10 iconic crypto history videos you won’t believe actually happened

As a seasoned investor with battle-hardened nerves and a battle-scarred wallet, I’ve learned to navigate the crypto landscape with caution and a sense of humor. The world of cryptocurrencies is unpredictable and full of surprises, but it’s these very twists and turns that make the journey so thrilling.

In simpler terms, the world of cryptocurrency is diverse, housing various characters such as technology enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, firm believers, conspiracy theorists, fraudsters, risk takers, both seasoned and aspiring investors, among several others.

As a researcher, I’ve found that the unique traits of cryptocurrencies become increasingly clear when observing the ways in which their community members have spoken and occasionally stumbled over the past few years.

Among the countless memorable and amusing videos documenting the brief yet momentous history of cryptocurrency, we’ve selected 10 that particularly stand out as our top picks.

John McAfee’s insane Bitcoin bet to eat his d–k

John McAfee, a trailblazer in cybersecurity from both Britain and America, is renowned for establishing the McAfee antivirus software and even seeking the presidency of the United States under the Libertarian Party. However, he was a figure surrounded by controversy due to his peculiar lifestyle, which thrived on the wealth amassed from his successful antivirus endeavor.

In 2011, friends encouraged McAfee to review the Bitcoin (BTC) blueprint penned anonymously by Satoshi Nakamoto. Not long after, McAfee became actively engaged in promoting cryptocurrencies and garnered significant attention as a well-known crypto personality during the 2017 market surge.

His conviction about Bitcoin and its potential future value was incredibly strong; in fact, during a live TV interview in 2017, he made a bold prediction that if Bitcoin didn’t reach $500,000 within the next three years, he would publicly eat a specific body part on national television.

7 years ago, the millionaire John McAfee made an extraordinary Bitcoin wager: He promised to eat a food item resembling his ‘member’ on live TV if Bitcoin didn’t reach $500,000 within three years. Unfortunately, neither the prediction nor the celebrity came true as Bitcoin never reached that price, and John McAfee passed away before the deadline. Rest in peace, legend.
— Relai 🇨🇭 (@relai_app) October 3, 2024

On November 29th, 2017, I confidently increased my projection for Bitcoin’s value by 2020, upgrading it from $500,000 to a bold $1 million. To underscore my conviction, I made a bold statement: “If I am wrong, I will have to eat my words… or rather, eat my hat.” This adjustment in my forecast was based on refinements I made to the personal model I use for estimating Bitcoin’s price.

By the year 2020, the cost of Bitcoin climbed toward unprecedented peaks. Yet, Bitcoin has yet to break through the $500,000 or $1 million barriers. McAfee reneged on his wager, bringing a sense of relief to onlookers, as he acknowledged it was a trick to inflate Bitcoin’s worth, not a genuine prediction.

2021 saw me grappling with the baffling events surrounding the demise of John McAfee, a fellow crypto enthusiast and tech pioneer. He found himself ensnared within the walls of a Spanish prison, facing extradition to the U.S. on allegations of tax evasion – charges that he denied until his untimely death.

“Bitconneeeeeeeeect”

The bull market of 2017 could be considered the rally that made Bitcoin mainstream. However, the rally was supported by the craze for initial coin offerings (ICOs), which saw the birth of thousands of crypto projects, many of which pumped, then disappeared.

During the surge of Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), numerous authentic cryptocurrency ventures arose, including Tezos, Cosmos, Chainlink, Binance Smart Chain, and several others.

Consequently, because Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) were often associated with fraudulent ventures like scams and Ponzi schemes, they gained a reputation for being linked to questionable projects.

One of the notorious examples of Initial Coin Offering (ICO) frauds is BitConnect. This platform managed to garner a staggering $3.45 billion, deceiving over 4,000 individuals across the globe. The allure for many was the assurance that BitConnect could provide a daily return of 1% on BitConnect tokens.

As a crypto analyst, I can’t help but reflect on the indelible mark that the infamous scam has left on our community. This impact was significantly amplified by the impassioned rhetoric of Carlos Matos, a Bitconnect promoter, during a gathering. His unbridled enthusiasm for the scheme, which caught the attention of the media, still resonates vividly in my memory.

3/5 BitConnect Deception:
— Relai 🇨🇭 (@relai_app) October 3, 2024

Interestingly, Matos failed to pocket a single penny after the scam collapsed. Surprisingly, despite his tarnished image within the crypto world, he endeavored to introduce a non-fungible token (NFT) as an attempt to regain respect for his involvement with Bitconnect.

Vitalik Buterin’s musical career

Vitalik Buterin, a key player in the world of cryptocurrency, played a pivotal role in developing one of the major cryptocurrency initiatives following Bitcoin – Ethereum. He is widely revered within the crypto community as a legendary figure.

