Hi Guys!
This is my very first real post on SteemIT, and I though I should introduce myself to the community, and explain how I got into Bitcoin (BTC) and cryptocurrencies in general.
I am historian by profession, and I have a PhD in Modern European History from the University of Southampton, UK. You might say, "how come a historian became interested in bitcoin?". True, one usually assume that cryptocurrencies are for cryptographers, IT guys, geeks, or computer engineers, or at least someone who is familiar with finances, banking and investment in general.
I think this general assumption cannot be further from the truth. Let me explain!
I heard about bitcoin around 2013, when the price was around $60. This was the time when the media first picked up the topic. Then, deeply engaged in historical research, I failed to do adequate research about this new concept of money, and, fooled by the assumptions and accusations made against bitcoins by the mainstream media I said to myself:
"Ah, this is geek money, nerd money, gangster money. ... It cannot possibly work!"
But, knowing that our current form of politics and economy is far from being perfect, experiencing myself the difficulties of the job market after finishing my studies, witnessing the struggle of my peers, frustrated about the financial inequalities in society, and witnessing that the damned thing (Bitcoin) does not want to go away, I finally decided to look into the topic in much more detail this time.
This was sometime in early 2017. I have read the Bitcoin whitepaper (please download it yourself also!), I read some of the early papers written by Nick Szabo and others on e-gold and e-money, as well as listened to some of the quality content on social medias about the topic. That is when my perspective has changed! Now I know, learning from my own experience (and mistakes) that people who deny the financial and social brilliance (and opportunities) bitcoin has to offer do not know what they are talking about.
Once you understand the concept behind it, and the mechanism (no, you do not have to be a programmer to be able to do it!), you cannot possibly deny that it will (and has already) change the world for the better.
Here are a few points which really blew my mind when I first learn about bitcoin's mechanism:
1, With Bitcoin, I can predict with 100% certainty the number of bitcoins in circulation for example in any given year. - can you make such predictions with any government issued currency?
2, With Bitcoin, I know the exact mathematical and cryptographic algorithm behind its mechanism (it is open-source), which gives me peace of mind that the rules will not change. - can you make such predictions with the USD for example?
3, With Bitcoin, I do not have to trust that a company, whose share I am buying will tell the truth in their financial reports, all I have to do is to trust the laws of mathematics.
Bitcoin is not a company, it has no HQ, no CEO or any single person or group that controls it, no server, no official website, no custodian institution; what you own of it is truly yours.
For these reasons, bitcoin is the first opportunity in almost a 100 years, when you can truly own financial assets, and you do not have to trust a bank or government with it.
Why am I telling you all this?
First and foremost, Bitcoin is for everyone, and although it is not ready (yet) for mass-adoption due to the lack of user-friendly applications, if you use it, in the long run it will benefit your life, since it does not belong to any company, bank or government, which can change the rules over your head.
Second, I am glad that I have found SteemIT, where a like-minded community could be interested in my perspective. In my blog I post my take on the background of bitcoin news and current events, and in this process I will go beyond the standard presentation of news by digging deeper into the underlying background of current events.
Please follow me on this journey!
