Towson University finance professor Jian Huang has one practical goal for every student he teaches: financial independence.

That idea started at a young age. Growing up in a working-class family, he would sit at the dinner table and listen as his parents had conversations about prices, risks and opportunities.

As a child, he found those discussions fascinating鈥攕parking his interest in finance.

Preparing College Students for Financial Independence

Now, in an environment shaped by inflation and economic volatility, he鈥檚 helping the next generation of finance professionals learn about financial freedom鈥攅ven if it sounds like an abstract idea.

鈥淭he traditional American dream of building long-term security through W-2 incomes has become increasingly difficult for working-class families,鈥� Huang says. 鈥淎s a result, business ownership, investing and financial decision-making play a much larger role.

鈥淔or me, finance is ultimately about independence,鈥� he adds. 鈥淎nd teaching finance allows me to share with students the tools, risks and trade-offs involved in building that independence responsibly.鈥�

For me, finance is ultimately about independence. And teaching finance allows me to share with students the tools, risks and trade-offs involved in building that independence responsibly.

Jian Huang

Understanding Crypto Returns 

And while he's teaching in 91影视破解版's College of Business and Economics, Huang is also learning about the next wave of business innovation鈥攃ryptocurrency.

Curious about this growing form of currency, Huang decided to study how universal holidays 鈥� or holidays celebrated by a multitude of people鈥攃an effect cryptocurrency returns.

鈥淐ryptocurrency markets differ fundamentally from traditional markets: They are decentralized, global and operate continuously without time or geographic constraints,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hat raised an interesting question鈥攚ould familiar market patterns, such as holiday effects, still appear in such a different environment?

鈥淓xploring this helps us understand which aspects of investor behavior are universal and which depend on market structure.鈥�

Exploring Crypto Patterns

In his research, Huang used the Chinese financial market to investigate this behavior but found the pattern appears in other parts of the world as well.

He also found that when investor sentiment is positive, it can moderate these holiday effects. Compared with traditional stocks, crypto is more sentiment-driven and volatile.

鈥淧ut simply, crypto is 鈥榗razier,鈥� and our research helps explain why these extreme movements occur and when they are more likely,鈥� Huang says. 鈥淔or the average household, this means timing and psychology are key. Understanding these patterns can help people approach crypto (and any investment) with more awareness.鈥�

As he continues his research and observes how the cryptocurrency market evolves, he admits that many things have yet to settle. But over time, clearer rules, better infrastructure and learning-by-doing will likely bring more market stability.

In practice, understanding something halfway is often enough to begin鈥攔eal learning happens through doing. Progress is like a pawn in chess鈥攕low, one step at a time but capable of becoming powerful if it keeps moving forward.

Jian Huang

However, Huang says that once everything calms, some opportunities naturally diminish鈥攁 tension typical of emerging markets.

Teaching Crypto Risk Management

When asked how his research will translate to his class, he wants to be clear that he鈥檚 not able to teach students how to invest in cryptocurrency but hopes his perspective can help.

However, he wants students to know they should be willing to learn. And if they鈥檙e interested in cryptocurrency, they need to understand the risks.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a saying that you never earn beyond your level of understanding, which is why continuous learning is essential,鈥� Huang says. 鈥淩isk should be managed, but waiting until you fully understand something often means missing opportunities or becoming too cautious to act.

鈥淚n practice, understanding something halfway is often enough to begin鈥攔eal learning happens through doing,鈥� he adds. 鈥淧rogress is like a pawn in chess鈥攕low, one step at a time but capable of becoming powerful if it keeps moving forward.鈥