Nostr is the Church of Bitcoin. And as a bitcoin unbeliever, I'd like to probe the understandings and beliefs of those who are really into bitcoin.

These false dichotomy questions are meant to spur discussion, of course I don't think anyone can simply choose one over the other, but I wonder what people are thinking.

Which of the following is true:

1. If government went away, the people would be free of the oppression of taxes, all interactions would be voluntary, and anarcho-capitalism can finally bring in a utopia.

2. if government went away, the infrastructure would erode (roads, the internet, power distribution, sewage, etc) and people would be living in fear of violent gangs that would have bloody and terrible battles for power.

Which of the following is true:

1. Bitcoin will grow to the point of being the world currency, at which point government won't have any reliable way to collect taxes and government will shrink away.

2. Bitcoin won't get much larger than it already is today because if it gets much bigger governments will shut it down, seeing it as an existential threat.

I could ask more but I think you get the point.

My belief is that small governments are good and necessary things, and governments will not allow themselves to lose revenue in any significant amount, so bitcoin can't grow much larger unless it embraces KYC (which the Church of Bitcoin clearly doesn't). And therefore IMHO there is no bitcoin endgame other than where we currently are. I believe we are living in an abnormal period of laxity.

I"m about to run off and I won't see the replies to this for hours, so don't expect me to participate in the discussion right away.

BTW: I am libertarian, I believe in free markets, I like power in the hands of the people, I hate the fact that governments are necessary, and I love free speech. But also I think I'm pragmatic and realistic.

I am not BTC maxi. But I have some BTC. Reasoning is probabilistic:

I *know*, 100% sure, fiat will go to shit, I am already seing my fiat evaporate from the bank (inflation numbers are fake) in Brazil, I am losing ~10%/year, besides being taxed to death. I am sure in 10 y I will be much poorer (and everybody around me too). And in 20y it will be even worse. The descent has been already happening for decades.

I am not 100% sure BTC will be confiscated, or if the government will be smart enough to close all in/off ramps into tax hell and draconian persecution. Probably it will. But the government may be too incompetent, corrupt ( then I have to pay bribes ) or just colapse before that. Or at least, BTC wealth may last a few years after fiat evaporates.

By 'confiscate' I do not mean just taking BTC from exchanges. They can track it, find you, and give a tip to the cartels. Then bandits go to your house, cut your children's fingers untill you give them the keys. Government boys will get their share.

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Yeah. I have hope that bitcoin is the start of a paradigm shift, a massive revolution in how people and governments operate. But I also know how nasty governments can and will be if they feel threatened (just look at Julian Assange or Ross Ulbricht).