Exactly this. That’s the paradox we’re living through:
Yes, anyone can opt into a Bitcoin standard today. That freedom is real, and it’s the source of hope.
But parallel to that, there’s a macro push forming above us, using Bitcoin to rebuild a financial empire that looks eerily familiar:
Wrapped rails, stablecoin settlements, dollar-denominated debt on crypto infrastructure.
So while we, those who understand the core problems, may retain sovereignty and use Bitcoin as intended, the vast majority who are economically unaware or simply trusting the system will likely be onboarded into something very different, a controlled, dollar-wrapped version dressed in the language of innovation.
That’s the risk: Bitcoin succeeds, but the people remain trapped.
This is why education, open discussion, and building genuine peer-to-peer alternatives matters so much right now.
Appreciate your comment. The more people start living the Bitcoin standard from the inside out, the harder it becomes to co-opt.
Absolutely. And is this where Gresham's law comes into play, good money will drive out bad? Eventually people will choose bitcoin and hopefully, in the main, those who need it most, choose it first. Agree education and communication is vital, alongside easy to use tools. Not everyone will and can have offline storage and utxo's. The other hope i have is that as more and more people who understand this come to be in different roles, e.g. politicians, they start having the difficult conversations and make the tougher short term decisions for long term gain. I do agree, it feels like we are at an inflection point and we must all do what we can
Appreciate you engaging so thoughtfully, Jamesy. This isn’t the easiest topic to face up to, and I’ve found that the more I’ve dug into it, the more complex and uncomfortable the questions become.
I’ve been working quietly on a broader project that explores this in depth, looking at how power structures may be shifting around Bitcoin rather than away from it. Some of the early conclusions I’ve come to suggest time is the most underestimated variable. Or more precisely, the lack of it.
That leads to some uncomfortable end points, especially for those who aren’t paying attention, or who think Bitcoin’s adoption will automatically preserve its ethos.
We need more conversations like this, open, grounded, and forward-looking.
Because you’re right: we are at an inflection point, and the decisions made now (or not made) could define the architecture of the next monetary era.
Thank you again for engaging, I take great value from your viewpoint 👊🏻
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