Classes got busy in Théo’s class in 2021 (the first names were changed at his request). In philosophy, economics or English, it wasn’t the teachers who noticed the “bored” high school graduate. In his high school in Brittany, he and his friends had their eyes on their smartphone and on one of their classmates, Lucas. Suspended at its top. “He was the one who told us when to buy or sell,” Theo still says.
“Lucas started winning a lot. He wanted to drop out of college. »
The small gang plays investors in very volatile and risky financial markets. “Cryptocurrencies and Forex (foreign currencies)”, Théo list. The former have collapsed in recent months. King Bitcoin has fallen from €60,000 in November 2021 to just under €20,000 in the past few days.
In the forex market, “multipliers and leverage” drive friends crazy. “You bet 1 euro and if the price goes up you can win 500x your stake. But it can also go the other way…” Théo recalls: “When we lost, you got to high school, everyone was sulking! Lucas starts to “win a lot”. “He earned up to 3,000 euros in one month. He wanted to stop studying…” Théo recalls. Well then, a rate that “should go up” continued its negative course. Balance sheet: “900 euros in debt” for the market guru. All friends have quit. “Commerce is too complex. You’re suffering, that’s not good,” comments Theo.
“I was totally addicted to online poker”
The young man takes up sports betting. “I was totally addicted to online poker. In this game, he and his friends “won a lot … and lost a lot”. The lure of profit drives some to a clearly illegal “game”. In the end, the stock market madness lasted “three months” for Theo. Sports betting quickly got him drunk. “Overall, I didn’t win anything, but I didn’t lose anything either. »
This is not the case for all. There is risk inherent in any bet, stock market or sport. And there are also the numerous social media scams that target those who think they can make money quickly and effortlessly. “I was aware that I wouldn’t be able to earn my living with it,” says Théo today. He got into it “out of curiosity” because “all friends only talked about it”. Looking for that “little stress” that takes courage when the ax falls: “Will I win? “. Théo got his high school diploma, a place in a good school. And to bring euros back into the register: “A holiday job! “. Luke works too. But he couldn’t pocket the precious diploma.
