💥 He Lost 99,000 Bitcoins Worth $11 Billion — The Unbelievable Story of Wei Zhang
In 2010, a Chinese teenager named Wei Zhang, a tech-curious high schooler with an eye on disruptive innovation, stumbled upon a little-known digital currency: Bitcoin. Captivated by the concept of decentralized money, he invested just $10 — a humble sum that would go on to write one of crypto's most jaw-dropping tales.
At the time, Bitcoin traded for less than $0.01, allowing Wei to acquire an astounding 99,000 BTC.
🚀 The Rise: From Teen Investor to Crypto Titan
By 2013, Bitcoin had started to make waves. Wei’s tiny investment had turned into a fortune. But he didn’t stop there.
In 2014, at just 19 years old, Wei launched CryptoLeap — the world’s first crypto margin trading exchange. His platform allowed traders to amplify profits using borrowed funds, a revolutionary concept at the time. The platform soared in popularity, attracting thousands of users globally and cementing Wei’s place as a rising star in the blockchain space.
As Bitcoin surged toward mainstream recognition, so did Wei's wealth. By 2017, he held a mind-blowing 99,000 BTC, becoming one of the wealthiest figures in crypto.
💀 The Fall: A Single Click Cost Him Everything
In early 2018, disaster struck.
Wei received what appeared to be a high-profile business offer from a global venture capital firm. The email looked legitimate. It had a professional proposal and a link to view the documents. Eager to explore the opportunity, he clicked the link.
That one click changed everything.
The email was a sophisticated phishing attack. The fake site harvested his login credentials and gave hackers access to CryptoLeap’s backend systems. Within minutes, 99,000 BTC — today worth over $11 billion — were drained from the platform.
🧨 Chaos Erupts: Crypto Market in Shock
News of the breach spread fast. Bitcoin’s price dipped, and investors panicked. The crypto world looked on in disbelief as one of its most promising young founders saw his empire collapse overnight.
Regulators launched investigations. Lawsuits poured in. Wei, devastated and humiliated, stepped down as CEO and shut down CryptoLeap for good.
Despite every recovery attempt, the stolen BTC was scattered through complex mixer chains — gone forever.
🛡️ Redemption: From Victim to Security Advocate
Wei didn’t disappear.
Instead, he reemerged — this time as a cybersecurity advocate, dedicating his life to protecting the crypto community from the same fate he endured. He now mentors young founders and builds tools that help exchanges guard against threats.
His message is clear: In crypto, security is everything.
⚠️ Key Lessons for Every Crypto Investor
Never ignore cybersecurity, no matter how successful you are
Always verify links and emails, especially from “trusted” sources
Use cold wallets for long-term holdings
Stay alert — the digital world rewards the cautious, not the careless
---
✅ Like stories like this?
Hit Follow and tap Like to get more real stories, lessons, and crypto insights!
$BTC $BNB #BNBATH #CryptoScamSurge