US Guide
How to Choose a Crypto Course in the US: What to Look For in 2026
From Collective Shift, founded in 2020 by TEDx speaker Ben Simpson and built on the 5-step SHIFT Method. Updated November 2026.
Written by Ben Simpson and reviewed by Matt Willemsen. Published November 2, 2026. Updated November 2, 2026.
Compare Memberships Book a Free Strategy Call
The Short Answer
A good crypto course teaches a repeatable process, not tips. Look for clear learning outcomes, named educators, independent reviews, ongoing research and live access to people who can answer your questions. Avoid courses that promise returns, push one coin or rush you to buy.
As of November 2026. General information only, not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Speak with a licensed US tax professional or financial advisor about your own situation.
What a Good Crypto Course Teaches
- How to write an investment plan
- Custody and security, including hardware wallets
- How to research a coin and spot dilution
- Taking profits and US tax basics
Watch: Ben Simpson Explains (2 Videos)
Full Long Term Crypto Investing & Trading Course (100% FREE)
A free long-form lesson from Ben Simpson on long-term crypto investing foundations.
Key points from the video
- Decide first whether you are a long term investor or a short term trader. This video focuses on investing.
- An exchange lets you choose and place trades yourself, while a broker places them for you, usually with higher fees and spreads.
- Crypto left on an exchange is custodial and is not insured like a bank deposit. Non-custodial storage, such as a hardware wallet, keeps the keys with you.
- Security basics: a strong password, two-factor authentication, a seed phrase stored offline, and a small test transfer before sending larger amounts.
- Buying, selling and swapping crypto can be taxable, so keep proper records from the first trade.
- Ben treats Bitcoin as the foundation of a long term portfolio, uses dollar cost averaging to enter over time, and links a written sell strategy to clear goals.
What is the difference between custodial and non-custodial storage?
Custodial means an exchange or provider holds the keys to your crypto. Non-custodial means you hold them yourself, usually in a wallet backed up by a seed phrase.
What is dollar cost averaging?
Investing set amounts bit by bit over time instead of putting everything in at once. Ben describes automating his own buys week by week.
Summary of Ben Simpson’s video on getting started with crypto investing step by step, written from the video transcript. General education only.
How to Win in Crypto in Less Than 6 Minutes
A short lesson from Ben Simpson on the habits that matter most for long-term investors.
Red Flags to Avoid
- Promised or guaranteed returns
- Pressure to buy a specific coin
- Anonymous educators
- Reviews you cannot check independently
Live or Self-Paced?
Self-paced lessons suit you if you are disciplined. Live cohorts add accountability and a chance to ask questions as you go.
Questions to Ask Before You Join
Who teaches it? Is there ongoing research after the lessons end? Is there a refund policy? Are reviews on an independent platform?
Free Resources vs a Paid Program
Free resources such as exchange learning centers, YouTube and government guidance cover the basics well. A paid program earns its place when it adds structure, accountability, ongoing research and people who can answer your questions. Ask yourself what is missing from what you already know, and choose based on that gap.
A Checklist You Can Use Today
- Can you name the educators and check their background?
- Are the learning outcomes written down?
- Does it teach custody and security, not just buying?
- Does it cover US tax basics?
- Is there research or support after the lessons end?
- Are reviews on an independent platform?
- Is the refund policy clear?
What to Expect From a Good Curriculum
A strong curriculum moves from foundations to practice. Early lessons explain blockchains, Bitcoin and wallets in plain language. Middle lessons cover research: reading token supply schedules, checking liquidity and understanding how on-chain businesses earn revenue. Later lessons put it together into a written plan with entry and exit rules. If a course skips straight to trading signals, it is skipping the parts that keep you safe.
How Much Time Should You Set Aside?
Most people can learn the foundations in a few weeks at a couple of hours a week. Building the habit of following a plan takes longer, which is why ongoing research and community matter more than the length of the video library.
Learning Live With Collective Shift
The Collective Shift Academy covers each step of the SHIFT Method, and Accelerator members build their plan in a four-week live group cohort, then keep learning with daily research and a weekly live analyst Q&A. Rated 4.8 out of 5 from 135+ Trustpilot reviews (as of November 2026). Founded in Melbourne in 2020 by TEDx speaker Ben Simpson, with 15+ staff and 1,000+ members.
