Hey friends, 8xKaramel here, bringing you straight into the wild heart of crypto with The FOMO Files.

Here, we're all about the real deal - no fluff, no BS. We'll be chatting with hardcore degens, sharing their wild stories from the trenches. From epic wins to facepalm-worthy losses, you'll hear it all. Most importantly, it will be real and personal.

Today, we've got a guest who's seen it all - from humble beginnings to multi-million dollar peaks and heart-stopping crashes - a bonafide roller coaster of a journey. Welcome to our world, with Abundant Peaks.

Karamel: Hey! Thanks for giving me the trust and coming on as my first guest. Let’s start with your beginnings. What sparked your interest? Was there a particular coin that made you dive head first?

Abundant Peaks: Mixture of personal reasons. Very complex answer here, really. Am a super curious open minded thinker. In 2015 I was poor and miserable and seeking ways to earn money without a typical job. I searched the web and asked friends and looked everywhere I could. I had one friend who was highly intelligent (genius level IQ) and he mentioned Bitcoin to me, and he mentioned it in a serious capacity that sparked my curiosity. I began to look into it, and I didn't "get it", and that drove me crazy, so i obsessively researched and thus fell down the rabbit hole and never came out. That friend died 6 months later in 2016 in an accident, his death moved my heart and mind in a way I cannot describe. Inspiration would be an understatement, I was determined in every fiber of my being to see this through or die trying.

K: Over time, has your perspective on crypto changed? What influenced this shift?

AP: Again very complex nuanced topic. A bit too vague, my perspectives on many things within crypto have changed many times, and will continue to. I guess my biggest shift is my first 5-6 years in crypto I was more hopeful and optimistic about its future / impact on humanity. The last few years, I have seen a lot of negativity come from the space which is sad, mostly due to misaligned financial incentives that I find troublesome.

K: What was your most significant win? What made it possible?

AP: There are quite a few, to be honest. As you know, in crypto your wealth fluctuates like CRAZY. I've made a million+ then lost 80% of it more than once.

2-3 decisions stand out to me as my biggest

In 2020 I knew with covid, QE, and halving cycle, that crypto would begin a new major expansion in 2021. I prepared accordingly, i put my financial life on the line. I went all in and then took loans out IRL to double down on going all in. Then I just sat on my hands. I traded from 150K -> 9.2m then proceeded to lose 7m of that in a week. You get the idea.

Not getting rekt in the bear market this time around was huge. This is an underrated win. I didnt make really any money during the 2022 bear, but i still outperformed 98% by simply not participating and being patient in cash. I only knew this because I had learned the HARD way like everybody else, in my first collapse in 2018. Most ppl in crypto lose their shirts their first cycle, make sure to learn from your mistakes and create a tangible strategy plan going into future cycles.

I helped developed a top cryptocurrency. I cannot speak on this in detail unfortunately, but I played an essential role in a top crypto that made me 7 figures. I did this mostly by networking and meeting the right people, being in the right chats, right place, right time. Put yourself out there more and luck will inevitably find you

K: Now the other side of the coin - the biggest fuckup. What led to it and how did it influence you?

AP: I have many terrible fuck ups. Sent over 300k to wrong address, lost 90% during 2018... the list goes on, but my worst of all was losing 7m in a single week during May 2021. I'll never forget that. I was over levered and overconfident. God punished my arrogance.

K: What projects or ventures are you working on? How do these align with your interests and skills?

AP: I am currently working on obtaining more social influence in the space, and writing. Also more networking.

K: What are your long-term goals? In other words, why are you here and how will you get where you’re going?

AP: To make enough capital to secure multi generations for my family. I already have a master plan, and have gotten through the hardest part. From here, it is easy. I don’t have to take big risks anymore. I can simply hold major assets, earn yield, gamble on the side, and chill and I will make it next cycle no matter what.

K: How not to get REKT? How to win?

AP: Truly internalize and learn to value money over crypto assets. Detach emotionally, do not cave to social pressures. Its all a psyop. We are in a market. Remember that financial history repeats, like clockwork, study it. I recommend the book 'devils take hindmost; history of financial speculation'. There is nothing new under the sun in markets.

K: If you could give your young crypto self advice, what would it be?

AP: Don’t be such a lone wolf. Socialize and network with others in the industry that align with your goals.

K: How do you foresee the future of crypto?

AP: I believe ETH will likely be the most dominate cryptocurrency, outside of that I am unsure, and honestly worried about the industry from an ideological perspective. Hopefully I can help influence a small part of it into a healthier direction, that’s a nice goal.

Big thanks for opening up and sharing your deeply personal journey. Gotta say, your raw honesty and wisdom had me hooked. Seeing bits of my own trading path reflected in your story is real inspiring - makes me want to up my game even more. Here's hoping I get to grill GCR someday soon!

Till then, it's all about living and learning. Stay tuned, friends.