Andreas M. Antonopoilos the leading bitcoin evangelist became a bitcoin millionaire from a flood of donations worth around 100 bitcoins (approximately $1.5 million at today’s rates).
The recipient, Andreas M. Antonopoulos, has written the most important technical books about bitcoin, including the groundbreaking Mastering Bitcoin, and is known for delivering inspiring speeches about the crypto assets revolutionary potential. Donations poured in after another bitcoin personality, Roger Ver, a man known as “Bitcoin Jesus” for his evangelical efforts to promote the cryptocurrency, mocked Antonopoulos on Twitter for not getting rich off early bitcoin investments.
Antonopoulos, who makes a living from donations to his Patreon account, speaking fees, and book royalties, was debunking the claim made by someone on Twitter, who assumed he was a “multi-millionaire” given his early involvement in the bitcoin world.
I'm not a bitcoin millionnaire. I was working for free, instead of investing, for the first 2 years. Only recently got out of debt.
My supporters on Patreon, many at $5/month, make it possible for me to work with independence.
— Andreas M. Antonopoulos (@aantonop) November 30, 2017
This sparked a tweet from Roger Ver who chastised Andreas for not buying and holding the cryptocurrency in the early days.
Andreas is one of the most eloquent speakers on the topic of Bitcoin, but if he had invested even $300 in bitcoin back in 2012, he’d be a millionaire today. https://t.co/GU8mW8FpTe
— Roger Ver (@rogerkver) December 5, 2017
Andreas replied that he had bought bitcoin early on, but he was forced to sell in 2013 to pay for rent and to support his family. Bitcoin was trading for as little as $13 that year, before a huge rally took it to $1,200 at the end of the year.
I did invest, Roger. Then I sold in 2013 to pay my rent. I didn't have disposable income to work for two years without pay and invest at the same time. I should've gone into more debt, but that would have been irresponsible towards my family who I supported
— Andreas M. Antonopoulos (@aantonop) December 5, 2017
The act of mocking someone who’s been involved in bitcoin for years but isn’t rich has a name now: “bitshaming.” This shameful tweet by Roger upset so many in the bitcoin community that a rallying cry went out on twitter and other social media and soon donations were flooding in:
Wow !!! @aantonop is by far the BEST advocate and most eloquent speaker on #bitcoin. His speeches had a HUGE influence on me. Thank you ! Support him here —> https://t.co/wHuFf5nAHG https://t.co/4IbrIAViaC
— Brian Kelly (@BKBrianKelly) December 7, 2017
Within two days, bitcoins flooded in. During that time, the bitcoin price climbed from under $12,000 to $17,000. According to data provider Blockchain.info, Antonopoulos’ bitcoin address has received around 100 bitcoins in total. Andreas declared himself overwhelmed by the support, and declared he was going offline for a while, a newly minted bitcoin millionaire.
I am going offline for a few days. I need time to process everything that happened.
If you sent me a message in the last 48 hrs, thank you. If I don't respond for a week or so, I apologize.
— Andreas M. Antonopoulos (@aantonop) December 7, 2017
Amidst all the headlines grabbing the attention these days in bitcoin, so many of them negative, or only about money, it it truly refreshing and inspiring to read of the generosity of spirit of so many in this community at the bleeding edge of a new paradigm in technology and finance.
You can continue to support the amazing work Andreas does by following and supporting him on his Patreon account. https://www.patreon.com/aantonop
Comments are off this post!