The post Bitcoin’s surge prove Wall Street’s crypto converts right appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.
Bitcoin smashed through the $100,000 mark this month, erasing doubts about the career choices of Wall Street elites who risked everything for crypto. These weren’t small-time players—they were Ivy League graduates and high-powered financiers from companies like Morgan Stanley and BlackRock. They ditched secure, well-paying jobs for the unpredictable world of blockchain. For a while, it looked like they made the wrong call. FTX crumbled, Bitcoin tanked to $16,000, and crypto’s reputation hit rock bottom. Family, friends, and former colleagues couldn’t help but say, “Told you so.” Then came 2024. Bitcoin’s rally rewrote the narrative. Donald Trump’s shock election victory in November triggered a price explosion, revitalizing an industry many on the NYSE board had written off. Crypto companies are hiring again, venture capital is flowing into blockchain projects, and the markets are alive. The resurgence has given these risk-takers not only financial relief but also validation. Vivek Raman, a Yale graduate and former Wall Street trader, left behind nearly a decade of stability for crypto during the last bull run. He took a 75% pay cut and joined a blockchain startup. “2024 changed it all,” Raman said. His startup, Etherealize, now focuses on bridging Wall Street and Ethereum ecosystems. He reportedly said he spent years asking himself, “Why aren’t we trading bonds on blockchains?” Now, the industry seems ready to answer that question. The tough road from TradFi to crypto Raman isn’t alone. Wall Street veterans who moved to crypto have lived through cycles of extreme highs and lows. Patrick Liou, a former BlackRock trader, saw Bitcoin hit $50,000 on his first day in crypto. But by 2022, everything fell apart. Bitcoin crashed, offices emptied, and the stigma around crypto careers became suffocating. Liou admitted there were moments he thought about returning to traditional finance. “But it takes belief…