From selling solar panels to Solana millionaire

Some people diversify their investments. Elio Tapia – aka Elio DeFi – went all in. His conviction in Solana took him from door-to-door sales to buying one of only two limited edition Lamborghinis – all paid for in crypto.

For Tapia, playing it safe was never an option. When he discovered crypto, he didn’t just invest – he bet everything. Quitting his job, selling solar panels to fund his portfolio, and putting nearly every dollar into Solana, he rode the highs and lows of the market with unshakable conviction. Even when Solana crashed from $260 to $8, he refused to walk away. Instead, he doubled down – proving that, for him, crypto wasn’t just an investment. It was a way out.

“I knew crypto was the way. I was 100% sure," he told The Crypto Radio. " What surprised me was how asleep the people were, like how they don’t see what’s going on. How they don’t research about inflation.”

A life shaped by hustle

“I am from Texas, born in Texas. My parents are Mexican. I was born on the border, actually. So very multicultural – Spanish, English, crossing the border almost daily.”

His father was an entrepreneur, a role model who instilled the value of business acumen and persistence. From a young age, Tapia accompanied his father to work at their water purifier plant, observing how he communicated, negotiated deals, and built his enterprise.

But his mother, he recalls, had different expectations. “She was like, 'No, he has to be in school. He has to be studying. He has to be doing the traditional life path'.”

In 2010, a crisis in Mexico forced Tapia and his family to relocate to Texas, where they had to start over. Determined to find his own path, he explored different jobs as he grew. One of his earliest experiences was working as a dishwasher, but his reluctance to adhere to the rigid schedule cost him the job when he failed to show up for a 6 a.m. shift. 

This setback, however, only fueled his drive to seek better opportunities.

He later moved on to retail, working at Hollister before being promoted to a stock leader position at Abercrombie & Fitch. “They saw how I was really good with numbers. I learned from my dad, like he’s an entrepreneur. So they promoted me.”

The crypto awakening

Despite his progress, Tapia felt trapped. He realized that even though he was moving up the ranks, his purchasing power was decreasing.

“What I didn’t enjoy was the salary because it was not enough. And I didn’t enjoy inflation," he explained “I started looking at why when I started with my stockroom position, I could afford X, Y, and Z, and now I could only afford X and Y? Where’s the Z? You know, I was short.”

His first introduction to crypto came in 2017 while studying at the University of Texas in El Paso, where he pursued mechanical engineering. As part of a thesis project on building an electric car, he found himself researching Tesla. This led him to follow Elon Musk closely, and soon, Musk started making headlines discussing Bitcoin, which sparked Tapia's curiosity.

"I researched it, and I was like, 'Oh my God, it has a fixed supply. I get it'," he recalled. "So it's no inflation, you know, it's inflation proof."

Fascinated by the idea of an inflation-proof asset, he began diving deeper into the world of crypto, setting the stage for his eventual transition into the space.

As the pandemic unfolded, he used his free time to deepen his understanding of finance and trading. “I started trading stocks. That’s when I learned about Ethereum.”

Betting everything on Solana

Tapia didn’t just invest in crypto – he went all in. “I told my boss, I quit. And I just went all in on crypto. But I still needed money.”

To fund his investments, he started selling solar panels door-to-door. “I knocked on doors, passed out flyers, posted like crazy on Facebook Marketplace. Every dollar I made, I put 99% of it into crypto.”

Then came Solana, marking a turning point for Tapia. He saw it as a fresh start, an opportunity to engage with a blockchain that was not only fast and efficient but also accessible. He quickly realized its potential to bring more people into the crypto space, recognizing how its low fees and speed made it easier for newcomers to participate.

However, not everything was smooth sailing, when discussing his biggest loss, he revealed that it was also Solana. In fact, Tapia rode SOL from its single-digit price to triple digits, even hodling (holding on for dear life) when it fell back to single digits.

"When I started on Solana, like I said, I went from $7 to $30 and then it went all the way to $260... So I rode it all the way down from $260 to $8. Eight dollars!" he exclaimed.

Tapia saw this setback as motivation to push harder. Instead of backing down, he ramped up his solar sales – a business he balanced alongside his involvement in NFT communities. His persistence paid off, helping him recover and eventually secure some of his biggest wins.

The meme conviction

Like his belief in Ethereum, then Solana, Tapia's belief in memecoins is unwavering, and he credits them as one of the most profitable aspects of his crypto journey. While many dismissed these tokens as speculative and unsustainable, he saw an opportunity early on.

Tapia emphasized that he understood the power of community-driven tokens, attributing much of his success to recognizing the cultural and social impact of memecoins.

"I made a lot of money on Pepe. That was my first big win... I saw how the community of Pepe worked. I understood memes," he said. To him, memes weren’t just internet jokes; they were a revolutionary form of communication that could drive entire financial movements. "Elon Musk tweeted: ‘He who controls the memes controls the world.’ And I thought – 'true'."

Tapia observed that people naturally gravitate toward memes to express their preferences and ideas. He believes that memes create an emotional and visual connection, making complex topics like blockchain more accessible and engaging.

"Memes are the best way of communication," he said. "Because everyone’s visual. And sometimes, you can’t even put it into a sentence, but with a meme, it just clicks."

Tapia's advice for beginners

Tapia believes that 2025 will be a landmark year for Solana's growth in Dubai, as the blockchain ecosystem gains recognition on a global scale.

For newcomers, he offers three key insights:

1. Find a support system. “Have three friends who know what they’re doing and ask them questions.”

2. Understand security. “Blockchain is a one-way street. If you lose your private keys, no one can help you.”

3. Do your own research. “Zoom out. Don’t think you’re going to get rich overnight. Be realistic but be hopeful.”

He also emphasizes risk management. “Even if you’re high conviction, go 90%, not 100%. Always keep something on the side. If you lose everything, you’re back to zero.” Tapia also admitted that today, he sets aside 10% of his wealth, saying that if he lost the 90%, he'd at least have that 10% to start over.

Looking ahead, Tapia emphasizes the importance of understanding inflation and the growing role of cryptocurrency. He believes blockchain and crypto will become an integral part of daily life, whether people realize it or not

His story is a reminder that financial success isn’t just about luck – it’s about learning, adapting, and taking bold risks.

 

Listen to the whole interview on The Crypto Radio's live player or in My Crypto Journey podcast.