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How One Teen Lost 99,000 Bitcoins — Now Worth $11 Billion
In the early days of cryptocurrency, long before Bitcoin became a household name, a Chinese teenager named Wei Zhang stumbled upon what seemed like an internet oddity. It was 2010, and Bitcoin was trading for fractions of a cent. Wei, a tech-curious high school student with a passion for innovation, saw something special in this new form of digital money.
With just $10 in pocket money, Wei bought into Bitcoin—accumulating tens of thousands of coins thanks to the rock-bottom price. At the time, few people believed in crypto, but Wei’s early belief set the stage for one of the most astonishing stories in crypto history.
From Teen Investor to Crypto Pioneer
As Bitcoin’s value slowly began to rise, Wei stayed invested. By 2013, he was sitting on a growing fortune. Not content with just holding, he decided to build something bigger. In 2014, at just 19 years old, Wei launched CryptoLeap, the world’s first crypto margin trading platform.
The idea was revolutionary: allow users to leverage borrowed funds to amplify their trades. Traders flocked to the platform, and CryptoLeap became an overnight success. As Bitcoin soared and trading volumes exploded, Wei’s personal BTC holdings grew to an eye-watering 99,000 BTC — worth billions today.
The $11 Billion Mistake
But success came with risks. In 2018, Wei received what appeared to be a legitimate email from a well-known venture capital firm. It promised a major partnership deal and included a “secure link” to view the details. Without hesitation, he clicked.
That single click changed everything.
The email was a sophisticated phishing attack. The link led to a fake CryptoLeap login page. As soon as Wei entered his credentials, hackers took control of the exchange's admin system. Within minutes, they transferred all 99,000 BTC out of the exchange’s wallets.
Wei was left powerless. The massive loss couldn’t be reversed. The stolen BTC were quickly laundered through countless wallets, making recovery nearly impossible.
Fallout and the Aftermath
The crypto world erupted in shock. Investors panicked. Regulators launched investigations. Lawsuits followed. The once-celebrated young genius now faced public scrutiny, legal trouble, and a shattered reputation. CryptoLeap shut down. Wei stepped down as CEO.
Had those Bitcoins been held today, they’d be worth over $11.4 billion.
A Cautionary Legend in Crypto
But Wei didn’t disappear. Instead of vanishing from the spotlight, he turned his tragedy into purpose. He redirected his energy toward cybersecurity, becoming a strong voice for safety in the crypto space. He began mentoring others, advocating for smarter security practices to protect digital assets.
Wei Zhang’s journey—from a teenage investor to a billionaire, and back to zero—is more than just a headline. It’s a hard lesson on the dangers of digital complacency. In a world where one click can cost billions, his story serves as both a warning and an inspiration for the next wave of crypto pioneers.
🔐 Stay safe. Stay smart.
👍 Like & follow for more true crypto stories.
---$TREE