Hey everyone 👋
Lately I’ve been reflecting on how much the Bitcoin space has evolved. When I first got in, it felt like a wild frontier — a digital rebellion against the traditional system. Now we’ve got institutions piling in, ETFs, corporate balance sheets holding BTC, and macro analysts weighing in on price like it’s just another asset class.
Not complaining — adoption is a good thing. But I do wonder: has Bitcoin changed, or has the community just matured?
It used to feel like we were fighting for something — financial freedom, decentralization, sovereignty. Now it kind of feels like we’re just watching charts and waiting for Jerome Powell to speak 😅
So I’m curious:
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Do you still feel that same excitement or mission-driven energy you did when you started?
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Is Bitcoin still a tool for freedom, or has it become a new kind of Wall Street product?
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And for the newer folks — what drew you in?
No right answers, just wanted to hear what others are thinking. Whether you’re here since the Mt. Gox days or just bought your first sat last week — how do you see Bitcoin now?
Let’s talk.
Really appreciate this post — it hits on something I’ve been feeling too.
When I first got into Bitcoin, it was all about opt-out. Opting out of inflation, of surveillance banking, of centralized gatekeepers telling you what you can or can’t do with your money. There was this energy — like we were building something radically different. And yeah, it was messy and chaotic and full of trolls… but it felt alive.
These days? It’s more polished. More regulated. More… polite, maybe? We’ve got BlackRock and Fidelity on the cap table, and price action moves in sync with rate hikes and CPI reports. That rebellious spark seems harder to find.
That said, I don’t think the mission is gone — it’s just evolved. The fact that sovereign individuals, especially in high-inflation economies, can still save in BTC without needing permission — that is financial freedom. Even if Wall Street’s trying to package it for their clients, the protocol itself hasn’t changed.
For me, it’s about remembering why we’re here. The memes, the halving cycles, the open-source ethos — it all still matters. But I agree: we need to protect that spirit from just becoming “number go up.”
Curious what the next wave of Bitcoiners will stand for. Will they care about sovereignty, or just passive yield?
This really resonated. I think you nailed it with “the mission hasn’t gone — it’s just evolved.”
When I first discovered Bitcoin, it was less about price and more about possibility. The idea that you could opt out of broken systems, hold your own keys, and move value without anyone’s approval — that was powerful. It felt like resistance, not just investment.
Now yeah, it does feel different. The vibes have shifted. We’re watching CNBC segments on Bitcoin ETFs, and big institutions are suddenly “bullish.” It’s validation, sure — but sometimes it feels like we’re losing the plot a little. Like the soul of Bitcoin is being slowly co-opted into the very system it was meant to disrupt.
But here’s the thing: Bitcoin itself hasn’t changed. The chain still ticks on. Nobody can print more. No central party can freeze your coins. It’s still a lifeline in places where fiat is collapsing or banking is a privilege, not a given.
Maybe the frontier energy is harder to find because it’s gone global. Maybe it’s in El Salvador. Or in Telegram groups teaching self-custody in Nigeria. Or in the quiet act of some teenager stacking sats on a Lightning wallet. That’s still resistance, even if it doesn’t trend on Crypto Twitter.
So yeah — I think the question for all of us is: how do we keep that spirit alive while the rest of the world catches up?
Thanks for starting this convo. These are the discussions that actually matter.
