He Spent $27 on Bitcoin and Forgot—Years Later, It Turned Into a Life-Changing Surprise

Imagine making a small decision today that completely transforms your future—without even realizing it. That’s exactly what happened to a Norwegian student who casually invested a modest $27 in Bitcoin for a college project, only to forget all about it… until it turned into a fortune.

The scenario sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi movie—like placing a bet on a long shot or investing in a startup before it takes off. But for Kristoffer Koch, this wasn’t fiction. It was real life.

Back in 2009, while researching encryption for his thesis, Koch came across Bitcoin. At the time, the cryptocurrency was still a mystery to most of the world. Curiosity led him to buy a few coins—roughly 5,000 of them—for the equivalent of $27 (around 150 Norwegian kroner). Once the project was over, he moved on and left his Bitcoin untouched in a digital wallet.

Years passed, and the wallet collected virtual dust. Then in 2013, Koch noticed Bitcoin was making headlines. Prices were rising sharply. That’s when he remembered his long-lost investment. The only problem? He couldn’t recall the password to access his wallet.

Eventually, he cracked it—and what he saw was nothing short of shocking. Speaking with Norwegian broadcaster NRK, Koch recalled opening his wallet to discover 5,000 BTC inside. At that point in time, the value had skyrocketed to about $886,000.

Koch didn’t hesitate. He converted a portion of his crypto stash and used it to purchase an apartment in Oslo. But that was just a fraction of his holdings. In fact, he only sold off about 20% of his Bitcoin, meaning the rest may still be sitting safely in storage—possibly worth even more today.

Back in 2013, Bitcoin briefly soared to $266 before a dramatic drop, triggered by the U.S. government shutting down the Silk Road. Despite the plunge, it rebounded quickly, proving just how unpredictable—and powerful—this digital currency could be.

As of now, with Bitcoin hovering around $109,000 per coin, that original $27 investment would translate into hundreds of millions of dollars. It’s a jaw-dropping return that sparked awe across the internet.

Reddit users were especially amazed. “5000 BTC for 27 dollars? That’s half a billion today. Insane,” one person wrote. Others shared how Koch’s story inspired their own crypto journeys, with one user saying, “Reading about him is what pushed me to buy Bitcoin back in 2014.”

Another added with a chuckle, “Buying an apartment in Oslo back then was probably a smart move too—Bitcoin or not.”

While wild stories like this are now rare in the crypto world, they still serve as a powerful reminder: sometimes the smallest choices can lead to the most extraordinary outcomes.