In May 2016, Dan Conway walked into a Wells Fargo branch in San Francisco to make a decision that would transform his life forever. The 45-year-old middle manager was about to wire his family's entire life savings - $100,000 - to buy a relatively unknown cryptocurrency called Ethereum.
"This could only end two ways: I'd lose everything I owned, or make a fortune," Conway recalls of that pivotal moment.
At the time, Conway was earning $150,000 annually at a multimedia company but felt trapped in corporate America. His growing fascination with cryptocurrency, particularly Ethereum, offered a potential escape route.
After extensive research into blockchain technology and Ethereum's potential, Conway made his initial investment, purchasing 6,993 ETH at around $14 per coin. When prices dropped significantly months later, he doubled down - borrowing $200,000 against his home equity to buy more ETH at an even lower price.
By early 2017, his bold bet began paying off as Ethereum's price started climbing. What followed was a rollercoaster ride of emotions as his investment swung wildly in value. The volatility took its toll - Conway lost his job, experienced panic attacks, and became obsessed with price movements.
The real breakthrough came in late 2017 when Ethereum's price skyrocketed. In January 2018, with ETH trading above $900, Conway made the life-changing decision to sell most of his holdings. The result? A $10 million payday.
"I sent my wife a text: We are done," Conway remembers.
Today, Conway and his family enjoy a comfortable life - they've paid off their mortgage, purchased a second home in Ireland, and taken dream vacations. While he remains bullish on cryptocurrency's future, he cautions others against trying to replicate his success.
"Luck played a significant role," he admits. "For every story like mine, there are hundreds of others about people who lost it all."
Conway has since written a book about his experience and focuses on making cryptocurrency concepts more accessible to the general public. While he's settled into a quieter life, he occasionally finds himself reminiscing about those exhilarating days of the crypto boom.
"I still drive a minivan every day," he says. "Crypto no longer consumes me. But every now and then, after the kids are asleep, I lie awake thinking back on the rush of the market. And I miss it like hell."