On New Year’s Eve in 2014, instead of enjoying the traditional Jools Holland’s Annual Hootenanny, I made a surprising move: I invested £250 in a bitcoin. Fast forward to today, and the value of a single bitcoin has skyrocketed to £75,000. As for calculating the percentage increase of my investment, that’s a mystery to me.

Recently, someone remarked, “You were the least likely person to own a bitcoin.” Reflecting on my school days, I was never good at math, and it was common for friends not to trust me with the task of splitting the bill after a night out. During a recent trip to Marrakesh, while purchasing jewelry, I realized how poorly I understood exchange rates when I ended up with extra bracelets forced upon me by the store manager.

A last-minute change of plans led to my unexpected venture into bitcoin. When my New Year’s Eve dinner got canceled, Tim and Alex, acquaintances from the area, invited me over for drinks. Faced with the choice of being alone watching Ed Sheeran and Paolo Nutini, I brought along a bottle of champagne. As the clock ticked toward 2015, Tim introduced the concept of bitcoin—a digital currency designed such that only 21 million could ever exist. This innovation aimed to eliminate hefty bank fees associated with international transfers, especially benefiting those in developing nations. “It could either amount to nothing or help you purchase a house,” he predicted.

On New Year’s Day, I strive to engage in something new each year. Typically, it’s a different walk or pub, but inspired by Tim’s conversation about bitcoin—a concept that intrigued me as I was drawn to the idea of potential large returns—I decided to try purchasing one. After navigating the complexities of digital wallets and trading platforms, I landed on Bittylicious, partly because I found its name appealing. This platform is among the more reliable exchanges, dealing primarily in major, established coins. Thus began my unexpected journey into the world of cryptocurrency.

Back in those days, the cryptocurrency landscape felt like the Wild West, with new altcoins being released weekly. At the time, I was unsure what exactly an altcoin was (now I understand it refers to any cryptocurrency that’s not bitcoin). Online discussions on platforms like Twitter and Reddit were dominated by overenthusiastic hype, although through perseverance, I found my community on Mumsnet.

On Mumsnet, I connected with someone I came to know as BitMum. Having purchased bitcoins when they were approximately £10, she had effectively become a part of crypto history. While skeptics chimed in, most conversations maintained a thoughtful tone, addressing the numerous risks associated with cryptocurrencies.

I also dabbled in other cryptocurrencies, such as ethereum, ripple, and litecoin, yet always kept my total investment under £700—aligning it with what I’d consider spending on a weekend getaway.

Recently, BitMum shared that she had sold some dogecoin she’d bought in 2018 for a profit. Dogecoin originated as a joke within the tech community but gained traction in 2021, thanks in part to endorsements from influencers, now valued significantly more than its original price.

While BitMum is actively trading, I identify more as a HODLer—holding my assets throughout market fluctuations rather than buying or selling based on market highs and lows.

Over the past decade, bitcoin has transitioned from a currency to primarily a store of value, similar to gold, albeit less visually appealing. Despite experiencing significant market volatility, other cryptocurrencies in my portfolio have begun to show signs of life, prompting me to improve how I secure them.

Despite my struggles with numerical concepts (compound interest remains puzzling), I maintain careful management over my assets, which serves as a prudent albeit conservative trait for investors in the crypto realm. Many early bitcoin enthusiasts lost their entire portfolios due to hacking incidents—most notably the Mount Gox exchange in 2014, where nearly a million bitcoins vanished—or simply because they couldn’t remember their wallet passwords. It’s estimated that around 20% of cryptocurrency holders have misplaced their access keys in various ways. I initially stored my bitcoins in Armory, an early storage solution that required extensive security updates and left my basic MacBook struggling to keep up. It took my neighbor, a data scientist, two weeks to help me retrieve my bitcoins.

Now, I utilize an external Nano ledger for storage, resembling a USB drive but with multiple security layers. It also includes a separate collection of randomly generated words that would grant access to my bitcoins if I were to misplace the Nano device.

Some acquaintances have expressed skepticism: “Isn’t this just a vehicle for money laundering and crime?” I counter with, “What about the dirty £20 note you carry?” (Thanks to Mumsnet for providing that retort.) The conversation is complex, with some considering cryptocurrencies a novel way to store value. Others point out the environmental impact of mining for gold, but I don’t have a solid response to that concern.

In December 2017, I gifted my four nieces and nephews 0.005 bitcoin each, valued at about £30 then and approximately £400 now. Trying to be the ‘cool aunt,’ I was met with interest from one niece, who mentioned a schoolmate who turned a bitcoin investment into £20,000. When I learned he intended to buy a sports car instead of joining a summer trip with us, I realized I’d never be a part of that elite bitcoin club. By my calculations, his bitcoin stash would be around £150,000 today.

Now, after ten years, I have mixed sentiments. Many attribute bitcoin’s recent surge to Trump’s influence, and there’s a possibility it may plummet again. However, it could also enhance my future retirement security. I often think back to my earlier investment and wish I had purchased more than just one bitcoin. When it comes to owning bikes, enthusiasts say the ideal number is always one more than what you currently own; the same concept applies to my bitcoin holdings. For the time being, I am content just to HODL.