I still remember it vividly. It was February 2021, in the middle of the COVID pandemic, when a high school friend I hadn’t spoken to in years reached out. He introduced me to cryptocurrency.

Back in 2018, we had tried running a small shawarma food cart together, but it didn’t work out. At the time, I was new to business and had no backup plan. When he messaged me, I only had ₱10,000 in my savings account.

He showed me his Bitcoin profits and encouraged me to start. Without much thought, I signed up on Binance and bought DENT, a coin he believed would rise soon. A month later, in March, it surged more than 130%. My ₱10,000 quickly grew to ₱100,000. The feeling was unforgettable.

Excited by that success, my friend suggested I sell and move into another coin called PHB. I trusted him completely and went all in. That investment also doubled, bringing my total to around ₱300,000. But I got greedy and didn’t sell. I believed it would keep going up. That was my biggest mistake as a beginner.

By May, Bitcoin entered a bear market and most altcoins followed. I watched helplessly as my holdings dropped sharply. From ₱300,000, my portfolio fell to just ₱38,000. Overnight, I became a long-term holder—what people call “diamond hands.”

Even though it hurt, the experience didn’t discourage me. It showed me that real money could be made in crypto—if you’re lucky with your timing.

During that period, I also invested my salary in several other coins like Shiba Inu, Axie Infinity (SLP), TFUEL, DOGE, and more. I wasn’t investing for the long term; I was chasing quick gains and riding hype. Most of them ended in losses. I still remember buying Dogecoin after Elon Musk’s tweets, driven by FOMO, only to watch it fall.

Those repeated mistakes taught me a valuable lesson: never invest in coins without doing your own research—DYOR.

After getting burned by hype, I became more careful. In September 2021, while browsing new listings on Binance, I discovered eCash (XEC). The name and simple ticker caught my attention. Instead of buying immediately, I decided to research it properly.

That’s when I found Cain’s posts on Twitter and his website, Proof of Writing (proofofwriting.com). Reading his clear explanations of eCash’s technology and vision convinced me this project was different.

What stood out most was the team’s consistency. While many projects faded or stopped building during the bear market, the eCash team kept delivering. They continued following their roadmap through good times and bad. That commitment strengthened my belief in the project.

I love eCash because it focuses on what Bitcoin originally promised: fast, cheap, and easy peer-to-peer electronic cash for everyday use. I also appreciate the non-custodial staking—you keep full control of your keys while earning rewards. Most importantly, it feels like a genuine continuation of Satoshi Nakamoto’s vision.

I tried sharing my excitement with friends, but they showed little interest. Maybe I didn’t explain it well, or perhaps they were comfortable with their traditional paths. Over time, I stopped bringing it up.

Still, I remain hopeful. I imagine a future where eCash is used for daily transactions—paying for food, bills, travel, and more. It may take time, but I believe it’s possible.

I started buying eCash (XEC) every week using part of my salary. I was so convinced by the project that I even took out loans from the bank and the government to buy more. I still remember purchasing at the all-time high around $0.00027. Even when the price dropped during the bear market, I kept buying steadily. I didn’t focus on the daily price—I just accumulated.

My goal was simple: buy enough eCash to start staking. By March 4, 2024, the price had risen to about $0.0001084. My investment grew from ₱250,000 to ₱610,000. I finally recovered my capital and even made a good profit. However, I chose not to sell. I strongly believed eCash had much more potential in the future.

Soon after, the market turned bearish again. The price fell sharply, and I felt trapped. I regretted not selling at the peak and buying back cheaper later. Still, I stayed positive and continued accumulating more coins.

During that time, many people in Telegram and X (Twitter) groups were disappointed. They complained about the huge 21 trillion supply and suggested burning coins to push the price higher. What they didn’t realize is that eCash’s supply is designed like Bitcoin’s 21 million — just with the decimal point moved to make it more user-friendly for everyday transactions. It’s not a flaw; it’s part of the plan.

I still believe deeply in the eCash project. Its vision, technology, and purpose as electronic cash keep me holding and buying through the ups and downs. This journey has taught me patience, and I’m staying committed for the long term.

As Satoshi Nakamoto once said, “It might make sense just to get some in case it catches on.” That’s exactly how I feel about eCash today.

This journey taught me many lessons, but it also gave me something worth believing in. Thank you for reading my story.

My Crypto Origin: How I Stumbled on eCash (XEC)