Kristoffer Koch bought £15 worth of bitcoins in 2009 - four years later they are worth an estimated £430,000.
Experts believe that bitcoins may become the future of currency
A Norwegian man who bought £15 worth of bitcoins and then forgot about them for four years has been able to buy a flat in Oslo thanks to the huge appreciation of the virtual currency.
Kristoffer Koch was doing research on encryption in 2009 when on a whim he decided to invest a small sum in the recently-created bitcoins.
Mr Koch, now 29 and working as an engineer, only remembered the investment in April this year when he read an article about the soaring value of bitcoins.
His 5,000 bitcoins were suddenly worth around £430,000.
After spending a full day trying to remember his password, Mr Koch cashed in £116,000 by selling a fifth of his newly-acquired fortune.
After deducting 28% in taxes, the money was enough for the deposit and restoration of a flat in central Oslo, one of the world's most expensive cities.
"Not in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that they would have soared like this," Mr Koch said.
"It's bizarre. These psychological reflexes that make us attach a value to something that doesn't have any in itself."
Bitcoins can be exchanged for real money or used to purchase goods and services online.
The virtual currency is increasingly used for internet transactions and its value is extremely volatile, subject to speculation.
An engineer too so he should be getting a decent wage.
"28% in taxes", I wonder where that tax came from? Seems strange as it was essentially a currency conversion on income that would have been already taxed. No one ever charged me for converting old euros into pounds.
An engineer too so he should be getting a decent wage."28% in taxes", I wonder where that tax came from? Seems strange as it was essentially a currency conversion on income that would have been already taxed. No one ever charged me for converting old
everything is crazily taxed in Norway erse , a mate of mine moved out there years ago , 6 x cans of Fosters are like £9 , a new Ford Focus is like 28k
they've all got good jobs though & get tax back on everything so gives them all the incentive to buy a place , drive a new car etc
Not really heard of bitcoins everything is crazily taxed in Norway erse , a mate of mine moved out there years ago , 6 x cans of Fosters are like £9 , a new Ford Focus is like 28k they've all got good jobs though & get tax back on everything so give
There's a geezer on youtube called 'backtoconstitution' who knows a lot about this stuff and he's also a really funny guy with an offbeat & suspicious opinion about everything.
I only stumbled upon his videos a few months back because he's also a nutty conspiracy theorist but he's intelligent too;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsnjocJ7UDc
That's one of my favourites but there are plenty of videos about Bitcoin (on his channel) and I do believe this guy knows what he's talking about.
PS - I always seem to stumble across these tales when it's too fcukin' late to take advantage
There's a geezer on youtube called 'backtoconstitution' who knows a lot about this stuff and he's also a really funny guy with an offbeat & suspicious opinion about everything.I only stumbled upon his videos a few months back because he's also a nutt
aye moonbeam... never heard of a currency conversion being taxed though. he'd have already been taxed on his $15 to buy them. doubt he's complaining either way.
aye moonbeam... never heard of a currency conversion being taxed though. he'd have already been taxed on his $15 to buy them. doubt he's complaining either way.
There are plenty of Bitcoin videos to browse though on there - he's my source concerning everything...I'd consult him first if I needed a shíte! No wonder you people on here think I'm bananas!
TMM - if I was I'd change my name from C0CK like that bloke http://www.youtube.com/user/BackToConstitution/videosThere are plenty of Bitcoin videos to browse though on there - he's my source concerning everything...I'd consult him first if I needed a
Yep it's crazy zazu , like he says the cost of living is just as crazy though
This was 10 years ago now & that was the first job he landed , no doubt he's on a lot more now
also gets snowed in for weeks on end every winter , not sure i like the sound of it tbh
Yep it's crazy zazu , like he says the cost of living is just as crazy thoughThis was 10 years ago now & that was the first job he landed , no doubt he's on a lot more nowalso gets snowed in for weeks on end every winter , not sure i like the sound o
25 years ago long before mobiles and today's modern technology, I invested 50k in a magnificent Japanese invention. It was a 2" tv set which you could take anywhere (even to the top of Ben Nevis) and watch tv shows broadcast from anywhere in the world. With tremendous picture quality and full recording facility it was way ahead of it`s time. Like all great investments it was too good to be true. They forgot to tell investors that it worked off 12 car batteries
25 years ago long before mobiles and today's modern technology, I invested 50k in a magnificent Japanese invention. It was a 2" tv set which you could take anywhere (even to the top of Ben Nevis) and watch tv shows broadcast from anywhere in the worl
an unknown Japanese guy has built a virtual vault with bitcoins.
there are only so many bitcoins in this vault. Data miners/hackers mine data to get the bitcoins out of this vault. I am not really up to speed with mining data but I believe the more bitcoins in circulation the harder it is to get new bitcoins.
As there is limited supply, the demand dictates the price of bitcoins much like a currency.
Its an interesting concept but hard to trust from an investment point of view (too many unknowns). I think virtual currencies will be quite popular going forwards as Governments cannot mess with their pricing through politics.
in simple terms,an unknown Japanese guy has built a virtual vault with bitcoins.there are only so many bitcoins in this vault. Data miners/hackers mine data to get the bitcoins out of this vault. I am not really up to speed with mining data but I b
I am not sure. I put £100 into them a few months back as an interest investment.
the theory fascinates me.
I have written it off in my mind though and would not be putting any serious money towards it.
As I say, I think virtual currencies will be a part of the future but it might not be bitcoins given their shady reputation
I am not sure. I put £100 into them a few months back as an interest investment.the theory fascinates me.I have written it off in my mind though and would not be putting any serious money towards it.As I say, I think virtual currencies will be a pa