A Journey into Web3
In a fascinating digital age, where a mere click can lead to fortunes, Zach Burks found himself plunging headfirst into Web3. Imagine being broke, jobless, and suddenly discovering a world where pixels could turn into cash—this was Burks’ reality back in 2012 when he stumbled upon Bitcoin at a measly $5.50 on Mt. Gox. Spoiler: Mt. Gox wouldn’t be winning any ‘Best Exchange’ awards later.
Trading to Treasure Hunts
Instead of cashing out his initial gains like most traders, Burks had a different plan. His sights were set on bigger ambitions. “My goal was only to collect Ether (ETH) and never sell until I can buy a mega yacht,” he proclaimed in a Twitter thread that has inspired many. Imagine his wallet growing fat while he dreamt of wheeling around the ocean in style, all without ever cashing out. It’s like playing Monopoly but with real money and fewer dog hotels!
Becoming a Solidity Savant
Realizing that playing the market wasn’t enough, Burks decided to dive deeper—into Solidity development, that is. This wasn’t just a casual hobby; he went full throttle by participating in hackathons, testing smart contracts, and doing just about whatever it took to learn the ropes. His persistence bore fruit, as he found himself financially independent within three years—a period shorter and arguably more exhilarating than my last three attempts at a diet.
The Birth of Mintable
Burks eventually moved to Thailand, where the digital sun shines brighter, and founded Mintable. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing; he missed out on a chance to snag a CryptoPunk, that coveted digital artwork that everyone else seemed to be collecting like Pokémon cards. But don’t worry; he found his place in the NFT world with Cryptokitties, those digital felines that had everyone going ‘meow-ny’ crazy.
Words of Wisdom
Now, with Mintable valued at hundreds of millions and a constantly growing team, Burks reflects on the importance of taking risks in the fast-paced, ever-fluctuating crypto world. “Take chances. Never sell your crypto. Learn to use your brain,” his tweets echo with sage advice that resonates with fledgling crypto enthusiasts looking for their own mega yachts. And while others may panic sell, the NFT market has shown resilience—evidence by the nearly 500,000 new NFT holders who joined the scene just last June and July.
