In 2010, a bright, tech-curious teenager from China named Wei Zhang stumbled upon a strange new concept — a decentralized digital currency called Bitcoin. With just $10 in savings, he bought as much as he could when BTC was trading for less than a penny. The result? A mind-blowing 99,000 BTC in his wallet. 🪙
Wei wasn’t just lucky. He was visionary. As Bitcoin’s value rose, so did his ambition. By 2013, he was sitting on a small fortune. But Wei wanted to build, not just hold. He had a dream — to create a revolutionary trading platform where users could maximize their profits using borrowed capital — margin trading.
In 2014, at only 19 years old, he launched CryptoLeap — the world’s first crypto margin trading exchange. Traders around the globe were instantly hooked. The platform grew fast, and so did Wei’s status in the crypto industry. By 2017, he was quietly one of the richest BTC holders, worth billions. 🌍💼
But in early 2018, disaster struck.
Wei received an email from what appeared to be a well-known venture capital firm. It included a proposal and a link to a “secure” document. Eager for expansion, he clicked.
That single click cost him everything. 😨
It was a high-level phishing attack. The link led to a fake login page, capturing his exchange credentials. In just minutes, hackers drained all 99,000 BTC from Crypto Leap’s wallets. Wei was left stunned and helpless.
🔻 $11.4 billion — gone.
🔐 No backups. No recovery. Only regret.
The crypto community erupted. News spread like wildfire. Bitcoin’s price took a hit. Investors panicked. Lawsuits piled in. Regulators launched investigations. Wei's company collapsed under the weight of its own security failure, and he had no choice but to step down and shut it all down.
His rise was meteoric, but his fall was even faster. Yet, Wei did not disappear.
Instead of giving up, he re-emerged as a powerful advocate for cybersecurity in Web3. He turned his story into a lesson for the next generation, warning new builders and investors:
“Crypto gives you power, but if you’re careless, it can take everything from you.”
Wei now works with startups, spreading awareness about digital safety, secure protocols, and anti-phishing practices. His journey — from teen prodigy to near-billionaire, to victim of cybercrime — is a painful but powerful reminder of the importance of vigilance in this space.
🔒 Takeaways from Wei Zhang’s Story
✔️ Never ignore cybersecurity
✔️ Use 2FA, cold wallets, and never click unknown links
✔️ Even giants can fall if they get careless
✔️ Resilience is everything
🚨 In crypto, one wrong click can cost billions.
Stay sharp. Stay safe. Stay decentralized.
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