The best interest rate he could get back in January was about 10% per year. So his profit from bank interest would have been +/- $910 for 2016.
Even after Tax has been deducted for Capital Gains, he will still Net a profit of about $7000 for the year. He is a very happy chap now, and I got a expensive lunch out of this deal. ^smile^
#Disclaimer : These are calculations done by him, so I do not know how accurate they are. Just thought I would share it with you.
Would you risk about $10 000 now, to possibly copy his success? Those were very uncertain times, when he had to make that decision back then.
I bet your friend should be regret selling its 20 btc at $1005 after seeing right now price. But he's doing good for holding it until 1 years. Not so much are like him, mostly dont trust bitcoin. well, by the way, if I have big mount of money, I would take a risk for investing in bitcoin. Because though right now I just have a small money to investing in it, I've already gain a quite big profit. And the bank interest you mention on top, I guess Its the best interest in the world. In my country, the best interest isn't more than 6.5% monthly.