This article is about the Bitcoin journey of Dr. Awesome Doge, the founder of TONX. Over a decade, it has witnessed earth-shattering changes that were unimaginable in 2014, with Bitcoin prices soaring from $200 to over $100,000, merely a part of the story. (Background: Dr. Awesome Doge, founder of TONX: Bitcoin opens the era of Web3, TON is a culmination of efforts) (Additional background: Early core members of TON recount the top 10 key contributions that influenced the early development of TON) Since 2013, I have been a Bitcoin researcher and have also translated (proficient in Bitcoin). Over the years, I have witnessed every important milestone—from the early Bitcoin community to the evolution of exchanges, from the birth of Ethereum to the growth of the TON and Telegram ecosystem, until the recent approval of Bitcoin ETFs. When Bitcoin reached $100,000, I felt both gratitude and amazement at the path we have traveled. Let me share this extraordinary decade-long Bitcoin journey. 1. Introduction: My Bitcoin Journey In 2013, as a 20-year-old university student, I was deeply captivated by the emerging blockchain technology when I first encountered Bitcoin. Many people asked me why I had not achieved what is called financial freedom. Indeed, I have seen some peers who dared to take risks, even selling their houses to buy Bitcoin at $200 each. However, that was not my situation—I did not have enough savings to invest at that time and could not fully comprehend Bitcoin's potential. In 2014, I attempted to borrow $3,000 from my parents to buy Bitcoin, but was refused. Looking back, perhaps their decision was right—after all, no one could foresee Bitcoin's future. Maybe it is this uncertainty that makes Bitcoin both a challenging and fascinating asset. 2. Exploring Bitcoin: From Academia to Practice In 2014, Bitcoin first broke through $1,000 and became a hot topic in Taiwan. I remember discussing this new type of digital currency with my roommate in the dormitory. When he mentioned Bitcoin, I immediately felt curious, although I initially only learned the basics from Wikipedia. It was not until Bitcoin reached this milestone that my professor encouraged me to explore its technical aspects more deeply. Under his guidance, I began researching how Bitcoin works and the core technologies and concepts behind it. In addition to classroom learning, I was also drawn to the Bitcoin community. On the then-mainstream social platform Facebook, I discovered some groups sharing the latest Bitcoin information. Through these groups, I began studying various cryptocurrency exchanges—such as BTC-e, Poloniex, OKCoin, and Huobi—and analyzing their operational logic. 2014 became a year for me to explore the world of cryptocurrencies. I delved into trading bots and arbitrage strategies, which not only deepened my understanding of how the cryptocurrency market operates but also allowed me to experience the risks and challenges of Bitcoin firsthand. 3. Technological Breakthroughs and Community Building In 2014, my engagement with Bitcoin deepened, and I began conducting rigorous academic research. Under the guidance of my professor, I studied the core technologies supporting Bitcoin—its decentralized peer-to-peer network, cryptographic hash functions, and the innovative Hashcash algorithm. Through this research, I realized that Bitcoin is not just a product of computer science but also an innovative system that integrates multiple disciplines, including economics and finance. This academic journey took me to the Academia Sinica in 2015. While continuing my research on Bitcoin, I began exploring the #Tor network—a technology that shares many fundamental principles with Bitcoin's decentralized architecture. Tor's privacy mechanisms inspired me to rethink online security and allowed me to take a fresh look at Bitcoin's privacy features. I realized that Bitcoin provides pseudonymity rather than true anonymity—a distinction that has become increasingly important in subsequent research. As my understanding of the technology deepened, my community involvement also grew. I established the largest Chinese Bitcoin community at the time and connected with entrepreneurs and developers from pioneering companies like Maicon, Bito, and YesBTC. These connections were not limited to online interactions—I also attended some of the earliest Bitcoin meetups, discussing the practical applications of the technology with enthusiasts from around the world. 4. The Original Intent of Bitcoin and Global Vision In 2014, the global Bitcoin community began considering how to make Bitcoin a universal payment tool. At that time, enthusiasts started introducing Bitcoin into payment scenarios, and even some shops and restaurants accepted it as a payment method. Whether online or offline, the community's focus was more on practical applications rather than speculation. However, Bitcoin's adoption also exposed some issues, such as slow transaction speeds and rising fees, which made it less practical in microtransaction scenarios. Nevertheless, the community's innovative spirit continued. The emergence of the Lightning Network improved Bitcoin's performance, making transactions faster and cheaper. Although the Lightning Network has achieved some success, it still faces challenges in terms of usability and decentralization. 5. The Evolution of Blockchain: Ethereum and Decentralization With Bitcoin's success, many blockchain projects began to emerge, the most famous of which is Ethereum. By introducing smart contracts, Ethereum expanded blockchain applications from digital currency to decentralized finance (DeFi) and decentralized applications (DApps), marking the next leap in blockchain innovation. In addition, new consensus mechanisms have continually emerged, such as Cosmos's PoS (Proof of Stake), which significantly reduces energy consumption. Privacy-enhancing technologies like ZK-SNARKs and homomorphic encryption further improve blockchain scalability, security, and privacy, propelling blockchain development to new heights. 6. TON Blockchain: Advancing the Payment Ecosystem As an early Bitcoin player, I have always focused on the potential of cryptocurrencies in the payment domain. For this reason, in 2021, I chose to shift my research focus to @TON_blockchain and joined the TON core team. TON integrates decentralized storage, networks, the Lightning Network, dPoS consensus, and sharding technology, representing the future of blockchain. In addition to technical breakthroughs, its deep integration with Telegram provides unparalleled payment solutions. To promote the TON blockchain as an inclusive global financial system, I founded @TONX_Studio and launched @TONXAPI, providing powerful RPC infrastructure and API services for developers building TON applications. Telegram has 1.4 billion registered users and nearly 1 billion active users, making it one of the top five social platforms in the world. In 2023, the integration of the TON wallet with Telegram mini-programs significantly expanded TON's application scenarios. Today, there are already over $1 billion in USDT issued on TON, injecting new momentum into the global payment ecosystem. 7. A Decade of Bitcoin: Reflection and Outlook This decade-long blockchain journey has witnessed earth-shattering changes that were unimaginable to us back in 2014. The price of Bitcoin has soared from $200 to over $100,000, merely telling part of the story. The real transformation lies in the increasing institutional...

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