Bytecoin in its current form was not created and publicly released in 2012. I was around...it was no where to be found.
Be wary when considering investing in this coin.
The date of Bytecoin launch was confirmed by several sources. For example this one:
http://bitcoinbarbie.com/cryptonote-open-source-technology-concept/ is an interview with Catherine Erwin, CryptoNotes Communications Manager. She tells about how Cryptonote and then Bytecoin were created.
I you're saying you were around... maybe yours and Bytecoin's paths didn't cross somehow?