Are Early Adopters rich?

[Issa56]

they lost access to a bitcoin wallet a lot because they didn't think bitcoin would provide the value it is today so they didn't secure the wallet key properly and this is understandable considering the value of BTC at that time was very cheap and maybe some thought it was priceless, and for early users it would be rich if holding it until now but i still haven't heard about it....

Seriously most of them don't know bitcoin will be successful, they believe it won't really have any value and it's going to die so the where not serious with wallet security, some wrote down their private key but still cant find where it was written, am kind of suprise bitcoin gets to the current price so fast.
I don't really know about bitcoin early, I started hearing about bitcoin around 2019, actually the price was still kind of low, but I don't really know anybody that will tell me more about it so I have to learn about bitcoin on YouTube and also have to read some pdf before I started trading bitcoin.

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[Russlenat]

I just wonder: are Early Adopters rich?
We know AA, author of "Mastering Bitcoin" was once attacked because he did not made any fortune having BTC from early years, then people donated some BTC and he collected around 100BTC.
Hal F's wife sued "I am Satoshi guy" and they were talking about $ 3-digit mln, so they are not kind of people who wait every month for their wage.
What about others? Bitcoin Core developers? Forum admins or well-known old users? Are they crazy rich living in their own castles or did they lost their coins, sold for $10 because of mortgage loan or student's debt and today they must work 7-15 every day?

Everyone has its own way of managing their investments. If the early adopters show strong faith in bitcoin and were not tempted to sell at a low price, for sure they are reaping their fortune right now. However, for those who never see the real value of bitcoin and just easily sell them off when the price starts to surge, then they must be regretting by now, wishing they have not sold bitcoin at a very early time.

[justdimin]

Maybe a few, just saying though, because as we know most people who were not really core Bitcoiners then didn't take Bitcoin seriously whether it came to them by way of winnings from Games played like in this case and spending what all of us now see as outrageous now.

Sziky on the bitcoins won at the 2011 Starcraft tournament: “I didn’t take them, I asked them to pay me $ 40” – Games

Bitcoin Pizza Day

So for those that for some reason were able to hodl what they had from the early days of Bitcoin, of cause I should believe so.

Same happened with me as well personally. I had about 45 bitcoins back in the day, and sold them for a great vacation. It wasn't really "free" at the time, it was like 100 bucks each, so I rented somewhere amazing and had the most wonderful vacation of my life that I will never have again, because I will never have that kind of cash to throw at a vacation.

But, I made my peace with it, it was a once in a life time thing if you asked me then, if I kept it then I could have done it every year, but I didn't and I am fine with that. This is why I believe that not every early bird is a rich person, there are thousands of people like me who missed the boat.

[CryptoHeadlineNews]

still hoarding since 2012
im 'explorer rich'  (funds calculated to fiat via explorer view of funds) analogy: 'rich on paper'
but not had the desire or reason yet to sell the whole hoard, so not yet ready to buy castles
 

@Franky1, this is amazing, it's been 10 years now since 2012 and you never sold everything not even when the price of Bitcoin was higher than it is now, I believe OP and other new members like me will be encouraged not to give up no matter the current situation of the Bitcoin market after seeing your contribution here. Indeed Bitcoin is financial liberty and freedom for anyone who understands the importance of it will never be in a hurry to sell instead of holding and buying more during bear season like as it is now  so that when the price goes up (Bull run ) more profit will be made.

It is encouraging knowing someone held his/her Bitcoin since 2012 till date without selling it, because that's actually a big sign how much he/she believes Soo much in the Bitcoin movement & great motivation to me who is barely just 2 years into Cryptocurrency. And regarding the question OP asked "If are early adopters rich?" I will say it actually depends, because take a look at the case of Laszlo Hanyecz who sold 10,000 BTC for just mere 2 pizzas worth $41 back then, because only if had he held the 10000 BTC till date, that would have been a whopping $200million with an estimated rate of $20k per 1BTC.. Which am sure with such money you don't need a job anymore

[ChiBitCTy]

I would say that the most likelihood is that most early adopters are not rich. One thing to keep in mind is that when you buy bitcoin at such low levels, and then it goes up even just a little in dollar amounts, that could be 100s to 1000s of % gains, and it’s hard to not take profits off the table. People have bills to pay and often needed that money to pay them. So everyone’s situation is different.

