1. Bitcoin Early Buyers (2009–2011) Selling at Peak (2017 or 2021)
Investment: ~$100 in Bitcoin in 2010 (at ~$0.003 per BTC)
Hold Until: 2017 peak ($19,000) or 2021 peak ($69,000)
Outcome:
$100 at $0.003 = ~33,000 BTC
Sold at $19,000 = ~$627 million
Sold at $69,000 = ~$2.27 billion
This type of hold-and-sell strategy produced billionaires from small initial investments.
2. Ethereum ICO Participants (2014)
Investment: $1,000 during Ethereum ICO (price was ~$0.30 per ETH)
Hold Until: 2021 peak (~$4,800)
Outcome:
~$1,000 = ~3,333 ETH
Sold at $4,800 = ~$16 million
3. Dogecoin Early Trader (Redditor 'Glauber Contessoto')
Bought: ~$180,000 in Dogecoin in early 2021
Peak Value: Over $2 million when Doge hit ~$0.70
Status: Dubbed "The Dogecoin Millionaire" — although his net worth dropped after the price crash, his timing made headlines.
4. Binance Coin (BNB) Investors
ICO Price: ~$0.10 in 2017
Peak Price: ~$690 in 2021
ROI: ~6900x
These examples highlight the importance of early adoption, conviction, and timing in crypto. The biggest winners typically took huge risks and held through extreme volatility.
