When you have a fortune estimated at $800 million... but it is locked inside a small metal piece that can only be opened with one password.
Imagine that word... has evaporated from your memory.
This is not a story from a movie, but what is said to be the reality lived by "#Stefan_Thomas", a German-American programmer residing in San Francisco.
The story of a man who became known not because he made his fortune from cryptocurrencies, but because he almost lost it before his eyes, completely powerless.
In 2011, Stefan received 7,002 Bitcoins in exchange for producing a tutorial video explaining the concept of Bitcoin when it was just an experiment that no one cared about.
At that time, the value of Bitcoin did not exceed a few dollars.
Stefan stored this currency in an encrypted device known as "IronKey" — an encrypted storage that allows only 10 attempts to enter the password.
And if you fail... everything gets deleted forever.
Years passed, and the value of Bitcoin rose until each one became worth tens of thousands of dollars.
But Stefan could not access his device.
He tried 8 passwords. And failed.
He has only two attempts left... and if he fails, everything will be lost forever.
He searched for solutions. Consulted experts. Sought help from the largest digital security companies.
But it is useless. No one can open the IronKey.
In the world of cryptocurrencies, there is no customer service, and no way to recover the password.
Whoever forgets, loses. Simply.
#Stefan lives his life now quietly, working like any ordinary person.
But behind his smile... lies a tale of a lost treasure he cannot reach.
A fortune fading away, not just due to forgetfulness... but because technology is unforgiving.
His story has become a symbol in the world of Bitcoin.
A story that reminds us that the strongest fortifications... can collapse before the simplest human errors.
And with all that has been said...
No one knows for sure: Is this entire story really true?
