In the early days of the crypto phenomenon, when Dogecoin was just a cute meme with no real value, I decided to try mining. It was quick, simple, and in no time I had accumulated no less than 100,000 Dogecoin. Yes… ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND.
Back then, they were practically worthless. It was more out of curiosity and community spirit than for money. I took my DOGE out of the mining pool and sent them to a wallet. All good… at first.
But I made the most common mistake in the crypto world: not properly storing the private key or the seed phrase.
Years passed, and one day, when Dogecoin started making noise, I remembered those 100,000 DOGE. I ran to find the wallet…
🔒 But I couldn't access it.
🔑 I had lost the key.
💸 And with that, I lost the funds forever.
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📚 What did I learn from this experience?
The private key (or 12 or 24-word seed phrase) is the crown jewel.
Everything else —the app, the device, even the visible balance— depends on that key.
Here's an analogy that I will never forget:
> 🔐 Seed phrase = the key to a vault
📦 Cold or hot wallet = the door or the safe box
🌐 Blockchain = where your funds really are (public, but encrypted)
🔁 If you lose the device, you can get another one.
😨 But if you lose the private key… neither God nor Satoshi can help you.
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And the most ironic thing of all…
In the crypto world, you are your own bank,
but you can also be your own thief if you don't secure your keys properly.
🚨 Your funds can be trapped FOREVER, like in a vault without a key.
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💭 How much are those 100,000 Dogecoin worth today?
More than I earned in years.
And although today I laugh (with pain) at what happened, this story is 100% real.
It wasn't due to hacking, it wasn't a technical error: it was me, due to carelessness, who stole my own future.
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🧠 Advice from a veteran who learned the hard way:
> Take care of your seed phrase. Write it down. Laminate it. Hide it.
Repeat it like a mantra, because your crypto future depends on those words.
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📝 Personal epilogue
This story is not just an anecdote from the past, it is also the engine of my present.
Today I am in the process of buying my first mining equipment.
My dream is to build my own farm, learning from mistakes and moving forward with faith.
Thank you for reading me.
✨ Let's go for more!
#Criptomonedas #Dogecoin #BTC
