TL;DR
A trader accidentally turned $18,000 into $1,800 (or less) with a single typo, reminding us all that markets reward ruthlessness, not regret. The real question: is it luck or legalized theft?
Story
Someone’s retirement vanished faster than a crypto bro’s fortune in a bear market. How? A mistyped decimal point. They listed shares for $0.75 instead of $7.50 (or maybe even $17.50—who knows with these apes?).
Our accidental “hero” snagged nearly 2,000 shares at a 90% discount, netting $18,000 almost instantly. Imagine finding that much cash stuffed in a dumpster—except the dumpster’s owner just filed for bankruptcy.
This isn’t some victimless market quirk. It’s a brutal reminder that exchanges are digital casinos, where fortunes are won and lost on keystrokes. Remember the flash crash of ‘10?
‣ Flash Crash: When algorithms briefly tanked the market, wiping out billions.
Sure, this time it’s one unlucky soul, not the entire system. But the principle’s the same: fragile systems, unpredictable outcomes.
The real kicker? Our “winner” is already paranoid about the trade being reversed. They’re right to worry. Brokerages aren’t charities. And when someone makes $18,000 in a minute, someone else is down $18,000—plus therapy bills.
This isn’t about celebrating a lucky break. It’s a stark lesson in market mechanics, human error, and the thin line between profit and disaster.
Advice
Don’t trust ’limit orders.’ They’re as reliable as a politician’s promise. Double-check every. Single. Digit.