The latter will have a stronger mycelium effect IMO. people everywhere are losing trust in their government. Bitcoin adoption at the nation state level doesn't have as strong of an impact as bitcoiners claim (ie el Salvador)
Discussion
El Salvador is one case study, and there's important information in it. The top down roll out of Bitcoin adoption has hit resistance, some minor and some major (protests in the streets etc.)
Agree 100% that 1 million individuals have a stronger affect on big B Bitcoin. This truth, I think, is often inconvenient..so easier paths are taken. Targeting those with capital or who can take policy actions is a much more well worn path.
The block reward nonce isn't found by taking the well worn path of blocks that have already been hashed..it's finding a new nonce, and the proof of work that backed up the solve.