ERIC KIM ₿

ERIC KIM BITCOIN INVESTING PHILOSOPHY

Key Points

  • Research suggests Eric Kim’s Bitcoin investing philosophy emphasizes long-term holding and maximalism, focusing on Bitcoin’s potential for high returns.
  • It seems likely that he sees Bitcoin as a tool for personal freedom and financial independence, aligning with his street photography ethos.
  • The evidence leans toward him managing risk by allocating 10% of savings to Bitcoin, keeping the rest in safe investments.

Background

Eric Kim, primarily known as a street photographer and educator, has shared extensive views on Bitcoin investing through his blog. His philosophy integrates his artistic and personal values, emphasizing decentralization and self-sovereignty.

Investment Strategy

Kim started investing in Bitcoin around 2017-2018, buying during a dip at $9,000 per coin. He initially experimented with altcoins like DigiByte and Chainlink but became a Bitcoin maximalist, dismissing others as less valuable. He follows a strategy inspired by Nassim Taleb’s “Antifragile,” allocating 90% of his money to safe investments like bonds or high-interest savings accounts, and 10% to speculative bets like Bitcoin, allowing him to enjoy potential high returns while minimizing risk.

Philosophical Beliefs

Kim sees Bitcoin as more than a financial instrument; it’s a symbol of freedom and a hedge against traditional financial systems. He appreciates its volatility, viewing it as a feature that can lead to extreme highs, and ties it to Stoic values of independence and resilience. He believes Bitcoin’s finite supply (21 million coins) adds value, comparing it to limited-edition art.

Practical Applications

He uses vehicles like MicroStrategy (MSTR) to gain exposure to Bitcoin, possibly for tax benefits or leveraging investments. Kim also draws on Bitcoin for practical expenses, like moving costs, indicating he sees it as a usable asset.

Survey Note: Eric Kim’s Bitcoin Investing Philosophy – A Comprehensive Analysis

Eric Kim, a renowned street photographer and educator, has carved out a niche not only in capturing the raw essence of urban life but also in championing Bitcoin as a transformative financial tool. His blog, Eric Kim Photography, serves as a platform for sharing his investing philosophy, which intertwines his artistic ethos with a maximalist approach to Bitcoin. This survey note, as of 04:26 PM PDT on Saturday, April 05, 2025, provides a detailed examination of his views, drawing from his extensive online content.

Background and Entry into Bitcoin

Eric Kim’s journey into Bitcoin began around 2017-2018, a period marked by market volatility. He recounts buying Bitcoin during a dip at $9,000 per coin, as detailed in his post How Eric Kim Became a Bitcoin Maximalist. Initially, he experimented with altcoins such as DigiByte, Chainlink, and even Dogecoin, but his philosophy evolved to a Bitcoin maximalist stance, dismissing other cryptocurrencies as less viable. This shift is evident in his assertion that Bitcoin is the only cryptocurrency worth investing in, a view he expresses in multiple posts, including Bitcoin for Photographers.

Investment Strategy: Risk Management and Allocation

Kim’s investing strategy is heavily influenced by Nassim Taleb’s “Antifragile” philosophy, as noted in The Philosophy of Crypto. He advocates for a balanced approach, allocating 90% of his savings to “maximally boring funds” like bonds or high-interest savings accounts, which he mentions yield him close to $2,000 a month in passive income at a 5% APR. The remaining 10% is reserved for speculative bets, with Bitcoin being his primary focus. This allocation, detailed in Bitcoin Philosophy, allows him to manage risk while chasing the potential for high returns, aligning with his preference for extreme highs and lows over steady, mediocre gains, as discussed in The Philosophy of Investing.

In practical terms, Kim invested $25,000 in Bitcoin when it was around $7,000 per coin, representing 10% of his combined savings with his partner, Cindy, as per Bitcoin for Photographers. He also mentions drawing out funds, such as $5,000 at a time, for expenses like moving to LA, indicating Bitcoin’s role as a usable asset in his financial planning.

