In the global Bitcoin arena, the spotlight often seems overshadowed by whale investors like Michael Saylor, large corporations, and sovereign nations. However, in this world dominated by billions of capital, there are many untold stories of ordinary people. These individuals may not have vast funds, but with faith, vision, and a bit of courage, they quietly change their lives.
Isaac Miller is one such ordinary person. He is not from Silicon Valley nor a Wall Street trader, but rather a young man from a small rural town in Michigan, who once sold lunches from a pushcart. He started investing in Bitcoin with $2,000 and witnessed the legendary rise of Bitcoin from $100 to $100,000. This article reveals the story behind this legendary Bitcoin millionaire and shows how an ordinary person can become a Bitcoin “Diamond Hands”.
First Encounter with Bitcoin: From Farm Lunch Cart to Computer Keyboard
Isaac grew up on a quiet small farm in northern Michigan, built by his great-grandfather. He helped with farm work by milking sheep and was given more time to explore personal interests through homeschooling. At the age of eight, he began his entrepreneurial journey by pushing a lunch cart called “Isaac’s Lunch Cart,” selling meals prepared by his mother.
During his teenage years, he shifted his focus to learning programming and digital multimedia, getting involved in political activities by helping to create promotional websites, which introduced him to the cryptography community. In 2008, at just 16 years old, he participated in the campaign of U.S. presidential candidate Ron Paul as a local coordinator, responsible for website construction, graphic design, and live broadcasting. These experiences led him to encounter the libertarian and cryptography communities, and it was within that circle that a friend introduced him to Bitcoin in 2011 when most people were unaware of it.
Starting with a $2,000 Investment
Despite encountering Bitcoin early on, Miller did not invest immediately. It wasn’t until 2013 that he posted a question on the Bitcointalk forum regarding whether it was a good idea to invest in Bitcoin if one had over $20,000 in their account. He candidly admitted that he was just beginning to research Bitcoin and would not put all his funds in immediately, but was willing to give it a try. He ultimately decided to invest $2,000, opened an account on Mt.Gox, and purchased Bitcoin. At that time, the price of Bitcoin was around $90, and he acquired approximately 22 BTC. This investment is now worth about $2.5 million (assuming a price of $110,000 per coin).
Witnessing Bitcoin Break $100 in April 2013
Isaac Miller is best known for a video he shot in April 2013, capturing the moment Bitcoin broke the $100 mark. He excitedly spun in his chair and said to the camera, “At this moment, I’m witnessing the birth of history; Bitcoin has now risen to $111. I’ve seen it break that threshold three times today!” This video later became a classic moment in Bitcoin history and was even used in an advertisement by Coinbase years later, recreating that historic moment with him.
Miller did not become wealthy from Bitcoin overnight. After his initial investment, he chose to keep a low profile until Bitcoin first surpassed $60,000 in 2021, at which point he expressed on YouTube that he continued to buy regularly, becoming a Diamond Hands holder.
Isaac Miller, a young man selling lunches from a small-town cart, stumbled upon Bitcoin and became one of the many early holders who became millionaires due to his willingness to embrace new ideas. This story is not merely an inspirational tale, but a reminder that life is full of opportunities, depending on one’s courage to try. This is purely a market observation and research, not investment advice.
Risk Warning
Investing in cryptocurrencies carries a high level of risk, and their prices can be highly volatile. You may lose all of your principal. Please assess the risks carefully.