On a snowy morning in Calgary’s Stephen Avenue, the holiday season brought an unusual hustle and bustle. Brent Garrow, who had been living on the streets for the past six months, was a regular face on the avenue.
He mentions that the Mustard Seed, Alpha House, and Calgary Drop-In Centre are the only places he knows he can find shelter. He also notes how generous passersby can be, often offering him coffee, food, and sometimes even cash.
However, on this particular day, something unusual happened. A man, well-dressed in a suit and tie, approached him, handed him a note, wished him happy holidays, and walked away. Initially, Garrow was about to toss the note away, but he decided to take a closer look.
He found that the note claimed to carry the value equivalent to one Bitcoin, which was valued at more than $130,000 Canadian at the time. Such an amount would undoubtedly be life-changing for anyone, let alone someone in Garrow’s situation, provided that the note was legitimate.
With a blend of hope and doubt, Garrow contacted Global News, admitting that he didn’t know much about Bitcoin but remained hopeful. Unfortunately, his dreams of a financial breakthrough were short-lived. The note, in reality, was worth nothing more than the paper it was printed on.
Cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin, is managed online through ‘wallets’ that allow users to access the larger blockchain network. Sometimes, users print this information on paper, but this note didn’t contain any such information.
Dennis Kasukawa, CEO of Vancouver Bitcoin, explains that he would have expected to see a QR code or a series of 24 random words (a security feature for crypto wallets) on the note if it truly carried any Bitcoin value.
The general understanding and acceptance of cryptocurrency have grown significantly since Kasukawa launched his business in 2018. However, he emphasizes that it’s not a magic wand to quick riches. He likens Bitcoin to gold – it’s a store of value rather than something you can spend directly.
For Garrow, even a fraction of the $130,000 would make a significant difference in his life. He explains that a total of $1,500, for initial rent, a damage deposit, and food for a month, would give him a place to stay and bring him happiness.
