In the fast-moving world of cryptocurrency, few stories capture the imagination like that of Takeru — a quiet investor who didn’t mine Bitcoin, launch a token, or trade aggressively. Instead, he made a bold bet on a little-known project called IOTA in 2015, invested his entire $10,000 savings, and held for over two years without selling. When the price surged during the 2017 bull run, his investment grew by **over 36,000 times**, turning into more than **$360 million at its peak — and still sitting at over $100 million** today.
This is the story of patience, conviction, and timing in the volatile crypto market.
From Student Miner to Crypto Legend
Takeru’s journey began in 2013 while he was a university student studying abroad in the UK. During a summer break back home, he built his first mining rig for around ¥20,000 RMB (~$3,000 USD at the time). By then, GPU mining had become inefficient for Bitcoin due to rising competition from ASICs like Avalon and ASICMiner (also known as “BtcKing” or “Kao Jing” in China).
Rather than give up, Takeru pivoted. He started mining lesser-known altcoins such as Worldcoin and Feathercoin — currencies few were paying attention to. By the end of the summer, he converted all his mined coins into Bitcoin, accumulating roughly 80 BTC. At ¥4,000 per BTC, this gave him a profit of about ¥320,000 — a significant sum for a student.
But this was just the beginning.
👉 Discover how early crypto adopters turned small investments into life-changing wealth.
The IOTA Bet: A $10,000 Gamble That Changed Everything
In late 2015, a new project named IOTA (MIOTA) launched an ICO. It raised over 1,300 BTC — worth about ¥3 million RMB at the time — but attracted only a handful of Chinese participants. Among them were Takeru and Jimmy, who would later become the head of IOTA’s Chinese community.
At the time, each IOTA token was valued at just ¥0.001 RMB (less than $0.0002). Takeru committed his entire savings — **¥100,000 (~$14,500)** — to buy in.
For nearly two years, nothing happened. The IOTA QQ group had fewer than 300 members as of May 2017. Most investors lost interest. But Takeru held firm.
Then came the 2017 ICO boom. As hype flooded the market and major exchanges listed IOTA, demand exploded. By December 2017, the price of one IOTA reached ¥36 RMB, an increase of 36,000x from its initial value.
Takeru’s ¥100,000 became ¥3.6 billion (~$525 million) — briefly making him one of the wealthiest figures in the crypto space.
Even after the correction — with IOTA now trading around ¥10 — his stake remains worth over ¥1 billion ($145 million). He achieved what many call the ultimate "small goal": financial freedom through long-term conviction.
What Is IOTA? The Technology Behind the Surge
Project Overview
- Name: IOTA (MIOTA)
- Chinese Name: 埃欧塔 (Āi Ōu Tǎ)
- Core Concept: A next-generation distributed ledger designed for the Internet of Things (IoT), enabling machine-to-machine (M2M) transactions without fees.
Unlike traditional blockchains that rely on blocks and miners, IOTA uses a unique architecture called Tangle, based on a directed acyclic graph (DAG). This allows it to scale infinitely as usage increases — a critical advantage for future IoT ecosystems.
Founding Team & Visionaries
- Serguei Popov: PhD in probability theory and author of the IOTA whitepaper. Designed the mathematical foundation of Tangle.
- Sergey Ivancheglo: Co-developer of Tangle; also known as one of the original creators of Nxt, an early blockchain platform.
- Dominik Schiener: Co-chairman of the IOTA Foundation; involved in blockchain since 2010 and focused on real-world applications of decentralized systems.
Key Advantages of IOTA
1. Zero Transaction Fees
One of IOTA’s most compelling features is its ability to enable feeless microtransactions. This opens doors for smart devices to pay each other for data, energy, or services automatically — imagine your electric car paying tolls or charging stations without human input.
2. Fast Confirmation Speeds
Since every transaction must confirm two previous ones, network activity actually improves performance. The more users transact, the faster confirmations become — reversing the congestion issues seen in Bitcoin and Ethereum.
3. Scalability Without Limits
Traditional blockchains face bottlenecks as they grow. IOTA’s DAG structure eliminates block size limits and miner dependencies, allowing it to scale organically with adoption.
4. Quantum Resistance
IOTA uses Winternitz One-Time Signatures (W-OTS), making it resistant to attacks from future quantum computers — a growing concern for older cryptocurrencies.
Why Did IOTA Explode in Value?
While strong technology played a role, several external factors fueled IOTA’s meteoric rise:
Market Conditions in 2017
- The ICO frenzy brought massive capital into crypto.
- Exchanges like Binance and Huobi listed IOTA early, increasing visibility.
- Major tech companies began exploring IoT solutions — creating narrative alignment.
Solving Real Blockchain Pain Points
| Issue | Traditional Blockchains | IOTA Solution |
|---|---|---|
| High Fees | Yes (e.g., Ethereum gas fees) | No fees |
| Slow Speed | Limited TPS (Bitcoin: 7/s) | Faster with more users |
| Energy Waste | Proof-of-Work consumes huge power | No mining required |
| Centralization Risk | Mining pools dominate | Fully decentralized DAG |
👉 See how innovative blockchain projects are solving real-world problems today.
FAQ: Your Questions About IOTA and Takeru’s Journey Answered
Q: Did Takeru sell any of his IOTA?
A: Public reports suggest he held through most of the price surge and still owns a significant portion. His strategy exemplifies long-term holding ("HODL") rather than speculative trading.
Q: Is IOTA still relevant today?
A: Yes. While its price has cooled since 2017, IOTA continues development under the IOTA Foundation. It partners with governments and enterprises on smart city and supply chain projects across Europe and Asia.
Q: Can another "IOTA" happen again?
A: Potentially. Early-stage investments in emerging technologies — especially those solving scalability and sustainability issues — can yield massive returns if adopted widely.
Q: Was Takeru lucky or skilled?
A: Both. He identified a promising project before mainstream awareness and had the emotional discipline to hold despite volatility — a rare combination.
Q: How can I find the next high-potential crypto project?
A: Focus on teams with strong technical backgrounds, real-world use cases, and open-source transparency. Projects solving actual infrastructure problems (like scalability or energy use) often have long-term legs.
Lessons from Takeru: Who Truly Wins in Crypto?
Many people entered crypto early but failed to accumulate lasting wealth. Why?
Common pitfalls include:
- Selling too early out of fear or greed.
- Chasing short-term pumps instead of fundamentals.
- Reacting emotionally to price swings.
- Following noisy Telegram groups and influencers instead of doing research.
Takeru succeeded because he:
- Made one well-researched bet.
- Avoided distractions and FOMO.
- Held through uncertainty.
- Let compounding work over time.
👉 Learn how disciplined investing can lead to exponential growth in digital assets.
Final Thoughts: The Power of Conviction in Volatile Markets
Takeru’s story isn’t just about luck — it’s about belief in transformative technology. While not every investor can replicate his exact path, his journey underscores key principles for success in crypto:
- Invest in innovation, not hype.
- Focus on long-term value, not daily price movements.
- Have the courage to hold, even when others panic.
- Do your own research (DYOR) — don’t follow crowds.
The next big opportunity may already exist — quietly building in obscurity, waiting for believers like Takeru to discover it.
As blockchain continues evolving beyond finance into IoT, AI integration, and decentralized identity, projects that solve real scalability and sustainability challenges will rise — just as IOTA once did.
And when they do, those prepared will be ready to act.
Core Keywords: IOTA, Takeru, cryptocurrency investment, blockchain technology, zero fee transactions, DAG blockchain, long-term holding, IoT crypto