It's actually the gambling addition of your brother that brought ruin to your family.
Whether precious metal, property or any other currency is used or pawned for gambling, it doesn't matter.
The house always wins in the end.

Cryptocurrency actually opened a lot of possibilities for some of us here in the crypto space. Some are able to afford more which were impossible to earn thru conventional means (usual work). Our journey and experiences in crypto will differ, but in the end, it's all about how one manages the assets and time given to each of us.

OP, I hope you'll be able to use crypto as a means to help your family and not blindly shut your eyes from the opportunity that it can give you.

I see there are gambling veterans here who have mastery in the gambling arts.
BUT if you belong to the 80% of the population who do not know how to gamble, don't gamble...