‘Buying Bitcoin Early Was No Get-Rich-Quick Scheme’ – Veteran Trader Drops Hard Truth

Bitcoin’s bull run has minted millionaires—but not everyone who got in early struck gold. A seasoned trader reveals why timing alone wasn’t enough.

The HODLer’s Dilemma

Early adoption didn’t automatically mean Lamborghinis and private islands. Many who bought Bitcoin pre-2017 panic-sold during crashes or lost keys to forgotten wallets.

The Fine Print of Crypto Wealth

Volatility cuts both ways: while some rode BTC from $100 to $60K, others paper-handed at a loss. As one hedge fund manager quipped, ‘The market rewards diamond hands, not just early hands.’

A Cynical Footnote

Wall Street still can’t decide if Bitcoin’s a hedge or a hazard—but they’ll happily charge you 2% to manage your ‘exposure.’

“Most Would’ve Sold Long Ago”

In a viral post on X (formerly Twitter), Techdev challenged the common belief that anyone who bought Bitcoin early and held it WOULD be rich now. His post has already been seen more than 3.5 million times.

“‘If I put $100 into Bitcoin in 2010, I’d have $2.8 billion now.’ No,” he wrote.

He pointed out that Bitcoin has gone through brutal price crashes—not once, but many times. He gave examples of Bitcoin rising to the equivalent of millions, only to crash by over 80% multiple times.

Imagine watching your investment grow to the value of $1.7 million, only to see it fall to $170,000. Then it might rise to $110 million, only to crash again to $18 million. How many people could really hold on through all that?

The Real Challenge: Holding Through Fear

Bitcoin has recorded an astonishing compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 100% since 2010, according to Curvo data. That’s why many people imagine they’d be incredibly wealthy today if they had simply invested early.

But as Techdev and others pointed out, holding through fear, doubt, and financial crashes is not easy.

Crypto entrepreneur Anthony Pompliano echoed the sentiment in a reply:

“Everyone thinks they would have held Bitcoin from pennies to billions of dollars. Easier said than done.”

He and other crypto veterans reminded readers that timing isn’t everything — discipline, emotion control, and long-term belief play a massive role in wealth-building.

“Diamond Hands” Are Rare

In crypto slang, people who hold through massive price crashes without selling are known as having “diamond hands.” These investors are rare, and their mindset is what separates long-term winners from everyone else.

Many others admit they sold their Bitcoin too early, spent it on simple items, or lost access to their wallets.

For example, one user replied that they used their Bitcoin to buy pizza back in the day — a reference to the now-famous “Bitcoin Pizza Day,” when someone paid 10,000 BTC for two pizzas in 2010. Today, that would be worth over a billion dollars.

Consistency Is the Real Skill

Erick Pinos, head of ecosystem at Nibiru Chain, added that being a long-term investor is a daily decision:

“An investor has to make a choice every day, every hour, not to sell, for years.”

That kind of emotional discipline is rare. When Bitcoin’s price crashes 80–90%, most investors panic and sell — especially if it’s their life savings on the line.

Some Got Lucky by Forgetting

Interestingly, some early Bitcoin holders only became rich because they forgot about their holdings. These people didn’t actively choose to hold through the tough times — they just didn’t check their wallets for years.

When Bitcoin finally gained mainstream attention and prices skyrocketed, they rediscovered their old wallets and realized they had become millionaires by accident.

This “lost and found” type of wealth is more common than people think, according to community comments on Techdev’s post.

The Bigger Lesson

The main takeaway from Techdev’s message is clear: It’s easy to say you would’ve held Bitcoin all these years, but incredibly hard to actually do it.

The road to crypto riches isn’t just about buying early. It’s about:

• Surviving massive crashes

• Ignoring market fear

• Staying committed when everyone else is selling

• And being emotionally strong enough to not cash out early

Most people don’t have that kind of discipline, and that’s why very few early Bitcoin buyers actually became ultra-wealthy.

Final Thoughts

Yes, buying Bitcoin in 2010 could’ve made you rich — on paper. But real-life investing involves emotion, fear, and stress. According to Techdev and many other crypto veterans, the real winners are the few who held on through chaos, not just the ones who bought early.

So next time someone says, “If only I had bought Bitcoin back then…,” remind them: it’s not about when you buy — it’s about how long you can hold.