and Google Pay flatly refused to talk to Exodus, resulting in a rage-quit and the swift installation of a new combatant: Coinbase.

A fresh start meant new YouTube primers. Coinbase seemed deceptively simple. Except that it wasn't Coinbase anymore—it had become Base. After downloading "Base," I finally achieved a small victory: successfully funding the wallet with $300 straight from my bank. It worked! After a day or two of clearing time, I was ready for the final transaction.

The target: $282 in USDC. The vendor sent the weapon: a QR code specifying USDC via Solana (sol). For several agonizing days, the Base wallet rejected it, spitting out the same cryptic pop-up: "the QR was not recognizable". I tried a million different times and in a million different ways, feeling like I was wrestling a digital ghost. Then, without a word of explanation, the vendor sent a new QR code. This one was for USDC via Ethereum. Bang! The transfer went through immediately. The relief was immense.

The money was successfully delivered. Victory tasted sweet—until the vendor delivered the punchline. The products I wanted from the US warehouse were suddenly out of stock. They would ship from China instead, promising arrival in ten days or less. After that whole crypto odyssey? I gave the green light. Stay tuned for the update!

This is very similar to my experience, only I have not got to vendor order yet and I've been reading everything in this forum for over 3 weeks now 😂

 

[mtomm]

Which vendor are you working with that allows Venmo?

Amino Lair

 

[ChicagoFit]

Found this thread while looking for info on Crypto. I know it’s old, but this had me rolling!! 😂😂

Well then you will appreciate my continued adventure with great arousal. It is true. I lost my virginity. Then, I discovered using crypto was like a penis: Sometimes up. Sometimes down. Never hard forever. After a little break, I just reviewed how I did it and everything worked as planned.

 

[Scarroll]

I am so frustrated; now thinking of sticking with US web-based sellers, at 3x the cost of overseas. And unfortunately, I don't know anyone personally that can help me, even for a fee, to get this all set up for me.

This is where I'm at. I've done so much reading on this, downloaded so many apps, spent so much time trying to navigate them (I can't even figure out discord or telegram at all, let alone coinbase or exodus or the dozens of others I've wasted so much time and headspace on) and no one I know personally has any clue about any of this stuff either (well, discord maybe, but the channels they use seem to be so different?) I don't get how people figure this out, I'm feeling so incompetent. Reading and researching is not helping me, with the amount of time I've spent doing that I should have a PhD in this stuff, but I feel more lost now than 6 months ago!

 

[ladyj779]

I have a bunch of humanities degrees and talk about stories for a living and I figured it out. Anyone can figure it out, I promise.

I just use the Exodus wallet. Sometimes loading via moonpay is wildly glitchy, but I've never been completely let down.

 

[laansasa]

Update. I am ready to throw my computer, phone and anything else used to buy crypto against a wall. 😠 I have spent dozens of hours and many days waiting for various exchanges to fix the many hurdles i have run up against (analogy purposeful, as I have so far been unable to jump over the hurdles). Plus, came to discover that most emailed support msgs don't allow replies. Only way to communicate is via online chat, which for me, has not resolved anything. It is maddening.

Finally was able to buy USDT, only for that exchange to refuse to let me transfer to my wallet. Support chat was escalated, but I have been waiting all week for the hold, or whatever it is, to be released, and the support has ghosted me. I am so frustrated; now thinking of sticking with US web-based sellers, at 3x the cost of overseas. And unfortunately, I don't know anyone personally that can help me, even for a fee, to get this all set up for me.

quallіgator has a crypto concierge. A lot of people use him to purchase and he only charges a small fee. He has great reviews. I also got a kit from one of his group buy leftovers. Don't feel trapped into buying from overpriced resellers. DM me and I can link you to him if you don't already use the quallіgator forum.

 

[laansasa]

This is where I'm at. I've done so much reading on this, downloaded so many apps, spent so much time trying to navigate them (I can't even figure out discord or telegram at all, let alone coinbase or exodus or the dozens of others I've wasted so much time and headspace on) and no one I know personally has any clue about any of this stuff either (well, discord maybe, but the channels they use seem to be so different?) I don't get how people figure this out, I'm feeling so incompetent. Reading and researching is not helping me, with the amount of time I've spent doing that I should have a PhD in this stuff, but I feel more lost now than 6 months ago!

I'm old but relatively tech savvy. It took me 3 days to figure it all out. I felt so dumb. My boyfriend is a super smart engineer and even he looked over and said "oof! you're on your own with this one". You'll get it. It is confusing but take it a step at a time. Where are you stuck now? I can try to help.

 

[Good-Heart6425]

I'm old but relatively tech savvy. It took me 3 days to figure it all out. I felt so dumb. My boyfriend is an engineer andnsuper smart and even he looked over and said "oof! you're on your own with this one". You'll get it. It is confusing but take it a step at a time. Where are you stuck now? I can try to help.

Yes, please. My crypto pace has taken months to get this far. Here’s where I’m stuck today: I need to send test crypto amount to vendor; I have only non crypto $ in kraken exchange and an empty exodus wallet. Using desktop websites, not my phone. What’s my next sequence?

 

[laansasa]

Yes, please. My crypto pace has taken months to get this far. Here’s where I’m stuck today: I need to send test crypto amount to vendor; I have only non crypto $ in kraken exchange and an empty exodus wallet. Using desktop websites, not my phone. What’s my next sequence?

I don't have kraken, I use coinbase. Can you buy crypto with your other money in kraken? Make sure you buy what you need (USDC-Solana, USDT-Etherium, etc.) I made the mistake of buying ERC (because a vendor said I needed that) and then had no idea how to convert it to USDT.
In coinbase, I had to make sure I was buying USDC Solana so it wouldn't need converting later.

 

[paisleyfan]

I don't have kraken, I use coinbase. Can you buy crypto with your other money in kraken? Make sure you buy what you need (USDC-Solana, USDT-Etherium, etc.) I made the mistake of buying ERC (because a vendor said I needed that) and then had no idea how to convert it to USDT.
In coinbase, I had to make sure I was buying USDC Solana so it wouldn't need converting later.

when you say you had to make sure you were buying USDC Solana on coinbase, how did you make sure of that? When I go to buy USDC on coinbase, it doesn't give me a "Solana" option. Or are you referring to how you send it?