Although many developers have played a part in building Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin is the one who truly embodies the project. He may delve deep into technical debates about decentralization, but he also knows how to keep things fun with his casual and sometimes quirky behavior. The memorable Badger Dance at Edcon 2018 was just one example of his endearing yet slightly awkward dance routines.

At the Token2049 crypto conference held in September 2024, one notable event was Vitalik Buterin making his singing debut on stage.

The Bitcoin sign at Janet Yellen’s congressional hearing

On July 11, 2017, an unidentified individual displayed a “Purchase Bitcoin” placard during a congressional hearing led by Janet Yellen, who was then the Chairperson of the Federal Reserve. The value of Bitcoin at that moment was around $2,330 for each coin.

Initially unknown, the person who photo-bombed was later revealed to be Christian Langalis. However, to many, he continued to be recognized as “The Bitcoin Sign Guy,” swiftly gaining popularity within the Bitcoin community and achieving sudden fame.

Rapidly spreading across social media was an image of Langalis holding up a sign, conveying a straightforward yet impactful message. This instance of tranquil protest encapsulated the growing belief that Bitcoin embodies a novel form of financial independence, untouched by central banks and conventional monetary structures.

The timing couldn’t have been better, since Yellen’s substantial impact on the U.S. dollar meant that the emergence of the sign at the exact moment she was testifying was both cleverly timed and surprising.

Congratulations to Justin, A.K.A. Squirrekkywrath, winner of the #BitcoinSignGuy auction for 16 #BTC. 🏆@tpacchia Get this man a Whale! 🐳
— PUBKEY (@PubKey_NYC) April 24, 2024

Back in April 2024, I was thrilled when the iconic “Buy Bitcoin” sign, originally sold for just a few bitcoins, fetched an astonishing 16 BTC – worth over $1 million at that time. This remarkable sum became the seed capital for Tirrel Corp, the startup I founded, which is dedicated to creating a user-friendly Bitcoin Lightning Network wallet on Urbit.

Roger Ver flips critics the bird

Starting on August 1, 2017, with Bitcoin block number 478,559, the conflict known as “Bitcoin Fork Wars” erupted. This conflict originated from persistent debates within the Bitcoin community regarding the optimal method for expanding the Bitcoin network.

As the use of Bitcoin expanded and the number of transactions grew, discussions emerged about dealing with scalability issues. One group, championing larger blocks to hold more transactions, contended that this adjustment would improve Bitcoin’s functionality as a decentralized digital payment network.

A different faction argued that expanding block sizes might jeopardize decentralization and safety, leading to the creation of alternative layer-2 systems such as the Lightning Network. This significant dispute paved the way for a succession of heated splits.

In the course of a passionate discussion within an interview, Bitcoin Cash inventor Roger Ver, found himself expressing annoyance by gesturing his middle finger, following claims that he intended to misuse the Bitcoin identity and for supposedly employing individuals to endorse Bitcoin Cash (BCH).

Eventually, Ver offered an apology for his behavior, attributing it to being provoked by the unfounded accusations suggesting he hired online trolls or shills.

The incident took place shortly after a contentious split in the Bitcoin Cash community, which led to a fork that created Bitcoin SV.

Andreas Antonopoulos explains Bitcoin to an empty room

Nowadays, “Bitcoin” has become a commonly known term within many households. Bitcoin-related events attract substantial crowds, welcome political figures like presidents as attendees, and serve as platforms to unveil major achievements in the cryptocurrency sphere.

However, things weren’t always like this. Initially, Bitcoin was embraced by just a handful of dedicated enthusiasts. Many were reluctant to heed their words.

The Bitcoin community is deeply indebted to pioneers like Andreas Antonopoulos, a tech innovator who championed Bitcoin from the start, for their unwavering efforts in promoting Bitcoin’s possibilities.

Back in May 2013, Antonopoulos elucidated Bitcoin’s impartiality to an almost deserted auditorium at the Bitcoin 2013 conference held in San Jose, California. This speech has since been renowned as a significant reminiscence of Bitcoin’s early phase, underscoring the hurdles faced in attaining widespread recognition and comprehension of the digital currency.

Ever since its inception, the Bitcoin market has experienced rapid expansion, attracting numerous enthusiasts who recognize its distinctive value as a digital currency. Antonopoulos has emerged as an essential resource for Bitcoin supporters, consistently enlightening the global community about this digital coin.

