Survival of the Fittest: My Journey from 2017 to the COVID Black Swan

[AnisEverRise]

Hi guys,

I was just thinking about how much the space has changed since I joined in 2017. Back then, it was all about the ICO hype and moonshots. But for me, the real 'baptism of fire' wasn't 2017, it was March 2020.

I remember when the COVID panic hit and BTC crashed to $4k. Most people I knew were screaming that it was the end. But coming from a QHSE (Quality & Safety) background, I saw it as the ultimate stress test for the system.

In my studies, we learn that a 'safe' system isn't one that never fails, but one that recovers from a black swan event. Bitcoin proved its quality that day.

I’m curious about the other 2017 survivors here: Did the COVID crash make you change your risk management? Or did it actually give you more confidence in the 'Quality' of Bitcoin compared to 2017?

Personally, I’ve stopped worrying about the daily volatility. If we survived March 2020, we can survive anything.

Cheers!

[Dave1]

No, it didn't change my perspective on risk management. Still the same, continue to accumulate during the crashes and bearish market and just HODL on till we see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I don't know but during the pandemic, I really didn't panic when everyone around me did. And perhaps I look it at the long term, that this pandemic will go on for the next couple of years and there's nothing you can do about it. Except that you have a choice if you're in this market, that is to buy Bitcoin because it's cheap and again, HODL for as long as you can.

[JaanusRaim]

For those who have experiences the pre-2017 crypto scene, all following has been still water.

Bitcoin price increases in the period 03/01/2009 - 31/12/2017 (3285 days) 14 000 000x (from 0.001 usd to 14 156 usd)
Bitcoin price increases in the period 01/01/2018 - 28/02/2026 (2980 days) 4.68x (from 14 156 usd to 66 290 usd)


Litecoin price increases in the period 03/01/2009 (actually 01/10/2011) - 31/12/2017 12 000x (from 0.02 usd to 232 usd)
Litecoin price increases in the period 01/01/2018 - 28/02/2026 0.23x (from 232 usd to 53 usd)


Etherum price increases in the period 03/01/2009 (actually 01/08/2014) - 31/12/2017 2 500x (from 0.30 usd to 757 usd)
Etherum price increases in the period 01/01/2018 - 28/02/2026 2.53x (from 757 usd to 1916 usd)

and so on and so on

Pre-2017 and post-2017 are two entirely different crypto scenes.

[Roseline492]

I remember when the COVID panic hit and BTC crashed to $4k. Most people I knew were screaming that it was the end. But coming from a QHSE (Quality & Safety) background, I saw it as the ultimate stress test for the system.

In my studies, we learn that a 'safe' system isn't one that never fails, but one that recovers from a black swan event. Bitcoin proved its quality that day.

I’m curious about the other 2017 survivors here: Did the COVID crash make you change your risk management? Or did it actually give you more confidence in the 'Quality' of Bitcoin compared to 2017?

Cheers!

Honestly in the world crisis like COVID, the management of risk a lot of people did was stopping investment from when it started because there was nothing that didn't came to some persons mind on the time it was getting severe as the days goes because while safety was the aim then in keeping yourself away from contracting the virus but then also making sure you have the money that would buy you all the food you needed till if by the mercy of God everything come back to how they are was what people could think of, and is possible some persons was scared of the money they also have in Bitcoin, if leaving it was a smart thing so actually a lot of  persons confident was lost.

[aoluain]

Hi guys,

I was just thinking about how much the space has changed since I joined in 2017. Back then, it was all about the ICO hype and moonshots.

Yes that was a crazy time back in 2017, I was here for it and I got burned, but not in a big way, I was able
to see the light and liquidate all the $hit back into Bitcoin.

I’m curious about the other 2017 survivors here: Did the COVID crash make you change your risk management? Or did it actually give you more confidence in the 'Quality' of Bitcoin compared to 2017?

Well I didnt change any risk management, they were uncertain times for sure, nobody knew what exactly was
coming next. As the scenario progressed is became clear that Bitcoin would survive and so my confidence
strengthened. I think IICR correctly that I made some purchases throughout the COVID time.

