You can't know what happens when the cryptocurrency ETH was at $20. You still don't know what happens. In contrast, with companies, we can take some things for granted, as they have to be open about it to e.g. SEC. With regards to the $20, I knew about Bitcoin when it was a couple of USD (during the Occupy Wallstreet movement, IIRC). I liked the idea, back then. But I didn't end up buying any because to me money is a tool, not a speculative asset. And, as tool, Bitcoin was not very useful then (it still isn't, IMO). Yes, I could've bought it back then. I almost did. But we don't know what the future holds, and for every person with my story there's only a few who did buy it in large enough quantities and exfiltrated their profits at a margin of 10000% like yours. The amount of people who lost money from Bitcoin speculation is also applicable, but you don't hear about the losers. As long as you HODL, all those who HODL win (at least on paper), but as soon as large amounts get exfiltrated, the supply goes up, and value goes down. So it is very important for those who hold the asset to share the HODL mindset (as cultish as it might be).