[Fatunad]

I would say that the most likelihood is that most early adopters are not rich. One thing to keep in mind is that when you buy bitcoin at such low levels, and then it goes up even just a little in dollar amounts, that could be 100s to 1000s of % gains, and it’s hard to not take profits off the table. People have bills to pay and often needed that money to pay them. So everyone’s situation is different.

Everyones situation is really different and even myself would be seeing that would really be making a huge sell or immediate whenever i do see that i had earn 100-200% of my coins
and since this market is unpredictable or not known then you would really be having doubts on holding for the future. Some do able to hold but majority for sure had
made out a sell which i dont say for it to be bad since profits is profits but for those who do able to hold then they do deserve on the huge profits
that they do able to earn and there's no doubt that majority of those early adopters are rich.

[Franctoshi]

I just wonder: are Early Adopters rich?
We know AA, author of "Mastering Bitcoin" was once attacked because he did not made any fortune having BTC from early years, then people donated some BTC and he collected around 100BTC.
Hal F's wife sued "I am Satoshi guy" and they were talking about $ 3-digit mln, so they are not kind of people who wait every month for their wage.
What about others? Bitcoin Core developers? Forum admins or well-known old users? Are they crazy rich living in their own castles or did they lost their coins, sold for $10 because of mortgage loan or student's debt and today they must work 7-15 every day?

For sure early adopters who hold Bitcoin and didn't sell till now are super Rich as Bitcoin as has risen from 1 dollar up to $6900 person , I wish I have known Bitcoin as at that time by now I will be super rich , One of My friend that are among the early adopters of Bitcoin had about 200 of Bitcoin he bought very cheap when Bitcoin was nothing , then during 2017 he sold it all around $900 due advice from some of his friends then that Bitcoin was a scam coin,  that it would eventually come to crash one day.

[Sanitough]

I just wonder: are Early Adopters rich?
We know AA, author of "Mastering Bitcoin" was once attacked because he did not made any fortune having BTC from early years, then people donated some BTC and he collected around 100BTC.
Hal F's wife sued "I am Satoshi guy" and they were talking about $ 3-digit mln, so they are not kind of people who wait every month for their wage.
What about others? Bitcoin Core developers? Forum admins or well-known old users? Are they crazy rich living in their own castles or did they lost their coins, sold for $10 because of mortgage loan or student's debt and today they must work 7-15 every day?

It all depends on how they managed their early investments. If they are not eager to sell them earlier at a higher value, maybe due to some emergency cases too, then it’s certain that until now they are still hodling bitcoin, a lot bigger than before. Early adopters are most likely living in fortune nowadays, only if they did not spend their bitcoin in times they need fiat the most.

[hypersonic1]

Generally if you can hold 4-5 years or a year after a halving you will do well if you accrued during a low.

[Mr.right85]

What about others? Bitcoin Core developers? Forum admins or well-known old users? Are they crazy rich living in their own castles or did they lost their coins, sold for $10 because of mortgage loan or student's debt and today they must work 7-15 every day?

For sure, you answered most of your questions in this little quote. You don't become reach by just having bitcoin in your wallet or on an exchange (Besides, it's not widely accepted yet). Also, some others spent it because, it felt like free money, or now have they come to realise there mistakes.

The value of bitcoin could be expressed in two ways,
Either you must have sold them and pocket its fiat equivalent or
The one you just look at on the charts or some virtual holdings quantifying with dollar.

Either ways, you never can really say you are reach as an easy adopter without asking some real sales and using the fiat money out of it to buy what the world offers. Unfortunately, most bitcoin adopters aren't into selling there coins but instead, they take the hodling approach towards it.

