There's a paradox in markets nobody likes to admit: sometimes being out of touch with one asset class is exactly what lets you stay sharp for the next move.

I spent enough time away from crypto to actually catch the cycle. When everyone was still chasing the peak, I'd already rotated most of my portfolio into gold—and watching it double since then? That's validation you can't argue with.

The thing is, traditional finance literacy has almost nothing to do with crypto literacy. Different rules, different timelines, different psychology. Once I stepped back from the noise, I could see the bigger picture. Started allocating into alternative assets that moved inversely to where the crowd was concentrated.

It's counterintuitive, but sometimes the best trade is knowing when to sit out. Not FOMO-ing into every pump, but waiting for the narratives to shift. Gold, real assets, unglamorous alternatives—they all had their moment while crypto sentiment was still at peak greed.

The lesson? Being "out of touch" isn't always a weakness. Sometimes it's the clearest signal.