The Bitcoin idea.
The Crypto currency, Bitcoin has in its mere decade long existence been described and ascribed many different explanations.
Some have called it harshly “Rat Poison”- Warren Buffet and Mark Cuban.
Some have hailed it’s innovation and future promise,- Tim Draper.
Financial journalists have battled and pundits have proclaimed it dead and alive, a innovation and store of value. A currency, a scam to a safe haven.
Bitcoin captures our hearts and minds I believe and its in news mainly for its monetary value. Its something both main street and wall street can agree upon and discuss. The worker and the hedge fund manager all watch for the dollar signs associated to Bitcoin. It has become in talks and in news, a asset.
If this is a good or bad thing is above my pay grade. But I do have some new ideas and thoughts I believe about what Bitcoin might be, and thoughts on the genius of Satoshi Nakamoto, be it a person or group. From a strictly anthropological and philosophical perspective. Lets take away the monetary interest of Bitcoin.
Let me backtrack and lead you off to the side with a movie and a comic called V for Vendetta. A movie I highly recommend to watch for its stylistic interpretation.
“ The central theme of V for Vendetta is freedom and its relationship with anarchy, or the absence of government. V describes himself as an anarchist (as does Alan Moore, the author) — one who believes that all governmental authority is corrupt because it infringes on human freedom.”- (https://www.litcharts.com/lit/v-for-vendetta/themes#:~:text=The%20central%20theme%20of%20V,it%20infringes%20on%20human%20freedom.)
Now lets play this anarchist idea or tenant against the backdrop of the financial crash and economic collapse of capitalism, when big banks through shady businesses, destroyed the world economy. Only to get bailed out by tax payers and government. Ina way that the tax payer had no say in. Institutions set out to protect us, failed the regular worker and the pensions paid for bail outs. It was clear what side government was on and in whose pocket and with what money they where playing.
Now divert back to Satoshi Nakamoto’s Whitepaper. It’s a anarchist manifesto against government and big banks. Just like in V for Vendetta, The genius idea for Satoshi Nakamoto to stay anonymous, just like V in V for Vendetta, allows for the anarchist idea to spread.
And its for this reason I love Bitcoin. There is no central figure to rally behind.
I love Etherium as well, but unlike Bitcoin, they have Vitalik, a leader figure and icon. Ripple has centrality, even Monero has a figure behind it. No Bitcoin is unique and genius. Its not the first crypto currency, but its amazing.
Because Bitcoin is not a currency to me, it’s not just a store of value or just a asset.
It’s a idea.
Or to paraphrase Chamath Palihapitiya, Founder and CEO of Social Capital Hedosophia II, “ Bitcoin is insurance for when all else fails.”
I believe Bitcoin is a revolt a idea against too much control, to much oversight and reclaiming freedom.
So for me Bitcoin is a idea. Now what makes Bitcoin ultimately unique is that its moved from the underground, to the mainstream. From Main street to Wall street. From the fringes to the living room. From Occupy Wall street to Institutions. The central theme of Bitcoin and it’s idea of freedom is always there.
So for me when someone says Bitcoin is anonymous, I don’t automatically cringe. I agree, yes it is. It is you, it is I, it is us all.
We are all Satoshi Nakamoto.
