In the early days of cryptocurrency, a simple piece of advice on a forum sparked one of the most legendary financial transformations in modern history.
Back in 2011, a college student asked: "I'm a junior with 6,000 yuan—what’s a good small investment?"
Science fiction writer ChangJia replied: "Buy Bitcoin. Save your wallet file. Forget about it. Check again in five years."
At that time, Bitcoin was trading around $4.25—roughly 27 RMB. For 6,000 yuan, you could buy about 220 BTC. A decade later, during the 2021 bull run, each Bitcoin peaked near $60,000. That early investment would have been worth over $13 million—nearly 95 million RMB.
A 14,000x return. From a few thousand dollars to nearly nine-figure wealth.
This story isn’t just inspiring—it’s symbolic of the dream that has drawn millions into the crypto space: the dream of financial freedom through digital assets.
But how many people have actually gotten rich from crypto? And what does it really take to succeed?
Let’s uncover the truth behind the myth.
The Allure of Financial Freedom
For many young people across China, Japan, and South Korea, traditional paths to wealth feel blocked. Sky-high real estate prices, stagnant wages, and intense job competition have created a sense of economic despair.
Enter cryptocurrency: a financial frontier where anyone with a smartphone and a few hundred dollars can participate. No gatekeepers. No credit checks. Just access.
Take the story of a woman from Shanghai. In 2015, she lived with her parents in an 18-square-meter alleyway apartment—shared bathroom, no private toilet. Her childhood dream? A flushable toilet. Later, it was a three-bedroom apartment.
She entered crypto at rock-bottom prices: Bitcoin around $200, Ethereum just launching at under $3. With 20,000 RMB, she bought both.
Even when Ethereum dropped 75% shortly after her purchase, she doubled down—averaging down her cost.
By 2017, her portfolio hit $60,000. In 2021, after selling at peak prices, she walked away with millions—enough to buy a luxury home and achieve true financial independence.
She succeeded because of early entry, emotional discipline, and luck.
But she’s the exception—not the rule.
👉 Discover how early movers gained massive advantages in today’s evolving crypto landscape.
How Rare Is Crypto Wealth?
Let’s define “getting rich” clearly: turning 100,000 RMB into over 10 million RMB through crypto trading or investing.
Now consider the data:
- Over 562 million people worldwide own cryptocurrency (as of 2024), about 6.8% of the global population.
- China alone has an estimated 20 million crypto holders.
- Major exchanges like Binance, OKX, and Coinbase serve hundreds of millions combined.
Yet, how many have crossed the 10x millionaire threshold?
Estimates suggest fewer than 2,000 individuals in China have achieved this level of success through crypto alone—a mere 0.01% of all Chinese participants.
Globally, the number remains tiny relative to total users.
Why Is Success So Uncommon?
1. Spot Trading: Patience and Precision Required
- Among 350+ cryptocurrencies tracked since 2019, fewer than 10 have delivered 100x returns.
Success requires:
- Correct coin selection
- Long holding periods (3+ years)
- Perfect timing for entry and exit
- Overall probability of hitting a "hundred-bagger"? Less than 2.8%—and even lower when factoring in human psychology.
2. Futures & Leverage: High Risk, Near-Zero Odds
- With 10x, 50x, or even 100x leverage, gains can be explosive—but so can losses.
- One wrong move wipes out accounts instantly.
- Real-world case: A trader turned 3 million RMB into debt overnight using high-leverage contracts.
- Long-term success rate? Effectively close to zero.
3. Early-Stage Projects ("Shitcoins"): A Minefield
- In 2021 alone, over 23,000 new tokens launched on BSC and other chains.
Results:
- ~11.6% reached 10x
- ~1.13% hit 100x
- Only 10 projects achieved 1,000x+
- Shiba Inu famously surged 260,000x, but most retail investors bought late.
- Worse: 99% of un-audited projects end in zero value—often due to team rug pulls.
For every winner like Ethereum or Solana, thousands of failed tokens vanish without a trace.
From Dreamer to Scammer: The Dark Side of Crypto
Not everyone chasing wealth stays on the right side of the law.
One former luxury real estate agent was seduced by crypto’s promise. In 2021, she jumped into meme coins and initial DEX offerings—only to lose most of her capital as projects collapsed within hours.
