For many years, speculation, hype, and false information have dominated the cryptocurrency investing market. Although the industry has given some investors returns that have changed their lives, many others have lost a lot of money because of volatility, fraud, and poor financial advice. The issue? Most cryptocurrency education is either overly basic or intended to encourage new investors to make risky trades without a clear plan. Studies show that more than 70% of individual cryptocurrency investors lose money because of making bad choices and not getting the right advice.
This was witnessed personally by Frank Hepworth, a former lawyer who worked at a Band-1 regulatory law firm, one of the top in the country. Because he entered crypto in 2017, he was added to the firm’s Digital Assets division as its youngest team member. Hepworth spent years counseling organizations on how to comply with regulations related to digital assets and assisting in the development of ETF rules. He advised crypto exchanges, venture capital funds, Wall Street investors, and token issuers—gaining a unique inside view into how institutional players approached the space.
However, he saw that private investors were being left behind despite the cryptocurrency market’s rapid growth.
According to Hepworth, “The majority of cryptocurrency investors do not have the same access to insights that institutions do.” “They’re using social media and hype-driven stories to figure out a complicated, rapidly changing market.” He wanted to change that.
That’s when he founded Yieldschool, a consulting firm that focuses on bridging the gap between high-net-worth investors and the cryptocurrency sector. Hepworth takes a legal-first approach as opposed to other crypto ”influencers” or traditional financial consultants, assisting investors in understanding risk, security, and long-term wealth strategies as well as market opportunities.
Yieldschool prioritizes diversity and regulatory risk management while focusing on systematic, structured investing, which is comparable to classic angel investing but applied to cryptocurrency. He calls this approach being an “on-chain investor”—treating crypto assets as early-stage software projects, like how venture funds invested in tech startups in the early 2000s.
Hepworth has a unique advantage because of his background. Few crypto experts have the legal knowledge necessary to deal with the regulatory context; the majority have backgrounds in trading or investing. Members of Yieldschool have been able to stay away from serious risks like rug pulls, phishing scams, and poorly structured projects thanks to this perspective. He says, “A lot of cryptocurrency investment advice ignores legal risk.” “Before members invest money, we ensure they know what they’re getting into.”
While working with VC funds and observing their strategies firsthand, Hepworth realized they were consistently outperforming because they focused on buying in primary markets and took a technology-first approach—not chasing speculation. He modeled his own portfolio after this method and in 2021, 11x’d his returns, taking home $1M in profit. That outcome became the foundation for what Yieldschool teaches today.
Some Yieldschool members have seen extraordinary returns. For example, investors who bought Virtual when it was presented by their specialists in October 2024 saw a 30X increase by January 2025. Between August and December 2024, AAVE, another significant investment, increased by 255%. Hepworth quickly clarifies that Yieldschool is neither a fund manager nor a financial advising service, despite the fact that these figures are outstanding.
He clarifies, “We don’t manage portfolios.” “We offer strategy and instruction. Although members make their own investing choices, we provide them with the resources they need to make wise choices.”
He’s also quick to caution that short-term thinking and hype-following is what causes most investors to miss the massive multi-month and multi-year opportunities. “If you’re chasing pumps and exit liquidity,” he says, “you’ll never see the 10x–30x projects that take 12–24 months to mature.” Instead, Yieldschool helps clients focus on long-term positioning.
The introduction of New Market Trading, a high-end financial consulting service for high-income individuals, is Yieldschool’s next major step. For serious investors, this program will offer one-on-one consultation, access to private fund opportunities, and strategic portfolio guidance.
According to Hepworth, “high-net-worth investors want structure, not just speculation.” “We’re creating that with New Market Trading.” The service is intended for people who are already aware of the potential of cryptocurrency but require professional insight in order to properly structure and maximize their exposure. It’s built for those who want more than a 7% annual return—they’re aiming for 3X to 5X gains over a 2–3 year timeframe.
Hepworth believes that when the cryptocurrency market develops even further, risk management and regulation will become increasingly important to the success of investments. Now is the moment for serious investors to take cryptocurrency seriously as the sector matures and institutional interest increases. Hepworth is making sure students have the skills and information necessary to accomplish that through Yieldschool.
Hepworth claims that “those who understand the markets, not just those who speculate, belong to the next phase of crypto investing.” “Smart investors will be those who strategically position themselves now, as the landscape is changing and regulation is on the horizon.”
With a focus on the law and an educational goal, Yieldschool is subtly changing the way that investors view cryptocurrency. Hepworth’s perspective is turning out to be just what the market needs as more investors search the industry for reliable guidance.
All investments carry risk, and past performance does not guarantee future results. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, legal, or cryptocurrency advice. Readers should consult with a qualified financial advisor, legal professional, or cryptocurrency expert before making any investment decisions.
