Turn $50 into $30 million: The mystery of the bitcoin wallet “awakens” after 12 years

(Dan Tri) - A $50 bet earned nearly 60 million% profit. Not just a quick get-rich-quick scheme, this is also a story of strong faith and extraordinary patience in the crypto world.

The cryptocurrency market is not short of "overnight millionaire" stories, but few stories are as legendary and mysterious as the incident that just happened.

A bitcoin wallet that had lain dormant for more than a decade, containing 300 BTC mined since 2013, suddenly became active again. The anonymous owner of this wallet turned a modest investment of just a few dozen dollars into an asset worth tens of millions of dollars, writing one of the most astonishing chapters in the history of cryptocurrencies.

The news was announced by Pete Rizzo, a well-known bitcoin historian, on social network X (formerly Twitter), shocking the entire cryptocurrency community. "Breaking news: someone just moved 300 #bitcoins they mined for less than $50 in 2013," Rizzo wrote. "They went from holding $3,000 to $30 million. This is a legend."

The tweet was short but contained an extraordinary story, a living testament to the "hold 'til the end" (HODL) philosophy of the crypto world .

At the time, bitcoin was trading at around $13 per coin. With a personal computer and a few dozen dollars in electricity costs, anyone could mine 300 BTC. The total value of these coins at the time of mining was only about $3,900.

But the miner’s patience paid off in a big way. When bitcoin breaks its all-time high in 2025, hitting over $120,000, those 300 BTC will be worth around $30 million – a return of 59,999,900%.

Amid the boiling cryptocurrency market, a Bitcoin wallet that had been "hibernating" for 12 years suddenly became active again, moving 300 BTC (Photo: ET).

When "diamond hands" became a legend

Immediately, the cryptocurrency community exploded. The story became an endless source of inspiration, a powerful dose of mental doping for those who were holding bitcoin.

"This is the true definition of 'diamond hands'," commented one X user.

In crypto culture, the phrase “diamond hands” refers to investors who have strong faith and steadfastly hold onto their assets despite the fierce fluctuations of the market. The story of this anonymous miner is a vivid testament to that spirit.

Imagine the journey this person has been on. They watched bitcoin crash from its peak of nearly $1,000 in late 2013 right after mining, only to see it plummet. They survived the harsh “crypto winter” of 2018 when bitcoin fell to $3,000. And then they kept the faith through the big correction in 2022 and the subsequent boom-bust cycles.

Another X user analyzed more deeply: "Keeping from 3,000 USD to 30 million USD is not luck, it is a peak lesson in faith and perseverance. How many people dare to do the same thing again?".

For more than a decade, while others sold out of fear or took early profits, this miner held on to his assets. It wasn’t just luck, but a rare combination of vision, faith, and perseverance. They bet on a future that most considered improbable, and they won.

Meaning in market context

Bitcoin’s 2025 rally is fueled by a number of strong macro factors. The wave of adoption by the world’s leading financial institutions, inflation fears and political instability have made Bitcoin an attractive digital “safe haven”. Bitcoin’s market capitalization surpassing Google to become the world’s fifth-largest asset has further cemented its position.

But it’s stories like this mysterious miner that really shake up the community. This serves as a powerful reminder that bitcoin is more than just a speculative tool or a symbol of Wall Street acceptance. It’s a financial revolution where small individuals can achieve financial freedom through vision and patience.

This story also raises an interesting question: is the owner of this wallet simply a patient investor, or is one of the greatest pioneers of bitcoin returning? The community of blockchain "detectives" will certainly be closely following the destination of these 300 BTC to find the answer.

One user on X even poetically compared: "Satoshi would be proud", referring to the mysterious creator of bitcoin. And indeed, the spirit of bitcoin – decentralized, brave and steadfast – was fully embodied by this miner.

This story is not just about a number, a transaction, but also a valuable lesson about the importance of trust and patience in the investment world.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/bien-50-usd-thanh-30-trieu-usd-bi-an-vi-bitcoin-tinh-giac-sau-12-nam-20250815224426517.htm