From 500 yuan to millions: A fantastical seven-year journey of Bitcoin

In a small northern town during the Spring Festival of 2010, 14-year-old Zhang Ming (pseudonym) experienced his first investment enlightenment at a community activity center. At a startup presentation, a man who called himself a "blockchain evangelist" showcased a mysterious notebook: "This digital certificate will have immeasurable value in the future! Now at a special price of 5 yuan each." Having just received 500 yuan as a New Year gift, the boy, inspired by the speaker's depiction of wealth, used all his savings to purchase 100 "pancakes" (an early colloquial term for Bitcoin).

This decision directly led to a family crisis three days later—when his parents questioned him about the whereabouts of his New Year money, the notebook with strange characters sparked a fierce conflict. The scolding mixed with the sound of bamboo strips hitting is still vivid: "Stop messing around with these deceptive things all day!"

The notebook accompanied the boy's growth, buried at the bottom of an old box, until a turning point in the exam season of 2017. During a move, the yellowed notebook unexpectedly resurfaced, with the inner page boldly stating "Bitcoin recovery: 138xxxx0923." By then, Zhang Ming, who had become proficient in internet technology, discovered through key verification that the 100 Bitcoins purchased for 5 yuan each had exceeded a market value of 10,000 US dollars.

According to the individual involved, the on-chain verification process at dawn on December 25, 2017, was nothing short of magical—when the balance of his Blockchain.info account showed 1,768,900 USD (approximately 11.76 million RMB at that day's exchange rate), the 19-year-old trembled under a quilt, refreshing the webpage 37 times on a winter night at minus 15 degrees.

The first challenge brought by sudden wealth was an ethical dilemma. As a law student, he received an urgent consultation: "How to avoid the risks of inheriting digital assets?" A more dramatic scene unfolded during a family meeting—when Zhang's father raised scissors to destroy the "harmful notebook," the son shielded the notebook with his body, reminiscent of his protection of his investment beliefs seven years prior.

This ideological clash spanning three generations ultimately ended with an apology from the older generation. In a more darkly humorous twist, Zhang Ming's parents have now become the most active blockchain science popularization volunteers in their community.

The uniqueness of this case lies in perfectly hitting the three major value appreciation points of Bitcoin:

2010 entry cost < $1

2013 first broke the psychological barrier of $1000

2017 bull market peak $19,783