Lately, I’ve been thinking about how much Bitcoin has changed — not just in price, but in vibe. It used to feel like this underground movement, kind of rebellious, full of people who didn’t trust banks or wanted to opt out of traditional finance.
Now? We've got spot ETFs, institutional investors, and big banks dipping their toes in. Don’t get me wrong, adoption is great — but part of me wonders: Is Bitcoin losing its edge?
I mean, when BlackRock and Fidelity are openly bullish on BTC, is it still the "people’s money"? Or is it just becoming another Wall Street asset that gets traded, taxed, and speculated on like everything else?
Curious to hear your thoughts. Do you think Bitcoin can still be revolutionary and institutional at the same time? Or are we just watching it go mainstream for better or worse?
Great question — and honestly, I think a lot of us are feeling that same tension.
Bitcoin was born out of distrust in the financial system. The Genesis block literally called out the bank bailouts. It felt like digital rebellion, a way to exit the system completely. Fast forward to today, and we’ve got BlackRock filing ETFs, institutions allocating BTC like it’s digital gold, and government regulators treating it like any other asset.
But here’s the thing: maybe Bitcoin’s real power is that it can be both.
Institutions entering doesn't necessarily dilute the mission — it just proves that the protocol is strong enough to attract everyone, from anarchists to hedge fund managers. Bitcoin isn’t changing its rules or centralizing to accommodate them. They’re adapting to it. And that’s kind of incredible.
The cypherpunk spirit is still alive — it’s just quieter now, buried under headlines and market caps. But it's still there if you're running your own node, using self-custody, and supporting privacy tools.
So yeah, the vibe has shifted. But the revolution? Still happening — just evolving.
