The crypto paradox is genuinely wild—you're essentially absorbing massive systemic risk by holding any asset in this space, yet there's no corresponding upside premium to compensate for that exposure. The risk-reward mathematics just doesn't add up the way traditional finance would expect. You're taking on volatility, regulatory uncertainty, counterparty risk, and liquidation cascades, but the expected returns don't reflect that elevated risk profile. It's like paying the price of a high-risk venture without getting the high-risk returns.