In 2011, a 12-year-old named Tom recorded a YouTube video explaining Bitcoin, then trading at a mere $8. He described it as a “peer-to-peer virtual currency,” a concept that was still obscure to most. With remarkable clarity, Tom outlined Bitcoin’s decentralized nature, how it allowed transactions without a central authority, and even speculated—perhaps cynically—that governments might eventually try to shut it down.

For 13 years, the video sat unnoticed, a digital relic of the early crypto era. That changed a few days ago when crypto enthusiasts on X (Twitter) unearthed it, declaring Tom an accidental visionary. Almost immediately, a Solana-based memecoin, $TPU—named after his old YouTube channel as an acronym—was launched in his honor. What began as an inside joke among Bitcoin maximalists and crypto traders quickly spiraled into a viral phenomenon. The $TPU community managed to locate Tom—now in his mid-20s—and sent him a sizable portion of the coin.

The peer-to-peer (P2P) revolution Tom described has evolved dramatically since his video. Bitcoin, once dismissed as a niche experiment, has become a trillion-dollar asset, with governments and financial institutions actively integrating blockchain technology. P2P transactions, which eliminate the need for intermediaries, have expanded beyond cryptocurrency. Platforms like Ethereum have given rise to decentralized finance (DeFi), where users can lend, borrow, and trade assets without banks. Meanwhile, P2P file sharing, once synonymous with piracy, has matured into legitimate, blockchain-powered content distribution models.

Yet, as Tom predicted, governments have indeed wrestled with P2P’s implications. While Bitcoin remains legal, regulators worldwide have imposed strict rules on exchanges and privacy-focused networks.

Whether $TPU is a fleeting gimmick or a lasting tribute remains to be seen. What is certain is that a long-forgotten video has resurfaced as a testament to the foresight of a 12-year-old, reminding the world just how unpredictable the evolution of technology—and finance—can be.