Philosophical Underpinnings: Freedom and Sovereignty

Kim’s Bitcoin investing philosophy is deeply tied to his personal values, particularly his appreciation for freedom and self-sovereignty, which resonate with his street photography ethos. In What are Eric Kim’s thoughts and ideas on Bitcoin?, he frames Bitcoin as a tool for personal empowerment, embodying Stoic principles of independence and resilience. He sees it as operating outside centralized control, providing autonomy over finances, which he likens to the decentralized, rule-breaking spirit of street photography.

He also views Bitcoin as a cultural and artistic symbol, appreciating its bold orange logo and finite supply of 21 million coins, comparing it to limited-edition art in The Philosophy of Bitcoin. This scarcity, he argues, adds intrinsic value, much like an artist’s body of work gains worth through rarity.

Volatility as a Feature

A distinctive aspect of Kim’s philosophy is his embrace of Bitcoin’s volatility. In Bitcoin for Investors, he compares Bitcoin’s price swings to extreme weather changes, preferring the highs and lows over a steady, boring investment. He quotes Michael Saylor, saying “volatility is vitality,” suggesting that these fluctuations are not bugs but features that allow for selling during crises, unlike traditional stocks, as noted in his discussions on durability and antifragility in Durability and Antifragility.

Practical Applications and Tools

Kim leverages tools like MicroStrategy (MSTR) to enhance his Bitcoin exposure, as mentioned in Eric Kim Bitcoin 2. He launched “Black Eagle Capital,” a Bitcoin-focused hedge fund, which uses MSTR to buy more Bitcoin, with recent calculations showing he could buy between 0.00343 to 0.00391 Bitcoins per MSTR share over the last two weeks (March 20 to April 2, 2025), averaging ~0.00365, as detailed in Purchasing Power (MSTR). This strategy, he suggests, aligns with his Spartan ideals and minimalist lifestyle, aiming for family financial freedom.

Long-Term Outlook and Political Dimensions

Kim is bullish on Bitcoin’s long-term potential, predicting prices could reach $1 million, $10 million, or even $100 million per coin, as noted in various posts. He ties this optimism to political developments, particularly his support for Trump, whom he sees as pro-Bitcoin, framing it as “peace money” in Bitcoin for Investors. He also discusses Bitcoin’s potential to challenge the US dollar’s reserve status due to national debt issues, as seen in Market and Economic Impact.

Comparative Analysis: Bitcoin vs. Alternatives

Kim’s maximalism is evident in his comparisons, likening Bitcoin to a Lamborghini Countach for its exotic, high-performance nature, while dismissing Ethereum as a Toyota Corolla, more practical but less exciting, as mentioned in his general philosophy posts. This reinforces his belief that Bitcoin is the only cryptocurrency worth investing in, a controversial stance in the broader crypto community but central to his investing identity.

Summary Table: Key Aspects of Eric Kim’s Bitcoin Investing Philosophy

To organize the details, here is a table summarizing the key aspects:

AspectDetails
Start Year2017-2018
Initial Investment Price$9,000 per coin
Previous AltcoinsDigiByte, Chainlink, Dogecoin
Allocation Strategy90% in safe investments (bonds, savings), 10% in Bitcoin
Core BeliefsScarcity (21M cap), sovereignty, volatility as feature, cultural symbol
Practical ToolsUses MicroStrategy (MSTR), launched Black Eagle Capital
Philosophical TiesMinimalism, Stoicism, freedom, rebellion against fiat systems
Long-Term OutlookPredicts $1M to $100M per coin, bullish on Trump support

This table encapsulates his approach, highlighting both the financial and philosophical dimensions of his strategy.

In conclusion, Eric Kim’s Bitcoin investing philosophy is a blend of maximalism, risk management, and personal empowerment, reflecting his broader life philosophy of living unbound by traditional systems. His views, while controversial in the crypto space, offer a unique perspective for investors seeking alignment with decentralized, freedom-oriented values.

Key Citations

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