July 2020. Fresh out of college, a little lost, but definitely intrigued by this whole Bitcoin thing. I remember staring at that chart – Epoch 5, the black line, Bitcoin hovering around $10,000. It felt like a gamble, but something about the halving cycles resonated with me. Everyone was talking about it, but I actually studied it. I saw the pattern – each time the amount of new Bitcoin got cut in half, the price eventually surged. So, I took a deep breath and decided to invest a small chunk of my savings. Nothing crazy, just enough that I wouldn't kick myself later if I missed out.
Epoch 5 (Black Line): The Waiting Game
Honestly, the first year was a bit nerve-wracking. The price didn't move much. There were times I questioned my decision. "Was I crazy?" I'd think. But then I'd look at the chart again, remember the research I’d done, and just hold on. I even started dollar-cost averaging, buying a little bit each month, regardless of the price. It helped smooth out the volatility.
Epoch 4 (Green Line): Okay, Something's Happening...
Then, in 2021, things started to shift. The price began to climb, slowly at first, then faster. I remember checking my portfolio and seeing it tick up, and up, and up. That initial excitement was intoxicating, but I knew better than to get carried away. I’d made a plan, and I was sticking to it. "Don't get greedy," I told myself.
Epoch 3 (Blue Line): This is Getting Real
Late 2021, early 2022 – boom! It was like watching a rocket launch. The price of Bitcoin was going parabolic. My friends and family were asking me about it, some even wanting to get in on the action. I became "the Bitcoin guy." It was surreal. That little investment I made in college was now worth… well, let's just say it was life-changing.
Epoch 2 (Orange Line): The New Normal
Now, looking at the chart in 2023 and 2024, things have calmed down a bit. The crazy percentage gains have leveled off. But the overall trend is still upward. My initial investment has multiplied several times over. It's allowed me to do things I never thought possible – travel, invest in my own business, even help out my family.
Looking back, it's still a bit hard to believe. That chart, that simple pattern of halvings and price increases, changed my life. It taught me the power of long-term thinking, the importance of doing your own research, and the potential of disruptive technologies. And honestly, it's just the beginning. I'm excited to see where the next Epoch takes us.