From total loss to success: how to build wealth with cash flow

Losing $100K at 16 and then winning it all back isn’t luck. It’s learning. The difference between my failure in 2022 and my success in 2025 wasn’t working more hours — it was understanding how to make money without relying solely on a job. And on this journey, I discovered that most people will never get rich because they don’t understand a simple concept: cash flow.

The beginning: when greed meets ignorance

2021 was incredible. At 16, I started selling NFT project whitelists on Ethereum and then migrated to Solana — the best decision at the time. I made more money than I imagined, but I knew nothing about what I was doing. Neither blockchain, nor cryptography, nor investing.

So I did what any novice does: I listened to everyone. Influencers, KOLs, streamers, friends — everyone had an opinion. “This is the top,” “I bought and am waiting for 10x,” “This will explode.” And I, naive, bought everything at ATH. Bitcoin at $58K, Solana at $250, 10 different altcoins, 50% in NFTs at peak prices. Result? I lost 90% when the market crashed. Out of panic, I sold another 10% at a loss.

The first lesson nobody wants to learn: People sell dreams, not reality. Most influencers don’t even understand what Bitcoin’s limited supply means. They just sell hope.

Cash flow: the concept that separates the rich from the poor

I was broke. My parents were too. The war in Ukraine made things worse, and we moved to Leipzig, Germany, sleeping on the floor without a mattress. It was in that worst moment that I read a book about Bitcoin and started reading more about finance — five books a month.

And then I realized the truth: The only thing all rich people have in common is cash flow.

It’s not investing that makes you rich. It’s having money coming in every month — from any source. Job, business, freelance, anything. Because without new income, you can’t invest. Most try 100x with $10. But the reality is, you need printed money to make money.

So I started working as a Discord moderator for $500 a week. I returned to Ukraine and invested in the family business. Small flows generated big results. It was new money every week — and that changes everything.

The second lesson: You don’t get rich with a job, but you can’t get rich without income. Cash flow is the foundation.

Cycles, patience, and a long-term plan

When I finally understood Bitcoin — why it has a limited supply, why it’s digital gold — I had a different optimism than with altcoins. I bought a whole Bitcoin at $16,548 when it was down. I bought Solana at $15. But this time, unlike 2022, I wasn’t in a rush. I studied technical analysis, understood market cycles, understood economics.

I realized 2022 was a disaster because I thought short-term. I wanted quick profit. Now, at 20, I thought differently: “What’s my plan for the next 5 years? What if there’s a crash? Is my family safe?”

With consistent cash flow, I didn’t need quick returns. I could wait. I could build. I could let Bitcoin and Solana grow without panic.

When it was time: selling at ATH

When Trump became president in 2025, it was my trigger to act. Bitcoin started soaring from $104K to $115K (today it’s at $126.08K — all-time high, and Solana hit $293.31K, well above my $295 sell). Not by chance — it was the cycle I had studied.

I sold 70% of my Bitcoin between $104K and $115K. I sold Solana from $240 to $295. I used DCA (dollar-cost averaging) to exit, didn’t do it all at once.

Why did I sell at such a good moment? Because I had a plan. Because I knew this was the cycle. Because it wasn’t greed — it was intelligence. I put most of it into Kamino Finance to generate 10-30% annual yield. Because no bank will give you that.

The secret nobody talks about

I’m not Benjamin Cowen. I’m not a millionaire yet. But I made mistakes 99% of people will make, and I learned before turning 20:

1. Don’t listen to anyone — not KOLs, not influencers, not friends. Build your own opinion about cycles and economics.

2. Cash flow is everything — it’s not how many hours you work. It’s having new money to invest. A job, a business, anything. Without that, you can’t make real money.

3. Think five years, not five minutes — cycles exist. If you lack patience, you won’t reap the rewards.

4. Sell smartly — it’s not greed when you have a plan.

If you’re reading this, I hope you make the right decisions now. Not at the right times — nobody gets everything right. But with smart long-term decisions. For you and your family.