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A viral story about a 20-year-old lottery champion abandoning a $1 million sum in favor of a $1,000-per-week lifetime annuity has attracted global attention.
Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has joined the discussion with a crypto perspective. CZ suggested the young winner would have been “better off” taking the lump sum and investing it in Bitcoin or BNB.
With Bitcoin hovering around $90,000 and BNB at $865, CZ implied that the long-term upside of crypto far outweighs the safety of fixed, modest weekly payments.
The Lottery Winner’s Decision
Notably, the situation centers on Brenda Aubin-Vega, a 20-year-old from Montreal who scratched a Gagnant à Vie (“Winner for Life”) ticket and hit the top prize: $1,000 every week for the rest of her life.
Shocked by the win, she chose the lifetime annuity instead of the $1 million upfront payment. Aubin-Vega said the steady income feels “safer” and provides long-term peace of mind, especially as she hopes to buy a home in the future.
At $1,000 per week, she would reach the $1 million mark in roughly 19 years. By this time, she will be close to 40.
If invested at a modest 5% rate, the weekly payments could accumulate to a future value of $1 million in about 13 years, or even $2 million in 21 years.
Meanwhile, commentators argue that the lump sum offers them immediate control over the prize’s full financial potential.
Crypto Changes the Equation
CZ’s argument centers on opportunity cost. Specifically, holding $1 million in appreciating assets like BTC or BNB could become more valuable over the decades.
His scenario assumes the winner could take the $1 million lump sum, invest it in Bitcoin or BNB, withdraw $1,000 weekly for living expenses, and still end up with a portfolio worth several million dollars over time.
This view relies heavily on the belief that Bitcoin could reach, and surpass, $1 million in the coming years. In particular, industry leaders like Cathie Wood and Michael Saylor have said BTC’s price could reach $1 million per coin by 2030. Saylor even has a 2045 price of $13 million per coin.
Effectively, these projected outcomes could multiply today’s $1 million many times over into tens of millions of dollars.
Security vs. Growth
Indeed, the lottery decision has stirred a major online controversy. Some people say Brenda made the safe, sensible choice by opting for a guaranteed income for life with no stress or investment work. Notably, her decision effectively provides a $4,000 monthly salary for life.
Meanwhile, others argue she gave up the chance to earn far more in the long run, given her young age. Critics also point out that her $1,000 weekly payment could lose purchasing power due to inflation over time.
CZ’s crypto-focused angle suggests that digital assets could offer a more inflation-resistant alternative to a fixed fiat payout.
He also framed her choice in terms of an extremely long time horizon. Assuming she lives another 100 years, withdrawing $1,000 every week amounts to around $5 million total.
She will be better off to accept $1m today, ape bitcoin (or BNB), then spend $1k each week for the rest of her life, with millions left over.
Will be clear in a few years.
Assume she lives 100 more years, she gets $5m (no inflation). Today: BTC $90k, BNB $865. Let's 👀 https://t.co/UYOzoeTFVn
— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) December 11, 2025