Adapt or Die: My Experience from 2017 Through the COVID Shock

Hey everyone, I was just reflecting on how much things have transformed since I first got into crypto back in 2017. In those days, it was all about the ICO frenzy and aiming for the stars. But honestly, the real wake-up call for me came in March 2020. I still remember the chaos when COVID hit and Bitcoin plummeted to around $4k. Everyone I knew was panicking, thinking it was game over. But with my background in QHSE (Quality & Safety), I viewed it as the ultimate test of the system's resilience. In my studies, we learned that a truly 'safe' system isn’t one that never fails but one that can bounce back from a black swan situation. That day, Bitcoin really showed its strength. I’m interested in hearing from other folks who joined in 2017: Did the COVID crash shift how you manage your risk? Or did it actually boost your faith in Bitcoin’s quality compared to back in 2017? As for me, I’ve stopped stressing over daily price swings. If we made it through March 2020, I feel like we can handle anything. Cheers!

No, it didn't change my perspective on risk management. Still the same, continue to accumulate during the crashes and bearish market and just HODL on till we see the light at the end of the tunnel. I don't know but during the pandemic, I really didn't panic when everyone around me did. And perhaps I look it at the long term, that this pandemic will go on for the next couple of years and there's nothing you can do about it. Except that you have a choice if you're in this market, that is to buy Bitcoin because it's cheap and again, HODL for as long as you can.

For those who have experiences the pre-2017 crypto scene, all following has been still water. Bitcoin price increases in the period 03/01/2009 - 31/12/2017 (3285 days) 14 000 000x (from 0.001 usd to 14 156 usd) Bitcoin price increases in the period 01/01/2018 - 28/02/2026 (2980 days) 4.68x (from 14 156 usd to 66 290 usd) Litecoin price increases in the period 03/01/2009 (actually 01/10/2011) - 31/12/2017 12 000x (from 0.02 usd to 232 usd) Litecoin price increases in the period 01/01/2018 - 28/02/2026 0.23x (from 232 usd to 53 usd) Etherum price increases in the period 03/01/2009 (actually 01/08/2014) - 31/12/2017 2 500x (from 0.30 usd to 757 usd) Etherum price increases in the period 01/01/2018 - 28/02/2026 2.53x (from 757 usd to 1916 usd) and so on and so on Pre-2017 and post-2017 are two entirely different crypto scenes.

Honestly in the world crisis like COVID, the management of risk a lot of people did was stopping investment from when it started because there was nothing that didn't came to some persons mind on the time it was getting severe as the days goes because while safety was the aim then in keeping yourself away from contracting the virus but then also making sure you have the money that would buy you all the food you needed till if by the mercy of God everything come back to how they are was what people could think of, and is possible some persons was scared of the money they also have in Bitcoin, if leaving it was a smart thing so actually a lot of  persons confident was lost.

Yes that was a crazy time back in 2017, I was here for it and I got burned, but not in a big way, I was able to see the light and liquidate all the $hit back into Bitcoin. Well I didnt change any risk management, they were uncertain times for sure, nobody knew what exactly was coming next. As the scenario progressed is became clear that Bitcoin would survive and so my confidence strengthened. I think IICR correctly that I made some purchases throughout the COVID time. Yes me too, Bitcoin and the market has been tested countless times before.

Those numbers really put things into perspective! Pre-2017 was the foundation, but the post-2017 "Quality Era" we are in now shows that Bitcoin is becoming a mature asset that can absorb global shocks. I don't know but during the pandemic, I really didn't panic when everyone around me did. And perhaps I look it at the long term, that this pandemic will go on for the next couple of years and there's nothing you can do about it. Except that you have a choice if you're in this market, that is to buy Bitcoin because it's cheap and again, HOLD for as long as you can. Exactly, the "Safety First" instinct during COVID made people choose food over BTC. But those who held proved that Bitcoin’s system design is stronger than human fear. Smart move! Converting noise into quality assets is the ultimate QHSE principle. If we survived 2017 and 2020, we’ve basically stress-tested our own portfolios to the max.

It didn't change it's more like I adapt to it. More like it give me more optimism on what's the future really look like in the world of crypto in the future and how it will really change the way we use it. I don't think that 2020 was the worst one we have for crypto but I think WW3 is far more beyond that if we take a look at it in the macro level. I think we have more worst than the 2020 crash and even the October 10 crash was way worst in terms of dump we have had in years.

I like that you used the word "adapt." In my MQSE (Quality & Safety) studies, we define a "resilient system" not as one that never breaks, but as one that maintains its core functions during a disturbance. By adapting instead of quitting, you’re essentially mirroring the network's own resilience. That is a heavy but necessary perspective. You’re moving the conversation from "Market Risk" (volatility) to "Systemic Risk" (geopolitics). If we look at the October 10 crash you mentioned, it was a brutal "stress test" of liquidity. While 2020 was a black swan driven by external panic, these more recent "heavy dumps" feel like they are driven by internal market mechanics specifically the massive leverage brought in by institutional players. This leads me to a question regarding that "macro level" you mentioned: Do you think the increasing integration of Bitcoin into the traditional financial system makes it safer because of "big money" support, or does it actually create a "Single Point of Failure" where a global conflict (WW3 scenario) would crash BTC alongside legacy markets instead of letting it act as a decoupled life raft? WW3 is a real fear nowdays....