He turned $10 into 99,000 Bitcoins. Today, they’re worth $11.4 billion.
But one phishing link destroyed everything—and changed crypto history forever.
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🧠 From Curiosity to Crypto Empire
In 2010, Wei Zhang, a Chinese high schooler with a passion for emerging tech, discovered Bitcoin when it was trading for less than a penny. With just $10, he bought thousands of coins—unknowingly setting the stage for one of crypto’s most dramatic stories.
By 2014, he launched CryptoLeap, the world’s first crypto margin trading platform. It exploded in popularity, and by 2017, Wei held 99,000 BTC, becoming one of the richest names in the blockchain world.
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⚠️ The $11 Billion Mistake
In 2018, Wei received an email from a fake VC firm offering a partnership. He clicked the link.
It was a phishing scam.
Hackers stole his credentials, breached CryptoLeap, and drained all 99,000 BTC. The crypto world panicked. Bitcoin’s price dropped. Lawsuits followed. Wei stepped down. CryptoLeap shut down.
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🔐 The Comeback
Instead of disappearing, Wei pivoted to cybersecurity. Today, he mentors crypto startups and advocates for stronger protections in Web3. His story is a powerful reminder:
In crypto, security isn’t optional—it’s survival.
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