How a $1,000 gift from my grandma and a bet with my parents changed the course of my life forever.
“The Day My Life Changed”
It all started in 2011. I was just 12 years old, and like any kid my age, I didn’t think much about investing, let alone cryptocurrency. But that day, a simple gift from my grandma—a $1,000 check—and a random conversation with my brother changed the course of my life.
We were at a protest at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C., and while I was mainly there for the experience, something else caught my eye. I saw a guy wearing a Bitcoin t-shirt, and I asked my brother, “What’s Bitcoin?” He replied, “It’s going to end Wall Street, bro.”
His words intrigued me. I didn’t fully understand what Bitcoin was, but I had a gut feeling it was important. I went home and began researching it like crazy. I was fascinated by the concept of digital currency that could revolutionize the financial world. So, with my grandma’s $1,000 gift, I made my first investment in Bitcoin. Each coin was worth around $10 at the time.
“Trading and Dreaming: The Early Days”
For the next three years, my life was split between two things: Bitcoin trading and school. And honestly? I didn’t enjoy school. It wasn’t because I didn’t care about learning; it was because no one understood what I was passionate about.
My classmates didn’t get why I was so obsessed with this digital currency that barely anyone had heard of. My teachers weren’t any better. One day, one of them told me I’d never amount to anything and that I should drop out and work at McDonald’s. That moment crushed me, but it also lit a fire inside me.
I realized school wasn’t for me. It didn’t nurture the things I cared about or encourage my curiosity. So, at 15 years old, I made a bold decision: I dropped out of high school. But not without making a deal with my parents first.
“The Bet That Changed Everything”
I made a bet with my parents—if I could make $1 million by the time I was 18, I wouldn’t have to go back to high school or go to college. They agreed, and from that moment, I had something to prove.
To kick things off, I sold $100,000 worth of Bitcoin and used it to start my own business—right from my bedroom. Inspired by how much I hated the traditional education system, I created Botangle, an online platform where students could connect with teachers from all over the world through video chat. You could learn any skill from an expert, no matter where they lived. For example, if someone in Australia wanted to learn Japanese, they could hire a tutor in Tokyo.
The concept took off. And just two years later, I sold Botangle for 300 Bitcoins.
“Becoming a Millionaire at 17”
Everything changed when Bitcoin’s price surged to $2,700. I was 17 at the time, and my Bitcoin holdings had finally crossed that million-dollar mark. I couldn’t believe it—I had officially won the bet with my parents.
Instead of returning to school or going to college, I did something many people only dream of. I traveled the world. From Dubai to Hong Kong, London to Prague, I explored new cities, met incredible people, and learned about different cultures. Every city was a new adventure. Sydney, Vienna, Stockholm—they all became part of my story.
“A New Chapter: From Bitcoin to Silicon Valley”
Now, with my newfound wealth, I wasn’t just satisfied with Bitcoin trading. I wanted to be part of the future of cryptocurrency. I became a key investor in a Silicon Valley startup, using my Bitcoin experience to help build the next generation of financial technology.
One of my proudest moments came when I worked as a citizen advocate to help introduce the Crypto-Currency Act of 2020. I believed in the potential of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to reshape the financial world, and I wanted to ensure they were part of our legal and regulatory landscape.
“The Audi R8: My First Splurge”
Of course, in true crypto style, I did indulge a little along the way. My first major purchase? A sleek, black Audi R8. It was a symbol of how far I’d come—a reminder of the boy who took a risk at 12 years old and made it. I remember the day I drove it for the first time, cruising down the highway, realizing how much had changed in just a few short years.
“Looking Back”
Looking back, it’s hard to believe that what started with a random conversation about a Bitcoin t-shirt turned into a life I could’ve only dreamed of. Dropping out of school wasn’t the end of my education—it was the beginning of a journey that taught me more than any classroom ever could.
Today, my net worth sits comfortably in the eight figures, and I continue to grow my Bitcoin holdings. I’m still just as passionate about cryptocurrency as I was back then, and I believe we’re only scratching the surface of what it can do for the world.
So, that’s my story—a story that began with a $1,000 gift from my grandma, a bold bet with my parents, and a dream that led me to become a Bitcoin millionaire.
Inspired by the true journey of Erik Finman, who made a fortune with Bitcoin at a young age and used it to reshape his life and the world around him.
