I got into Bitcoin in 2011. Why? Because since the 70s I had understood that debt-based money was the cause of most trouble in the world and the ultimate driver of servitude.

A couple of decades later, and many books read, I was intellectually and philosophically primed for Bitcoin when it arrived. I actually first heard of it in 2010, but was unable to mine it (wrong computer) so had to wait until the first exchanges appeared.

Fact is, at the time I had no idea whether Bitcoin would or could succeed or not, I just wanted to be part of it because it was a beacon of freedom. Since then, seeing its monetary value rise is proof it is succeeding in its mission.

So I'm definitely in it for the freedom, and it's monetary value is a metric to measure its progress towards its ultimate goal.