Back in 2013, my friend Jake was obsessed with this new thing called Bitcoin. At the time, it seemed like a nerdy hobby, and I often teased him about it. He'd spend hours mining Bitcoin on his gaming PC, which he proudly called his "gold mine." One evening, over a pint at our favorite pub, Jake insisted that cryptocurrencies were the future. I rolled my eyes and made a bet with him—a mere $50—that his digital coins would amount to nothing.

Fast forward to 2021, Bitcoin hit an all-time high. Jake, who'd held onto his coins through the years, suddenly found himself sitting on a small fortune. He cashed out just enough to buy a sleek new Tesla but kept the rest, convinced the ride wasn't over yet. He never let me forget that $50 bet. Every time we meet, he buys the drinks and jokingly says, "Cheers to the future!" Now, I can't help but wonder what other "nerdy hobbies" I'm underestimating.