šø Matthew Mellon ā $500 Million in XRP Lost Forever
Matthew Mellon, an American banking heir, invested early in Ripple (XRP) and turned a few million dollars into a fortune of over $500 million.
But hereās the twist: Mellon stored his XRP in cold wallets under fake names ā and never told anyone how to access them.
In 2018, he unexpectedly died at age 54 while in rehab. Because he didnāt share his private keys or wallet locations with family or advisors, the entire fortune became inaccessible forever.
āHe kept everything secret,ā a close associate said. āEven his closest friends didnāt know how to get to it.ā
This case is one of the largest crypto inheritance losses in history ā a warning that even riches mean little if no one can recover them.
š Stefan Thomas ā Lost Password to 7,002 BTC (~$250M)
Stefan Thomas, a German-born programmer living in the U.S., owns an encrypted USB hard drive (IronKey) containing 7,002 Bitcoins ā worth over $250 million today.
The catch? He lost the password.
The IronKey device allows only 10 attempts before it permanently locks. Stefan has used 8 of those tries⦠meaning heās just 2 guesses away from losing it all forever.
āI would just lay in bed and think about it,ā he told The New York Times. āThen Iād go to the computer with a new strategy, and it wouldnāt work, and Iād be desperate again.ā
This case has become legendary in crypto circles ā a brutal reminder that self-custody comes with serious risks.
As of May 25, 2025, the cryptocurrency market is experiencing a notable downturn, influenced by several key factors:
š» Market Snapshot: ⢠Bitcoin (BTC): Currently trading at $107,020, down approximately 1.7%. ⢠Ethereum (ETH): At $2,506.81, experiencing a 1.8% decline. ⢠Binance Coin (BNB): Priced at $663.12, down 1.5%. ļæ¼ ⢠PEPE: Trading at $1.061e-09, showing a slight increase of 0.16%.
š° Key Factors Influencing the Market: 1. Geopolitical Tensions: President Donald Trump has announced a proposed 50% tariff on all European Union (EU) goods, citing frustrations over perceived trade imbalances. This move has heightened investor concerns about global trade relations, leading to market volatility. ļæ¼ 2. Impact on Industries: The proposed tariffs challenge the appeal of āMade in Europeā branding, potentially affecting global sales and the artisanal economies dependent on these industries. 3. Market Sentiment: The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has dropped to 17, indicating āextreme fearā among investors, which often leads to sell-offs.
š Looking Ahead:
While the current market trend is downward, itās essential to recognize that such corrections are common in the crypto space. Historically, the market has shown resilience, often rebounding after periods of decline. Investors are advised to stay informed, manage risks appropriately, and consider long-term perspectives when navigating market fluctuations.
š§ New to Crypto? Read This Before You Jump In! š
Starting out in crypto can be excitingāand overwhelming. Charts, dips, pumps, hype⦠itās a lot. So hereās some straight-up advice I wish I had when I started:
1. Donāt Chase Pumps If something is already up 200%, chances are youāre late. Be patient. Good entries matter more than FOMO.
2. Understand What You Buy Meme coins? Blue chips? NFTs? Learn the basics. Donāt just follow hypeāfollow knowledge.
3. Volatility is Normal Crypto isnāt the stock market. Dips happen fast. But so do rebounds. If you panic sell every dip, youāll never see the recovery.
4. Start Small You donāt need to go all-in. Even $10 can teach you more than hours of YouTube videos.
5. Protect Your Funds Use trusted exchanges (like Binance š), enable 2FA, and NEVER share your recovery phrase.
6. Think Long-Term Fast profits are rare. But those who hold through the noise? They win. Zoom out and stay focused.
Welcome to crypto. Stay sharp, stay humble, and never stop learning. š
šø PEPE Just Dipped ā and Thatās Your Golden Chance! š
Yes, $PEPE had a small pullback recently. But donāt let that shake you. If youāre ignoring it now, you might seriously regret it later.
Hereās the truth: This isnāt a crash ā itās a setup. The chartās just breathing before the next leg up. Every strong move has dips, and smart money buys the fear, not follows it.
š” Ask yourself: How many times have you looked back and said, āI shouldāve bought thenā¦ā? Donāt let $PEPE be another one of those missed moments.
Itās not just a meme anymore ā itās momentum.
Mark my words: This dip is the before part of the āI told you soā tweet.
I see people saying you should sell your #BTC just because it dropped from 111K to 107K. But if youāve been in this space for a while, youāll knowāthis is not the time to panic.
Iāve been in crypto for 3 years now, and hereās what experience taught me: At first, I kept selling every time the price went down. I thought I was minimizing losses, but I was actually hurting my portfolio. BTC always bounced back, often reaching even higher levels. By reacting emotionally, I ended up losing moneyānot from the dips, but from all the panic-selling and fees.
The key lesson? š Short-term dips are normal. š Holding through them can lead to long-term gains. Donāt let temporary fear erase your long-term potential.