David Gokhshtein: I Was Buying Cardano (ADA) At $0.02 While People Called Me Dumb

Entrepreneur and crypto expert David Gokhshtein has looked back on one of his earliest cryptocurrency investments, using his experience with Cardano (ADA) to encourage investors to rely on independent research rather than online opinion.

His latest X post revisited the skepticism he faced after buying ADA at just $0.02, before the digital asset eventually climbed above $3 during the previous market cycle.

Gokhshtein recalled that many people criticized his decision when he accumulated ADA at two cents. According to him, those doubts proved unfounded after the cryptocurrency later surged beyond the $3 mark, delivering substantial returns for early holders.

Reflecting on the experience, Gokhshtein said that following the prevailing sentiment on social media could have led him down a very different path. He remarked that if he had listened to critics on the platform, he would likely have been “living under a bridge or serving you coffee at IHOP.”

He followed the statement with a broader message to investors, writing that “research is your friend” before ending the post with the word “Higher,” suggesting he remains optimistic about the long-term outlook for the market.

I was buying $ADA at $0.02 while people were telling me I was dumb as hell.

Then it went over $3.

The point is, if I had listened to people on this app, I’d probably be living under a bridge or serving you coffee at IHOP.

— David Gokhshtein (@davidgokhshtein) June 27, 2026

Community Responds With Personal Investment Experiences

The post prompted several responses from members of the crypto community, many of whom shared their own experiences with Cardano.

One user, Tobias James Reily, said he also purchased ADA at an early stage, though at approximately $0.03 rather than $0.02. Reily noted that he sold half of his holdings after achieving a 5,000% gain during the 2021 bull market while continuing to hold the remaining portion of his investment. He added that, from his perspective, the remaining position is effectively “risk free” because of the profits already secured.

Not everyone accepted Gokhshtein’s account without raising questions. A user identified as Digital Gold Talk asked whether the entrepreneur accumulated his entire position at $0.02 or continued buying as ADA appreciated. The commenter also questioned how Gokhshtein managed the investment after Cardano’s price later declined below $0.15, suggesting that additional details about the trade would provide a more complete picture.

The response highlighted a common discussion within cryptocurrency investing, where entry prices alone do not always reflect the full outcome of an investment strategy. Factors such as averaging up, profit-taking, and long-term holding often determine an investor’s final returns.

Research and Independent Decision-Making Remain the Main Theme

Another community member, Tiger HeartKing, interpreted Gokhshtein’s message as encouragement for investors to trust their own judgment after conducting proper research rather than simply following popular opinion. The commenter said the takeaway was to base investment decisions on personal investigation instead of behaving like “a sheep.”

Although opinions differed in the replies, Gokhshtein’s post remained centered on a consistent message: investors should develop conviction through their own research and avoid allowing criticism on social media to dictate their investment decisions.

His experience with Cardano served as the example he used to reinforce that viewpoint while reminding followers that market sentiment can change dramatically over time.