Frustrated, she flipped roles: she launched her own token.
Cost? Just 100 RMB for deployment.
Process? Fake whitepaper, Telegram group, paid influencers.
Her first project pumped 200%, then dumped—she cashed out after three rounds of “pump and dump.” Profit: 20x return.
The second time, she sold pre-sale whitelist spots—then vanished at launch.
But blockchain is transparent. Victims traced transactions back to her real identity. By late 2022, she was arrested and sentenced to four years in prison for fraud.
Crypto enables innovation—but also empowers scams at scale. The line between entrepreneur and criminal is thin when greed takes over.
👉 Learn how blockchain transparency protects users—and exposes fraudsters.
Why Do People Keep Trying?
Despite the odds, millions still pour into crypto every year.
Why?
Because desperation breeds hope.
When a single apartment costs millions and salaries barely cover rent, crypto feels like the last lottery ticket.
Stories spread fast:
"My friend made 5 million in two months!"
"A guy got out of prison and found his wallet worth $10 million!"
These are real cases—but they’re outliers amplified by media and social networks. This phenomenon is called survivorship bias: we only hear from the winners.
The silent majority? They lost money. They quit quietly. Or worse—they’re still chasing losses with borrowed funds.
And while blockchain technology holds transformative potential (DeFi, smart contracts, Web3), much of the attention remains focused on speculation—not innovation.
Can Crypto Still Make You Rich?
The golden era—Bitcoin at $4, Ethereum at $1—is over. Markets are now mature, competitive, and heavily influenced by institutions.
That doesn’t mean opportunity is gone—but expectations must change.
Here’s how to approach crypto realistically:
✅ Do This:
- Focus on spot trading, not leveraged futures.
- Invest only in major assets: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and select blue-chip altcoins.
- Use only disposable income—money you can afford to lose.
- Study fundamentals: Understand whitepapers, team backgrounds, tokenomics, and on-chain metrics.
- Hold long-term, avoiding emotional trades during volatility.
❌ Avoid These:
- Meme coins and "dog" projects—99% go to zero.
- High leverage—it’s gambling disguised as trading.
- FOMO-driven decisions—fear of missing out leads to buying tops.
- Private groups promising guaranteed returns—they’re scams.
Blockchain technology is revolutionary—but crypto wealth is not guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many people have become millionaires from crypto?
A: Globally, estimates suggest fewer than 10,000 individuals have turned modest investments into million-dollar portfolios through long-term holding or strategic trading—mostly those who entered before 2017.
Q: Is it too late to get rich from crypto in 2025?
A: While exponential growth like early Bitcoin is unlikely, opportunities remain in emerging sectors like Layer 2 solutions, DeFi innovations, and real-world asset tokenization—though returns will be more moderate and require deeper knowledge.
Q: Can you get rich with small investments like $100?
A: Possible—but extremely rare. A $100 investment would need to grow 100,000x to make you a millionaire. Such gains usually happen only with ultra-early bets on projects that later succeed—a high-risk gamble few win.
Q: Are meme coins like Dogecoin or Shiba Inu still viable?
A: Most meme coins lack utility and are driven purely by hype. While some may see short-term pumps, they’re highly volatile and unsuitable for long-term wealth building.
Q: What’s the safest way to invest in crypto?
A: Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) into Bitcoin and Ethereum via reputable exchanges is widely considered the most reliable method for long-term growth with reduced risk.
Q: Does blockchain technology have real value beyond speculation?
A: Absolutely. Use cases include decentralized finance (DeFi), supply chain tracking, digital identity, and secure voting systems—areas where transparency and immutability provide tangible benefits.
Final Thoughts
The dream of getting rich overnight through crypto is largely a myth shaped by survivorship bias and viral stories.
Real wealth in this space comes from early adoption, deep understanding, and emotional resilience—not luck or hype.
For every Shanghai woman who achieved freedom through patience, there are countless others who lost everything chasing quick gains.
Crypto isn’t a shortcut—it’s a high-risk arena where knowledge wins over hope.
If you choose to participate, do so with eyes wide open. Focus on learning. Prioritize security. And remember:
The future belongs not to gamblers—but to those who understand the technology behind the tokens.