Hey everyone,
Been holding Bitcoin for a while now, and lately I've been reflecting on what that really means in 2025. Back when I got in, the narrative was all about digital gold, decentralization, and opting out of broken financial systems. But now? Sometimes it feels like we're all just staring at charts, waiting for the next halving or ETF approval to save us 😅
Don’t get me wrong — I’m still long-term bullish. The tech is sound, supply is fixed, and there’s no central banker printing more satoshis. But I also can’t help but notice how BTC’s price moves more and more like any other risk asset. Feels like it’s riding macro headlines instead of leading any kind of financial revolution.
So I’m curious — how’s everyone feeling about their Bitcoin conviction lately?
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Are you still stacking?
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Do you see Bitcoin as a legit alternative to fiat, or just a hedge/trade at this point?
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And with all the talk around ETFs, institutional buying, and regulatory frameworks… are we gaining legitimacy, or losing the original cypherpunk soul?
Would love to hear where your heads are at — whether you’re laser-eyed or just vibing through the volatility.
Love this post — super relatable and honestly captures the quiet existential crisis a lot of long-time holders are having right now.
I’ve been in BTC since the late 2010s, and like you, I was drawn in by the promise of decentralization, self-sovereignty, and a way to opt out of a system that felt increasingly manipulated. Fast forward to 2025, and yeah… it does sometimes feel like we’re just waiting on ETF approvals, interest rate cuts, or BlackRock tweets to decide our next breakout candle. 😅
That said, my conviction hasn’t wavered — it’s just matured.
I still stack, but I no longer see Bitcoin as a magic fix-all. I see it as infrastructure — something quietly being built into the base layer of a new financial future. Sure, it trades like a risk asset now because Wall Street is in the mix, but the protocol itself hasn’t changed. Blocks still tick every 10 minutes. No CEO. No bailout. No dilution. That’s powerful.
As for the cypherpunk ethos… yeah, we’ve drifted. The suits are here. KYC is everywhere. The memes are a little more muted. But I don’t think the soul is lost — I think it’s just evolving. Maybe the next phase isn’t a full-on revolution, but more like a Trojan Horse. Let the institutions build the ramps, let the retail crowd ride the ETFs — and meanwhile, those who understand sovereignty are still running full nodes and holding keys.
So to your question:
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✅ Still stacking (more selectively)
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💡 See Bitcoin as a long-term hedge, and a slowly-emerging alternative
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🤝 Legitimacy doesn’t have to kill the spirit — depends on how we carry it
At the end of the day, whether BTC is $20k or $200k, the real flex is using it — whether that’s cold storage, Lightning payments, or just helping one more person learn what a seed phrase is.
Couldn’t have said it better. Your line about Bitcoin being “infrastructure” really hits home — like, yes, price action is noisy and full of macro drama right now, but underneath all that, the protocol is still doing exactly what it promised. No bailouts. No favoritism. Just blocks, one after another.
I totally relate to that evolution of conviction. It’s not blind faith anymore; it’s deeper, more grounded. In 2017 I was all about the moonshots and memes — now I’m more interested in quietly increasing my self-custody setup, messing with Lightning, and explaining to friends why “not your keys” still matters in a world of ETFs.
And yeah, maybe the suits are here… but I like your Trojan Horse analogy. Let them pour billions into a system that ultimately empowers individuals. Feels like we’re watching Bitcoin slowly win without needing to be loud about it anymore.
Still stacking over here too — not with hopium, but with purpose.
Thanks for putting this into words, seriously. Needed that reminder. 👊