Personally, I’ve stopped worrying about the daily volatility. If we survived March 2020, we can survive anything.

Yes me too, Bitcoin and the market has been tested countless times before.

[AnisEverRise]

For those who have experiences the pre-2017 crypto scene, all following has been still water.

Bitcoin price increases in the period 03/01/2009 - 31/12/2017 (3285 days) 14 000 000x (from 0.001 usd to 14 156 usd)
Bitcoin price increases in the period 01/01/2018 - 28/02/2026 (2980 days) 4.68x (from 14 156 usd to 66 290 usd)


Litecoin price increases in the period 03/01/2009 (actually 01/10/2011) - 31/12/2017 12 000x (from 0.02 usd to 232 usd)
Litecoin price increases in the period 01/01/2018 - 28/02/2026 0.23x (from 232 usd to 53 usd)


Etherum price increases in the period 03/01/2009 (actually 01/08/2014) - 31/12/2017 2 500x (from 0.30 usd to 757 usd)
Etherum price increases in the period 01/01/2018 - 28/02/2026 2.53x (from 757 usd to 1916 usd)

and so on and so on

Pre-2017 and post-2017 are two entirely different crypto scenes.

Those numbers really put things into perspective! Pre-2017 was the foundation, but the post-2017 "Quality Era" we are in now shows that Bitcoin is becoming a mature asset that can absorb global shocks.

No, it didn't change my perspective on risk management. Still the same, continue to accumulate during the crashes and bearish market and just HODL on till we see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I don't know but during the pandemic, I really didn't panic when everyone around me did. And perhaps I look it at the long term, that this pandemic will go on for the next couple of years and there's nothing you can do about it. Except that you have a choice if you're in this market, that is to buy Bitcoin because it's cheap and again, HOLD for as long as you can.

persons was scared of the money they also have in Bitcoin

Exactly, the "Safety First" instinct during COVID made people choose food over BTC. But those who held proved that Bitcoin’s system design is stronger than human fear.

I was able to see the light and liquidate all the $hit back into Bitcoin.

Smart move! Converting noise into quality assets is the ultimate QHSE principle. If we survived 2017 and 2020, we’ve basically stress-tested our own portfolios to the max.

[rbynxx]

I’m curious about the other 2017 survivors here: Did the COVID crash make you change your risk management? Or did it actually give you more confidence in the 'Quality' of Bitcoin compared to 2017?

Personally, I’ve stopped worrying about the daily volatility. If we survived March 2020, we can survive anything.

It didn't change it's more like I adapt to it. More like it give me more optimism on what's the future really look like in the world of crypto in the future and how it will really change the way we use it. I don't think that 2020 was the worst one we have for crypto but I think WW3 is far more beyond that if we take a look at it in the macro level. I think we have more worst than the 2020 crash and even the October 10 crash was way worst in terms of dump we have had in years.

[AnisEverRise]

It didn't change it's more like I adapt to it. More like it give me more optimism on what's the future really look like in the world of crypto in the future and how it will really change the way we use it.

I like that you used the word "adapt." In my MQSE (Quality & Safety) studies, we define a "resilient system" not as one that never breaks, but as one that maintains its core functions during a disturbance. By adapting instead of quitting, you’re essentially mirroring the network's own resilience.

I don't think that 2020 was the worst one we have for crypto but I think WW3 is far more beyond that if we take a look at it in the macro level.

That is a heavy but necessary perspective. You’re moving the conversation from "Market Risk" (volatility) to "Systemic Risk" (geopolitics). If we look at the October 10 crash you mentioned, it was a brutal "stress test" of liquidity. While 2020 was a black swan driven by external panic, these more recent "heavy dumps" feel like they are driven by internal market mechanics specifically the massive leverage brought in by institutional players.

This leads me to a question regarding that "macro level" you mentioned: Do you think the increasing integration of Bitcoin into the traditional financial system makes it safer because of "big money" support, or does it actually create a "Single Point of Failure" where a global conflict (WW3 scenario) would crash BTC alongside legacy markets instead of letting it act as a decoupled life raft?

WW3 is a real fear nowdays....