Can anyone on Earth use Bitcoin for free, without permission?
Discussion
More or less, yes.
However, obtaining, hodling, and spending it privately requires specialized methods that are too inconvenient or complex for most people.
The same could be said for obtaining Monero.
My concern is more about the current trajectory. Bitcoin is becoming more and more captured by the financial and regulatory powers.
A more honest unit of account and MoE would be a great advancement, but the loss of financial privacy would be catastrophic for individual freedoms.
No one has captured Bitcoin.
True, but "they" appear to be trying and have made significant progress.
The definition of "capture" is also important.
If Bitcoin becomes a mainstream MoE and/or SoV and all useful exchanges and payment rails require KYC and permission, then I would consider it captured.
All CEXs, Square, Strike and other leaders in this space are fully KYC'd and require permission.
I doubt it will be a black/white outcome. There will probably be a mainstream KYC/permissioned economy and a niche non-KYC/permissionless one.
Bitcoin cannot be captured as long as two or more people can trade with it directly.