THE STORY
Back in 2010, a curious Chinese teenager named Wei Zhang—a high school tech enthusiast—spent just $10 on a fledgling digital asset called Bitcoin. At that time, BTC was worth less than a penny, so that tiny investment transformed into a small fortune as Bitcoin’s value surged .
By 2014, at only 19 years old, Wei launched CryptoLeap, the world’s first crypto margin trading platform. The innovation caught on fast, attracting traders from across the globe who wanted to amplify their gains .
Fast forward to 2017: Wei had accumulated an astounding 99,000 BTC, positioning him among the wealthiest individuals in the crypto world .
But in early 2018, tragedy struck. Wei received what looked like a legitimate offer from a venture capital firm. Eager to expand, he clicked the link—only to fall victim to a well-crafted phishing attack. Hackers breached CryptoLeap’s admin panel and siphoned off all 99,000 BTC within minutes .
The fallout was immediate: panic spread through the crypto community, Bitcoin’s price dropped, lawsuits began, regulators intervened, and CryptoLeap collapsed. Wei was vilified as his once-promising venture became a cautionary tale .$BTC
Today, those lost coins would be worth approximately $11.4 billion—a staggering figure that underscores the volatile and unforgiving nature of crypto security .
Despite the loss, Wei didn’t vanish. Instead, he refocused his energy on cybersecurity, becoming a mentor and advocate for stronger crypto protections—determined that no one else would endure what he did .
TAKEAWAY
Wei Zhang’s journey is a gripping tale of ambition, innovation, catastrophe, and resilience. From humble beginnings with a $10 gamble to losing a multi-billion-dollar fortune—his story is a powerful reminder that in crypto, security is everything. 🔐✨