# # Can the storage sector myth of 2021 wait for redemption in 2025?

If you heavily invested in $FIL or $ICP during the last bull market, you may currently be sitting on a six-figure or even seven-figure loss. In this cycle, is there still a chance for that money to come back?

**What exactly happened that year?**

From February to April 2021, FIL skyrocketed from $22 to $237—tenfold in just two months. At its peak, the trading volume surpassed BTC, with 96T mining machines being speculated at $120,000 each, and combined with the cost of staked coins, the entry threshold was raised to hundreds of thousands. At that time, the concept of "distributed storage" was glorified, as if the future of Web3 was firmly in hand.

ICP is even more exaggerated. It peaked upon launch, with an opening price of $750 corresponding to a $400 billion FDV, directly benchmarking against ETH's market capitalization— but what about the ecosystem? Where are the users? Where is the actual application? It's all just hot air and PPT.

Then the plot took a sharp turn. Regulatory policies were implemented, leading to a nationwide wave of mining site shutdowns, with news of miners fleeing coming one after another. ICP dropped 99% from its peak, the return on investment period for FIL miners was indefinitely extended, and many people directly accepted their losses and exited.

**What is the likelihood of breaking even?**

To be honest, it's hard.

To turn around such projects, at least two conditions must be met: a technological breakthrough leads to an explosion of practical applications, or a new narrative triggers a renewed interest in funding. However, it seems that the enthusiasm for the storage sector has already been diluted by new concepts such as AI, RWA, and modularization, and funds will not pay for outdated stories.

More importantly - even if the price rebounds, you have to factor in the time cost and opportunity cost. Over the past three years, if the funds had been allocated to other assets, you would have already made several rounds of profits.

**So what should we do now?**

Recognizing sunk costs is the first lesson for mature traders.

Instead of stubbornly waiting for miracles, it is better to calmly assess: can the remaining funds find a higher win rate direction in the new cycle? The liquidity and explosiveness of AI concept coins, Layer 2 ecosystems, and even the Meme sector are much stronger than those of dormant old projects.

Remember this: the most expensive thing in the crypto world is not the money lost, but the time trapped and the opportunities missed.

Sometimes, admitting one's mistakes requires more courage than persisting, but it is also more worthwhile.