[Kelvinid]

Likely, if you are here and buy many Bitcoin where the price was just $1k, imagining the price today and you still hold it you are absolutely rich this time. I'm sure someone or a few people had managed to keep their Bitcoins until today and they just let the last ATH pass without selling any as their plan could be long-term. Thus, if you are also able to do it now and hold for at least 5 years, you can think that it might double or triple your money, or even more.

[adzino]

I just wonder: are Early Adopters rich?
We know AA, author of "Mastering Bitcoin" was once attacked because he did not made any fortune having BTC from early years, then people donated some BTC and he collected around 100BTC.
Hal F's wife sued "I am Satoshi guy" and they were talking about $ 3-digit mln, so they are not kind of people who wait every month for their wage.
What about others? Bitcoin Core developers? Forum admins or well-known old users? Are they crazy rich living in their own castles or did they lost their coins, sold for $10 because of mortgage loan or student's debt and today they must work 7-15 every day?

You already answered your own question. The early adopters those who were holding their coins are the ones that are super rich now. Obviously they are even if the price isn't no where near the all time high. Look at the chart and see the price of bitcoin back then. But those that sold, forgot or lost their coins are the ones that are working 7-15 every day as usual. The same thing people will be saying after few decades if bitcoin survives. Those who held now are enjoying their lives, those who sold are regretting.

[GreatArkansas]

I heard some stories, and a lot of them which most of them are in regret because they sold most of the Bitcoins that were earned in the early days in very early, it's just sad for them. But overall, they are not losers at all, they sold it with profits. This is one of the best examples of how the strong hands holder is really lucky.

[Dave1]

I just wonder: are Early Adopters rich?
We know AA, author of "Mastering Bitcoin" was once attacked because he did not made any fortune having BTC from early years, then people donated some BTC and he collected around 100BTC.
Hal F's wife sued "I am Satoshi guy" and they were talking about $ 3-digit mln, so they are not kind of people who wait every month for their wage.
What about others? Bitcoin Core developers? Forum admins or well-known old users? Are they crazy rich living in their own castles or did they lost their coins, sold for $10 because of mortgage loan or student's debt and today they must work 7-15 every day?

I advise you to go and thread this thread,  Wall Observer BTC/USD - Bitcoin price movement tracking & discussion, you can find a lot of early adopter there, and who knows, maybe you can get a hint if ever someone is rich or not.

But if you go to the basics, we just know the addresses and not the name behind it, again, and we heard like early adopters selling when the price is like 2 digits, and then maybe still holding up to this day, so nobody knows.

[MarjorieZimmermanGinger]

I just wonder: are Early Adopters rich?
We know AA, author of "Mastering Bitcoin" was once attacked because he did not made any fortune having BTC from early years, then people donated some BTC and he collected around 100BTC.
Hal F's wife sued "I am Satoshi guy" and they were talking about $ 3-digit mln, so they are not kind of people who wait every month for their wage.
What about others? Bitcoin Core developers? Forum admins or well-known old users? Are they crazy rich living in their own castles or did they lost their coins, sold for $10 because of mortgage loan or student's debt and today they must work 7-15 every day?

The beginning of the Bitcoin Advociation does look quite crazy, because the selling price or buy is not so relevant to its development. But over time, Bitcoin is able to give a surprise outside the prediction of many people, and it is very dependent on they are able to survive or sell, many people who enter early or can be assumed to be $ 10 but if today they are still holding, then it is not impossible to become a billionaire who have everything they want, looks crazy at the beginning of its appearance but not now

[BALIK]

still hoarding since 2012
im 'explorer rich'  (funds calculated to fiat via explorer view of funds) analogy: 'rich on paper'
but not had the desire or reason yet to sell the whole hoard, so not yet ready to buy castles
 

@Franky1, this is amazing, it's been 10 years now since 2012 and you never sold everything not even when the price of Bitcoin was higher than it is now, I believe OP and other new members like me will be encouraged not to give up no matter the current situation of the Bitcoin market after seeing your contribution here. Indeed Bitcoin is financial liberty and freedom for anyone who understands the importance of it will never be in a hurry to sell instead of holding and buying more during bear season like as it is now  so that when the price goes up (Bull run ) more profit will be made.

