Dark Web Relic — In 2013, I bought a "ticket" with 25 Bitcoin; ten years later, I was released from prison…

April 5, 2026, First Day Out
My phone was already dead. I borrowed a guard’s charger and logged into an old email account. Sitting in the spam folder was a bill reminder from “Gate.io.” I froze — that was 2013, when I used 25 Bitcoin to buy a “Black Market Party” ticket on a dark web marketplace. Then the police raided the place, and I got a ten-year sentence.

Those 25 Bitcoin were worth only $2,500 in 2013. Before I went to prison, I transferred them to a paper wallet and hid it inside a book. My mom stored the book in the attic.

Second Day Out
I returned to my hometown and searched the attic. The book was still there, and so was the paper wallet. I trembled as I opened the blockchain explorer — 25 BTC, untouched. From 2013 to 2026, they had journeyed from $100 to $66,800. Now, they’re worth $1.67 million.

I didn’t cry. I learned in prison not to cry.

Third Day Out
I transferred 15 BTC into my Gate account and exchanged it for USDT. The remaining 10 BTC stayed put. I posted on the square: “Once, I bought a ticket to prison with Bitcoin. Now, I’m using it to buy a ticket to freedom.”

Someone asked if I regret it. I said, “If it weren’t for those 25 BTC, I might still be selling white powder. Bitcoin gave me a second chance.”

April Challenge. Using part of the proceeds, I tipped everyone who posted seriously on the square with 1 USDT. Not for anything else — just to tell them: sometimes, the worst decision can turn into the best story ten years later.

#GateSquareAprilPostChallenge

Article 27: 10k RMB “Copying Homework” — I Followed a Top Influencer’s Real Trading on Gate Square, and the Result Was…

Origin
Late March 2026, I saw a user called “@CryptoOldCat” posting daily real trades on Gate Square. He claimed to have gone from 10k USDT to 100k USDT in just three months. The comments were full of admiration. I decided: take 10k RMB (about 1,400 USDT) and fully copy every one of his trades.

Process
April 1: OldCat fully bought SUI at $0.92. I followed.
April 2: Trump gave a speech; SUI dropped to $0.85. OldCat said “add more,” I added.
April 3: SUI fell to $0.80. OldCat said “technical correction, hold tight.” I held.
April 4: SUI rebounded to $0.88. OldCat suddenly closed his position and switched to BONK. I followed, but with slippage, losing 3%.
April 5: BONK rose 15%, OldCat sold again, saying “take profits.” I hadn’t even acted yet, and BONK dropped 8%.

Outcome
After a week, my 10k RMB became 9,200 RMB, an 8% loss. Meanwhile, OldCat’s account grew from 14k USDT to 15.5k USDT, a 10% gain. I messaged him: “Why can’t I keep up?” He replied, “Because you’re always half a beat behind me, and I never follow anyone.”

I suddenly realized. The so-called “copying homework” copies the result but misses the decision-making emotions, position management, and slippage control at the time. Since then, I stopped copying others’ trades. I started recording my own analysis on the square, even if I got called a “newbie.” On the fifth day of the April Challenge, my post was officially recommended for the first time. The gains weren’t much, but every cent was earned through my own understanding.

To everyone wanting to “copy homework”: You can learn the ideas, but don’t copy the trades. Your account, your responsibility.

#Gate广场四月发帖挑战