Yes, some people get rich with crypto through massive gains, but it's extremely risky, volatile, and most people don't see substantial wealth due to high failure rates and market unpredictability; achieving wealth requires significant capital, luck, discipline, and deep market understanding, not just quick trades. While stories of overnight millionaires exist, crypto's speculative nature means significant losses are common, and it's best suited for those who can afford to lose their investment, emphasizing the need for caution and balanced portfolios.
Anyone can potentially benefit from investing in crypto, but becoming wealthy isn't guaranteed. Success requires a combination of knowledge, experience, and strategic decision-making. Crypto investments carry risks, and market volatility can lead to significant losses if not managed properly.
Some cryptocurrencies offer their owners the opportunity to earn passive income through a process called staking. Crypto staking involves using your cryptocurrencies to help verify transactions on a blockchain protocol. Though staking has its risks, it can allow you to grow your crypto holdings without buying more.
Yes, someone really did pay 10,000 Bitcoin for two pizzas in a historic transaction on May 22, 2010, by programmer Laszlo Hanyecz, marking the first real-world purchase with cryptocurrency and becoming famous as Bitcoin Pizza Day. At the time, those 10,000 BTC were worth about $41, but now (in recent years, as Bitcoin's price has soared) they'd be worth over a billion dollars, demonstrating Bitcoin's massive growth in value.
It could also be a scam if you are told “it's as good as cash.” Crypto is not protected or regulated like cash or the US dollar. Crypto is volatile and a substantial risk. Invest only what you can afford to lose. Crypto scammers are experts at getting you to buy their digital assets.
Investing $100 in Bitcoin about 10 years ago (around late 2015/early 2016) would have turned that initial amount into tens of thousands of dollars, potentially over $30,000, given Bitcoin's massive growth from roughly $300-$400 per coin to over $100,000 by late 2025/early 2026, though exact value depends on the specific purchase price and current market fluctuations, representing an astronomical return but also highlighting Bitcoin's extreme volatility.
Bitcoin has generated tremendous wealth in the past
Data from BlackRock, the gargantuan investment manager that has trillions of dollars in assets under management, shows that Bitcoin produced a better return than all other asset classes in eight of the 11 years from the start of 2013 to the end of 2023.
Centralized exchanges like Coinbase, Binance, and Kraken are the easiest way to cash out cryptocurrency. These exchanges allow you to sell your crypto for fiat — then transfer the funds to your bank account!
Key Takeaways. The IRS treats cryptocurrency as property, meaning that when you buy, sell or exchange it, this counts as a taxable event and typically results in either a capital gain or loss. When you earn income from cryptocurrency activities, this is taxed as ordinary income.
Bill Gates has made it clear—he's not a fan of cryptocurrency. And he's not just skeptical; he flat-out thinks it has no value. "None," he told The New York Times in a January interview. That's a pretty bold stance coming from one of the most successful tech minds in history.
The 10,000 Bitcoin spent on two pizzas in 2010 by Laszlo Hanyecz is now worth over a billion dollars, making it one of crypto's most famous stories, known as "Bitcoin Pizza Day," highlighting Bitcoin's journey from valueless digital tokens to a major asset, with Hanyecz later using the Lightning Network for pizza, and the original recipient reportedly spending the coins on a trip.
Despite extreme volatility, Bitcoin's price has skyrocketed 1,060% in the past five years as I write this. This monster gain would've turned a $10,000 initial capital outlay in October 2020 to a whopping $115,700 on Oct. 6.
When You Should Sell Crypto
How much is Bitcoin? Limited Supply: Bitcoin's maximum supply is 21 million coins, and as of October 2025, more than 19 million have been mined. Remaining bitcoins: There are approximately 1.5 million bitcoins left to be mined.
Later, Jeremy ordered the two pizzas from Papa Johns, which were then delivered to Laszlo. “How lucky they must have been to find all that money in their hands!”. Actually, Papa Johns didn't receive any Bitcoin. For a straightforward reason: Papa Johns didn't accept Bitcoin in 2010.
The first notable retail transaction involving physical goods was paid on May 22, 2010, by exchanging 10,000 mined BTC for two pizzas delivered from a Papa John's in Jacksonville, Florida.