Data science pays nothing. Crypto explodes your wealth—at least while the window's open. Here's the catch: that golden opportunity? It dies in 3 to 5 years. But real crypto expertise doesn't. Five years grinding a legitimate skill—and your income gets genuinely insane. Time passes anyway. Whether you level up now or dodge the opportunity, you're still aging. At 25, 28, or 30, you'll either have that hardened skill set or just regrets.