Not everyone can do this, we all know holding bitcoin will bring us wealth but to be like Franky1 is not easy.

The purpose of investing in bitcoin or any other investment is to serve our lives and the lives of our families, I still hold and accumulate my bitcoins when I can but when the price hits my target or I need money for life, I still have to sell them. Of course, I will buy again when there is an adjustment but can not hold the same way that Franky1 did. His investment is admirable.

[BobK71]

It depends if they managed to resist the temptation to sell or spend.  It's conceivable that many of the people who got in super early when BTC was <$1 may have assumed $10 or even $100 would be the highest it could ever go and sold the lot.  If they held, then yes, they're pretty rich.

Hodling may seem so easy but in reality, it’s not. Those who are patient enough to hold bitcoin since from the start and only sell them after 10 years or more, probably they are living in luxury at the moment. The price of bitcoin keeps on appreciating so definitely, they must have been amazed by the current value, not expecting that the $1 cost of bitcoin they used to hold could go this far.

Yes, being a real holder is not a simple matter. When BTC was 10 cents the attitude of most holders was that if it was $100 they were gainers. They want to hold it until it gets to $100 where if it gets to $300 I think very few people will be able to handle that temptation and if it gets to $1000 few people will be able to hold on to their BTC. It was a difficult task. At the end, those who managed to hold it until today they are successful. So, instead of being an ordinary holder, you should continue to try to become a real holder.

[LogitechMouse]

Yes and No.

If they held their Bitcoins until now then they are f*cking rich right now. If they bought Bitcoin right from the start or even 2 years after it was created, they are still rich right now. That is if they are still holding Bitcoins until now. For sure, many here knows the person who dumped his hard drive in a dumpsite and that hard drive contains a private key that can open a wallet that holds 8000 Bitcoins. Probably there are some early adopters as well who just forgot their private keys for some reasons or the like.

No if they sold their Bitcoin holdings immediately. TBH, this is very subjective because not all early adopters did the same. Many choose to held, many choose to buy some things like Lazlo who bought a Pizza for 10000 BTC, many choose to sell for some reasons, many sold because they saw that their profits are good already.

[nullama]

Yes and No.

If they held their Bitcoins until now then they are f*cking rich right now. If they bought Bitcoin right from the start or even 2 years after it was created, they are still rich right now. That is if they are still holding Bitcoins until now. For sure, many here knows the person who dumped his hard drive in a dumpsite and that hard drive contains a private key that can open a wallet that holds 8000 Bitcoins. Probably there are some early adopters as well who just forgot their private keys for some reasons or the like.

No if they sold their Bitcoin holdings immediately. TBH, this is very subjective because not all early adopters did the same. Many choose to held, many choose to buy some things like Lazlo who bought a Pizza for 10000 BTC, many choose to sell for some reasons, many sold because they saw that their profits are good already.

Laszlo bought 2 pizzas for 10,000 BTC because it was nothing at the time. He was mining with a CPU and then with a GPU, getting 50 coins every few hours/days. In his own words, it was basically free pizza.

It's not like he only had 10k BTC and traded it all for two pizzas, he had lots more. And kept a bit more. He's said he's doing OK these days, not crazy rich, but also not poor at all.

[Cryptmuster]

Likely, if you are here and buy many Bitcoin where the price was just $1k, imagining the price today and you still hold it you are absolutely rich this time. I'm sure someone or a few people had managed to keep their Bitcoins until today and they just let the last ATH pass without selling any as their plan could be long-term. Thus, if you are also able to do it now and hold for at least 5 years, you can think that it might double or triple your money, or even more.

It is difficult to keep coins for so long, when you see that your invested money has doubled several times, then it becomes very difficult to resist selling. Therefore, I think that very few people were able to keep their coins to this day, but of course those who were able to do this became very rich people, this is a reward for patience. Those who buy now and will be able to hold for many years will also get a good profit, maybe not so big, but still it will be a significant profit.