I Stopped Trading and Started Creating: My 2025 Side Hustle Report
Feb 27, 2026
5min read
Looking back at 2025, everything feels like a blur. At the start of that year, I was glued to six screens, watching green and red candles flicker on my dashboard. I thought I was a genius trader because I made a few thousand dollars on a meme coin. But by the summer, the market changed. The bots were faster than I could ever be, and my stress levels were through the roof. I realized I wasn’t building anything real; I was just gambling with my time.
In July 2025, I made a big decision. I closed my trading accounts and put my remaining cash into tools and learning. I decided to stop betting on other people's companies and start creating my own. Now that we are in 2026, I can finally share the results of this shift. This wasn't just about money—it was about peace of mind.
Instead of staring at price charts, I started building 'Personalized AI Guides.' With the rise of modular AI software last year, I found a niche. I created digital assistants for small business owners who didn't have time to manage their local deliveries. It took work to set up, but once it was running, it became a true asset. Unlike a stock, this was something I owned and controlled. If I wanted to make more money, I just improved the product.
By the end of 2025, my income from 'creating' had surpassed what I ever made from trading. The best part? I didn't wake up at 3:00 AM to check global markets. My side hustle was now a business that provided value to real people. I learned that in this new 2026 economy, the real wealth isn't in the trade; it's in the ownership of the idea.
If you are still caught in the cycle of buying and selling, ask yourself: what are you actually building? Trading can be fun, but it’s often just a job you’ve created for yourself with high risk and no benefits. Creating something—whether it’s a tool, a service, or a piece of digital art—gives you a foundation that survives even when the market dips. My 2025 report is clear: stop chasing the hype and start building your own world.
In July 2025, I made a big decision. I closed my trading accounts and put my remaining cash into tools and learning. I decided to stop betting on other people's companies and start creating my own. Now that we are in 2026, I can finally share the results of this shift. This wasn't just about money—it was about peace of mind.
Instead of staring at price charts, I started building 'Personalized AI Guides.' With the rise of modular AI software last year, I found a niche. I created digital assistants for small business owners who didn't have time to manage their local deliveries. It took work to set up, but once it was running, it became a true asset. Unlike a stock, this was something I owned and controlled. If I wanted to make more money, I just improved the product.
By the end of 2025, my income from 'creating' had surpassed what I ever made from trading. The best part? I didn't wake up at 3:00 AM to check global markets. My side hustle was now a business that provided value to real people. I learned that in this new 2026 economy, the real wealth isn't in the trade; it's in the ownership of the idea.
If you are still caught in the cycle of buying and selling, ask yourself: what are you actually building? Trading can be fun, but it’s often just a job you’ve created for yourself with high risk and no benefits. Creating something—whether it’s a tool, a service, or a piece of digital art—gives you a foundation that survives even when the market dips. My 2025 report is clear: stop chasing the hype and start building your own world.
