User Turned $15 into $700,000 on Dogecoin and then Lost It

A user reminisces about missing a staggering 4,666,566% return on investment from his lost Dogecoin holding, which he had acquired for just $15. The crypto space is filled with mind-blowing stories of significant losses and gains. The volatility common in the crypto market has seen users turn peanuts into life-changing returns, as well as lose fortunes in the pursuit of elusive gains. One user, on a lucky streak, threw in a mere $15 on Dogecoin, the largest meme coin by market capitalization. At the time of his purchase, the amount could buy a whopping 1 million DOGE, culminating in an average price of $0.000015 per coin. Unfortunate User Misses Gains Meanwhile, little did he know that his $15 investment would appreciate by 4,666,566% one day. The X user, with the username “Simulated Fleshnamics,” narrated his ill-fated story in a recent thread about how he missed Dogecoin’s impressive run despite buying the asset early enough. According to the user, he lost his 1 million Dogecoin in 2015, when the original meme coin was struggling to gain traction. However, the asset rose to $0.0186 in January 2018, consolidated for two years, and then surged again to its all-time high of $0.7488 in 2021. While other early buyers basked in profit, the user bemoaned his lost DOGE. At around the asset’s all-time high, his $15 initial investment has surged multiple times to $700,000, marking a 4,666,566% return on investment. Even at the current price, which is 79% off the 2021 high, the stash would also be worth thousands of dollars. For perspective, at $0.1567 today, the 1 million DOGE is worth $156,700, a 1,044,566% uptick from $15. A Similar Story on Bitcoin Meanwhile, Simulated Fleshnamics’ narration comes on the heels of a similar plight for an early Bitcoin whale. Another user, Griffin McShane, revealed he lost his seed phrase to a Bitcoin goldmine worth $163 million. He noted in a tweet that he bought Bitcoin in 2015 at a bargain price, accumulating 1,914 BTC at an undisclosed price in a decentralized wallet. The accompanying screenshot shows that the asset has surged extensively since then to a valuation of $162.8 million, possibly acquired with a meager capital.

However, he has lost his seed phrase, making the asset inaccessible. Notably, these events highlight a major drawback of blockchain technology: the difficulty users face in recovering their lost wallet keys. While this has its advantages, millions of dollars' worth of cryptocurrencies lie dormant and inaccessible due to misplaced passphrases or wallet addresses. Nonetheless, the event also echoes the profitability of holding cryptocurrencies. Although very volatile, the sector has a long history of creating life-changing wealth for patient market users.