What Our Own Curriculum Covers
To show what a structured curriculum looks like in practice, here is how our Academy modules line up with the SHIFT Method:
- Goal setting and your written plan (S)
- Bitcoin and self-custody, including a wallet and security checklist (H)
- Researching on-chain businesses (I)
- Portfolio allocation and position sizing, plus risk management for early-stage coins (F)
- Goal setting and profit taking, including the role of stablecoins (T)
Use this as a benchmark for any program you are considering, ours or anyone else’s.
How Our Analysts Size Positions
The Academy module on portfolio allocation and position sizing describes a portfolio like a house. Core positions are the foundation, and smaller positions are your higher-risk bets on newer coins or themes. Too much in the risky part and the portfolio becomes unstable; too little and you may miss the upside you came for.
In a September 2026 lesson on building and rebalancing portfolios, our team explains why Bitcoin stays the anchor: it is the pillar that has held us in good stead over the years. In a separate lesson on early-stage coins, the team asks whether you really want to face losing 10 to 20% of your whole crypto portfolio in days by putting that much into a single early project, in a cycle meant to last years.
How Live Cohorts Work
Our Accelerator cohort runs over four weeks of live sessions. In 2026 the weeks covered building your Strategy Sheet, getting set up with an exchange and recurring buys, locking down your wallet security and building your sell plan for the next 90 days. Each session is recorded, so members in US time zones can watch the replay.
Security Lessons From Our Live Cohorts
In our week three cohort session on wallet security, the team’s checklist is short. Buy a hardware wallet brand new and direct from the maker’s own store. Treat your recovery phrase, also called a seed phrase, as the master key: keep it on paper or another analog format and never type it into a website. Do not act on urgent emails or messages that ask for it.
In October 2026, Director of Research Matt Willemsen wrote up a tampering incident involving hardware wallets sold through an unofficial reseller. His point was that a device bought straight from the maker avoids that risk entirely, and that anyone who bought second hand or from a discount seller should move funds to a new recovery phrase on a device bought direct.
Course Formats Compared
| Format | Suits | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Free videos and exchange learning centers | The basics and testing your interest | No structure, no one to ask |
| Self-paced paid course | Disciplined learners on their own schedule | Content that ages without updates |
| Live cohort with ongoing research | People who want accountability and current views | Session times; check replays are available |
Whatever format you choose, the test is the same: do you finish with a written plan you can follow?
How Collective Shift Approaches Education
Our memberships pair the Collective Shift Academy with daily research and live sessions, built on the SHIFT Method. The Accelerator starts with a four-week live cohort.
S
Set Your Plan in Writing
Write down your goals, position sizes and exit rules on your Strategy Sheet before any money moves.
H
Hold Bitcoin as Your Core
Bitcoin sits at the center of the portfolio, held in your own self-custody.
I
Invest in On-Chain Businesses
Look for on-chain businesses with real revenue and real users.
F
Filter Every Coin Before You Buy
Check token unlocks, dilution and liquidity, so a good story is never the only reason for a position.
T
Take Profits on the Way Up
Your Profit Ladder sets out in advance when you take partial profits as prices rise.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers for US readers.
Are crypto courses worth it?
A course is worth it when it gives you a process you will keep using and access to research after it ends.
How long does it take to learn crypto investing?
The basics take a few weeks. Applying them well is ongoing.
What should a crypto course cover?
Plan writing, custody, coin research, taking profits and tax basics.
Is a live course better than self-paced?
Live learning adds accountability and questions; self-paced suits disciplined learners. Many people combine both.
Can I learn crypto for free?
Yes, the basics. Paid programs add structure, ongoing research and support.
How long does a crypto course take?
The foundations take a few weeks. Building the habit of following a plan takes longer, which is why ongoing research matters.
This page is general information only and does not consider your objectives or circumstances. Speak with a licensed US tax professional or financial advisor before acting. US office: Atlanta, Georgia. Collective Shift, Inc., 505 N Angier Ave NE, Floor 3, Atlanta, GA 30308. Email [email protected]. Collective Shift, Inc. is a Delaware corporation and part of Collective Shift (Collective Shift Pty Ltd, ABN 78 650 977 325, Australia), a research and education company. We do not manage money or hold client funds. Looking for our Australian site? Visit the Australian page.
Build Your Plan With Collective Shift
Book a free 30 to 45 minute strategy call and we will work out together whether the Accelerator or Platinum suits you.
Free call. No obligation.