I’ve been a fan of nostr:npub1jcympy69pht7ptan39se4nd09e4q66qhey649uu3rczm2zh88c7s0n2890 and nostr:npub1lqvv69u549atefvcyfht30lemlyvl9jnz4l7c6ejs20yzpq7hh7sjjfx0r's previous projects for what feels like a long time and must now admit to ambivalent feelings after listening to the latest monthly dedicated to xmr.

On the one hand, it’s a feeling of awareness. One must adapt. I agree, in principle. On the other hand, it’s a sense of defeat. Is this the only road to follow after all the privacy-related letdowns of the past year? Of course not. It’s more nuanced than that. I know so, but does a newcomer?

nostr:npub1jcympy69pht7ptan39se4nd09e4q66qhey649uu3rczm2zh88c7s0n2890 may not be the onboarding platform par excellence, but I’m sure many new people listen to it and learn a ton thanks to that.

Adaptation is one thing, but adoption is another. What rubs me the wrong way is the message being spread from within the btc community, where members are quite ‘I|0’, generally speaking, and for good reason. Until not so long ago, nostr:npub1jcympy69pht7ptan39se4nd09e4q66qhey649uu3rczm2zh88c7s0n2890 was in the same camp, but last year’s developments have changed that significantly. I understand as I also care for privacy.

The hybrid theory on its bed of coexistence sounds rational from a pragmatic view within the privacy sphere. Yet, from most other angles it entails ‘blind focus’ risks, mainly to newcomers, who are often easily influenced due to a lack of knowledge they cannot be blamed for.

That’s what I struggle with.

As an antidote, maximalism in its toxic and less toxic forms (the binary approach, let’s say) has prevented a lot of misery among newbies and altcoiners alike.

I am not taking a stance for or against privacy coins. Neither am I taking a stance for or against maximalism. To each their own. I do want to express my concern about all those other ‘projects’ new people can be sucked into in the same breath. There’s btc and crypto. Privacy coins are crypto. They’re not necessarily shit. I know so, but does a newcomer?

From an educational point of view, I consider it important to guide people towards btc and adequate privacy practices related to btc first. Optional sidetracks could be looked into at a later stage.

That’s the order of things for me. YMMV, of course. I’m no fundamentalist either. However, this approach will suit the majority, I reckon.

I’ll keep on listening to see my own beliefs challenged once a month by a very knowledgeable nostr:npub1tr4dstaptd2sp98h7hlysp8qle6mw7wmauhfkgz3rmxdd8ndprusnw2y5g (much respect, btw). nostr:npub1lqvv69u549atefvcyfht30lemlyvl9jnz4l7c6ejs20yzpq7hh7sjjfx0r is crucial in adding nuance, as well as the occasional disclaimer aimed at new listeners, perhaps?

I do at the same time hope the bitcoin-centric core with nostr:npub15c88nc8d44gsp4658dnfu5fahswzzu8gaxm5lkuwjud068swdqfspxssvx doesn’t lose its foundation [pun not intended] within the new nostr:npub1jcympy69pht7ptan39se4nd09e4q66qhey649uu3rczm2zh88c7s0n2890 conceptualisation. That would be a deplorable loss, imho.

Bitcoin privacy deserves fighting for. No need to outsource all efforts towards it. No need to point newcomers towards a totally different path altogether either as long as absolute privacy is not their top concern.

Think of newcomers like parents think of their children.

No privacy coin could ever hold the incredible tangible and non-tangible values of Bitcoin/bitcoin in store.

But hey, in the end, I’m just a non-technical aficionado with an opinion. Don’t take me/it too seriously.

Walking into 2025 with a mind more open than ever before.

Best wishes!

Peace and love 🧡