Born to Mexican parents in El Paso, Texas, Elio Tapia‘s early life was shaped by the border. He spent his childhood in Juárez, Mexico, until the age of 15, when a cartel war engulfed the city, leading his family to move to El Paso. Despite facing such tumultuous circumstances, Elio always kept his focus on his studies and his love for mathematics, which helped him achieve academic excellence and become a top student in school.
Elio’s journey toward success was not a typical one. From the age of 13, he worked alongside his father in a purified water business, learning the ropes of entrepreneurship. He also worked at major retail stores like Hollister and Abercrombie, where he quickly climbed the ranks, becoming a top salesperson and store manager. Despite his success in retail, he was always looking for more, and by the time he was 28, Elio realized that the grind of working paycheck to paycheck wasn’t fulfilling his true potential. But at the time, he had no other choice. He decided to do his job well, giving it his best effort, even though he knew there had to be better financial opportunities out there.
In 2017, Elio first heard about Bitcoin when it was priced at $3,000. Though he didn’t have the money to invest, he couldn’t ignore the potential he saw in the emerging world of cryptocurrency. Later, in 2020, during the pandemic, Elio stumbled upon Ethereum, a cryptocurrency that was valued at just $100 at the time. He quickly saw the potential in this new digital asset, and he began educating himself on everything from stocks to NFTs. By the end of the year, Ethereum had soared in value to over $4,000.
However, it wasn’t always a smooth journey. In 2020, Elio faced a personal setback when his car was stolen. At that moment, he felt an unexpected sense of freedom from the material constraints that had once weighed him down. With this newfound liberation, Elio took a bold step by resigning from his stable job at Abercrombie after 10 years of service, choosing instead to focus on learning and trading in cryptocurrency.
Determined to make his mark in the crypto world, Elio traveled to Tulum with just $500 in his pocket, embodying the “fake it ‘til you make it” mentality. He entered a new chapter of his life with relentless optimism, even though he had no money. This mindset proved to be powerful. During his time in Tulum, Elio doubled his money in just one day by trading. When he returned to El Paso, he decided he wouldn’t go back to his old job. He embraced crypto trading full-time, and his investments began to pay off.
Here, he entered a new phase of his life that completely changed his way of thinking. At the same time that he began to learn more and invest in crypto, he was working to make ends meet, selling air conditioners, washing machines, and solar panels to ensure he didn’t touch the small capital he had invested in crypto.
As Elio’s portfolio grew, he became increasingly passionate about educating others. He launched a project on Solana, a blockchain platform that he believed had huge potential. By 2021, his Solana-based NFT project, Gorillae Gang, became one of the best-selling NFT collections on the platform. He became an advocate for Solana, and later founded Billions Club along with his cousin, a successful online university dedicated to teaching people about Solana and crypto investment strategies.
Built on a foundation of financial freedom, blockchain innovation, and collaboration, Billions Club connects traders of all levels to a vast FinTech and Web3 network. With a mission to empower its members, the community provides access to expert-vetted market insights, educational resources, and networking opportunities, enabling individuals to unlock 100x crypto gems and achieve an abundant, nomadic lifestyle in the dynamic Solana ecosystem.
Elio’s business grew exponentially. His Solana projects saw major success, and he soon reached his first $20,000 sale. By 2024, his portfolio had grown to a value in the seven figures, and he started sharing his wealth-building strategies with others. His vision had expanded; he no longer saw a million dollars as the ultimate goal—he now knew that the possibilities were limitless.
In his own words, Elio says, “When I started thinking big, opportunities started to come my way, and I knew how to take them. First, abundance must come mentally.” His shift in mindset had unlocked a world of success, and he has made it his mission to help others achieve the same.
Today, Elio is focused on helping others reach financial freedom through crypto, particularly through Solana. His goal is simple but ambitious: he wants to create 1,000 millionaires and inspire a global shift in thinking about money, investing, and abundance. He believes that Solana has the potential to offer returns far greater than traditional investments like Bitcoin or Ethereum, and he is actively teaching his growing community how to achieve 5-10x gains—and beyond.
Elio’s message is clear: “Nobody taught us to invest; they only taught us to save. But the money we save loses value over time. We need to learn how to invest, to question the programs we’ve been taught, and to always keep learning.”
Elio’s journey has taken him from working in a warehouse to becoming a respected figure in the crypto world, living in Dubai, and now dedicating his life to his passion: helping others through Solana. His legacy is one of financial education, abundance, and empowerment. With his proven success and dedication, Elio Tapia is proving that with the right mindset and actions, anyone can achieve their dreams—and even exceed them.
Elio’s story is a powerful reminder: Think big, invest wisely, and never stop learning. The future is limitless.
