Fun Facts About Crypto

Unless you live under a rock, you’ll have heard of crytpocurrencies or digital money. And seemingly out of nowhere every man and their dog is now looking to launch an ICO. What this has given rise to is some truly inspiring ideas that are disrupting legacy systems, and along the way, a lot of humour. Digital currencies are by their very nature open to the instant feedback of the online world – from social media to messaging boards and forums. Which opens them up to immediate applause or attack, memeing, sharing and well, basically, taking the Micky. Here are some of the humorous anecdotes and weird facts that have kept many chortling into their wallets.

Bitcoin Looming Large on Yellen’s Head

Talk about trolling one of the most influential people in the financial world. In July 2017, as the Chairman of the Board of the US Federal Reserve, Janet Yellen, stood to deliver her testimony in front of the Congress on Capitol Hill, two suited gentlemen held up a yellow legal pad on which they had scrawled “Buy Bitcoin,” just behind her, in direct view of the camera.

These photo bombers became a source of amusement for millions of viewers worldwide, who were watching the live broadcast of the proceedings on their televisions. Following this, a picture of the guy with the sign, and an address of his wallet soon spread across social media. He received about $10,000 worth of donations in just a few hours. Now this is effective advertising 101.

$615 Million Buried in Trash

James Howells, an IT employee living in the UK, sold his laptop on eBay in 2013, but retained the drive on which he had collected Bitcoins, after mining them on his laptop. But, while cleaning his house, he had mistakenly dumped the drive at his local landfill site in Newport, South Wales.

The drive contained around 7,500 Bitcoins, which would cost somewhere around $615 million at the price that the cryptocurrency has reached in 2018. Now, after more than 4 years, he wants to retrieve the drive from the garbage dump, which contains about 350,000 tons of waste. The city council has declined his requests, stating it unlawful and dangerous. Tough luck, Mr. Howells!

‘Hodl’ On for Dear Life

A misspelt word led to the origin of a widely used term in the cryptocurrency investment world. In 2013, a user named “Gamekyuubi” from Japan, posted something on BitcoinTalk, in a drunken haze, where he confused the word ‘hold’ for ‘hodl’. The post was followed by an extensive thread spanning over 130 pages.

Users created hilarious memes depicting the concept of holding on to coins. HODL is now considered an acronym for “Hold on for Dear Life.” In the crypto space, a Hodler is someone who holds on to their coins for the long term or doesn’t day trade with their coins. It is mostly used by people in times of market downtime.

Bitcoin Stolen “On-Air”

In 2013 (quite an eventful year, we must say), Bloomberg TV host Matt Miller gifted his colleagues, Adam Johnson and Trish Regan, each with $20 worth of Bitcoin, on his show, 12 Days of Bitcoin. But as they received the paper gift, the QR code of the wallet, which is more like an account number with the PIN in the crypto world, was accidently showen on screen. Someone called “milkywaymasta” saw a close-up of this code on his HD television and stole it immediately just to experience the thrill of it all. He returned it soon after, but the host learnt a thing or two about cryptocurrency security.

As a very famous film once said, “There are eight million stories in the naked city”. In the world of cryptos and ICOs, eight mil would barely scratch the surface.