In 2010, a 16-year-old Chinese high school student named Wei Zhang stumbled upon a strange new concept making quiet waves in online forums: Bitcoin. Fascinated by the idea of a decentralized currency and armed with little more than curiosity and a knack for technology, Wei decided to give it a try.
With just $10 in savings, and Bitcoin trading for less than a penny, he purchased nearly 100,000 BTC — an amount that seemed almost meaningless at the time.
From Teen Investor to Crypto Pioneer
Over the next few years, Wei watched the value of Bitcoin climb from obscurity to global headlines. By 2013, his $10 investment had turned into a small fortune.
Not content to simply hold his coins, Wei set his sights on building something groundbreaking. In 2014, at just 19, he launched CryptoLeap — the first-ever cryptocurrency margin trading exchange. The idea was revolutionary: allow traders to borrow funds to amplify their gains in the fast-moving crypto markets.
The platform exploded in popularity, attracting users from around the world. By 2017, Wei had cemented his place as a crypto heavyweight, personally holding 99,000 BTC and running one of the most influential exchanges of the era.
The Click That Cost Billions
In early 2018, Wei received what appeared to be an email from a well-known venture capital firm offering an exciting partnership. The message included a polished proposal and a link to a secure online document.
Without hesitation, Wei clicked.
The link was a phishing trap. The fake site harvested his login credentials, giving hackers full administrative access to CryptoLeap. Within minutes, they drained the exchange’s wallets — including Wei’s personal stash of 99,000 BTC.
By the time Wei realized what had happened, the coins were gone, funneled through a web of anonymous transactions that made recovery impossible.
Collapse and Aftermath
News of the theft spread instantly, triggering panic among CryptoLeap users and a steep drop in Bitcoin’s price. Investors fled, lawsuits piled up, and regulators began investigating.
Crushed by the loss and the backlash, Wei stepped down as CEO and shut down the platform entirely.
A $11 Billion “What If”
At today’s prices, those missing 99,000 BTC would be worth over $11 billion. Wei’s rise and fall remains one of the most staggering cautionary tales in cryptocurrency history — proof that even the most brilliant innovators can be undone by a single lapse in security.
Reinvention and Advocacy
Wei didn’t disappear. Instead, he pivoted to cybersecurity, dedicating his life to educating others about online safety and building better protections for the crypto industry. His story is now a rallying cry for vigilance in the digital age — a reminder that in the world of cryptocurrencies, fortunes can vanish in seconds.
