I hear this well-worn quote from Hayek about sly, roundabout, something in the context of bitcoin perhaps fulfilling Hayek's suggestion. First, it can go both ways. Do we really think that the only thing the powers will do against a competitor is show up at people's doors and shoot them in the face? Second, we are in a world where questions about virtual currencies appear on tax forms and Goldman Sachs is buying bitcoin.

The sly moment of bitcoin passed a while ago. The opposition's (well-organized and well-funded) slyness and roundaboutness is the thing to guard against.