Bitcoin’s early days: When $1 could have changed your life

For those new to Bitcoin, it may seem that buying BTC now is prohibitively costly or that they’ve missed their chance. Nevertheless, an abundance of video testimonials demonstrate how even modest investments can result in substantial future returns, casting doubt on the idea that the market entry window has closed.

crypto instructor Davinci Jeremie’s video gained popularity due to Bitcoin analyst Nicholas Merten, who runs and hosts YouTube channel DataDash. Merten highlighted a 2013 May 9 video by Jeremie, reminding potential investors that it’s still possible to invest in the market.

In an unforgettable live broadcast, Isaac Miller shared his astonishment as Bitcoin reached and exceeded $100 for the first time, achieving a significant historical benchmark. On multiple instances, Miller’s video has been cited to illustrate just how drastically circumstances can evolve over the passage of time.

Although Bitcoin garners much praise, its persistent price instability continues to worry numerous investors. YouTuber Alex Galaxy points out the severe drops Bitcoin has experienced during previous market fluctuations prior to hitting the $1,000 threshold, suggesting that potential buyers might want to reconsider investing in Bitcoin altogether due to its volatility.

Crypto market all-time low motivator

Following the retail boom in stocks in 2017, numerous novice investors encountered the Bitcoin market’s typical pattern, where the value of Bitcoin can drop by as much as 80% to 90% during a bear market.

After a prolonged period of declining market values, investor trust waned, leading to introspection during an era of swift transformation. However, in 2019, parody musician Lil Bubble managed to uplift the spirits of disheartened investors, inspiring them to remain optimistic about the future.

Although there’s a temporary downturn in the crypto market, there’s still a strong sense of optimism among many within the community regarding the long-term prospects of cryptocurrencies. This optimism is particularly fueled by the increasing involvement of institutions.

Live reaction of Squid Game rug pull

On September 17, 2021, Netflix created and released the Squid Game series, which quickly gained worldwide popularity, amassing more than 1.65 billion views within only four weeks of its debut.

2021 saw a significant rise in the popularity of games where you can earn as you play, such as Axie Infinity hitting its peak. The success of Netflix’s Squid Game and the play-to-earn concept sparked imitators to create the token Squid Game (SQUID), which was inspired by but not officially connected with the show.

The white paper for the Squid Game indicated that “As more individuals participate, the size of the prize pool increases.” This strategy served as an allurement to secure investments from early backers, who thought they were seizing a chance on what could become the next big thing.

On November 1, 2021, following a swift surge in the price of the SQUID token, its worth suddenly dropped drastically due to a rug pull by the developers, who disappeared and are believed to have walked away with approximately $3 million from the investments of their backers.

During a live broadcast by Stream SimonZ, there was an unexpected event (rug pull) that was captured on camera, resulting in a memorable response from the show’s presenter.

As one of the most iconic moments in crypto, the squidgame streamer can’t be forgotten.
Watch as he captures the moment SQUID rugged live, leaving us with this hilarious clip.
— croissant (@CroissantEth) January 6, 2023

In the world of cryptocurrencies, it’s common to encounter situations known as “rug pulls,” which often target new projects that lack significant institutional support. Areas with a veil of anonymity and high potential for success, like Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and meme-based coins, are especially susceptible to these deceptive practices.

As an analyst, I would advise staying vigilant and educating oneself on identifying signs of potential rug pulls to safeguard one’s investments. This proactive approach could help protect your funds from unnecessary risks.

The Bitfinex hack by an eccentric rapper

Back in August 2016, I experienced a significant setback as a researcher when Bitfinex, the cryptocurrency exchange where I was involved, suffered a security breach. This incident led to the unfortunate theft of approximately 120,000 Bitcoin, which at that time had an estimated value of around $72 million.

The hackers employed a series of complex techniques, including security weaknesses in the exchange’s multisignature wallets.

For a number of years, the hackers skillfully evaded capture, but in February 2022, it was revealed that two people linked to the infamous cyberattacks had been apprehended by U.S. law enforcement agencies.

Law enforcement officials apprehended Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan (also known as Razzlekhan). The FBI claimed they attempted to clean some $4.5 billion in Bitcoin, a staggering amount at the time. They were indicted for conspiring to launder money and defraud, respectively.

The Bitfinex hack held substantial importance within the cryptocurrency community, with Morgan’s additional endeavor as a rapper under the alias Razzlekhan adding an uncommon flair to the event through her unique music videos.

Currently, Morgan is looking forward to her sentencing on November 8, 2024, yet this hasn’t stopped her from attending cryptocurrency gatherings. This unexpected behavior has sparked a mix of astonishment and unease among the blockchain community.

Previously, Jameson Lopp, Bitcoin developer and co-founder of Bitcoin storage company Casa, expressed concern to CryptoMoon that she might be attempting to lessen her punishment by gathering information for the government.

2024-10-29 15:55