A lot has been written about this privacy stuff in the past and it feels a bit like going round in circles
From what we are seeing in the world now, the ban on under 16s for social media is obviously digital id through the back door
The obvious solution is use a vpn, so the elites must then ban VPNs
For the mainstream, they wont hear any alarm bells because they'll follow the status quo, they'll sign over their passport/driving licence to continue using tiktok ig etc, they wouldn't be using a vpn, most likely unaware what one even is
So if the majority of society is complicit and no threat to the elites, why are we seeing this mass surveillance crackdown?So if the majority of society is complicit and no threat to the elites, why are we seeing this mass surveillance crackdown?
One theory is, tools like Bitcoin are a serious threat to the elites control, although it's not used by the majority of society, they can see it's potential
They cannot tolerate losing control, It's almost like the restriction itself becomes the evidence that Bitcoin was necessary, each restriction they implement is actually proof that Bitcoin was right all along, because they wouldn't need to ban it, if it wasn't a genuine threat to their control
History is full of examples where the thing they tried hardest to suppress turned out to be the most important idea of its timeHistory is full of examples where the thing they tried hardest to suppress turned out to be the most important idea of its time
Obviously they cannot realistically ban Bitcoin, but they can ban all of the tools and equipment needed to interact with it
So instead of being worried for the dystopian future, in some ways Bitcoin has already won because it proved to be a tool the elites cannot allow to gain adoption
It's not to say the Bitcoin movement should sit back and do nothing, it's to be expected that this cat and mouse game will now continue forever
We'll just have to wait and see what the future holds, there's no point worrying about something you can't control
Bitcoiners can say 'We saw it coming'
Bitcoin has already been largely captured and controlled...as a harmless, taxed, financialised and KYCed speculative commodity.
FIAT retains its quasi hegemony over MoE.
You don't even see that?
Bitcoin is an IQ test. Only dumb people are taxed.
The vast majority of BTC transactions are now KYCed and taxed.
To avoid them is to risk criminal prosecution.
Most people do not want to take that risk.
Every zap on SNs with sats is likely in breach of tax rules.
All Bitcoin transactions are happening on its blockchain. They do not require KYC, or permission, or paying a tax. Using non-custodial wallets, Lightning and Liquid networks help fool the Travel Rule. On and off ramps via CEXes are not obligatory. Sure, AML/KYC rules make it hard to buy something expensive with your bitcoin, but not impossible. Most people have low IQ...
Most people do not want to face prosecution for tax evasion.
In most western democracies spending Bitcoin as it was designed to be used, as a P2P payment protocol incurs tax on any CG made since that Bitcoin was acquired.
Most people will not and do not want to risk prosecution.
Sure you can evade the tax, but most people don't want the risk and hassle....the vast majority of Bitcoin is now KYCed and taxed.
No. The vast majority of PEOPLE is now KYCed and taxed.
Nope- the vast majority of Bitcoin ever issued is now KYCed and taxed.
Denying it does not refute it.
It is the reality.
Nearly all trading goes through CEXes.
Bitcoin is not a "client" (the "C" in the "KYC"), what the fuck you are talking about? CEXes trading volume is in paper bitcoin, it only becomes real when withdrawn to your own non-custodial wallet. And no, those withdrawn coins do not carry your KYC attached to them, this is ridiculous. Anyone can peg any "tainted" UTXOs into Liquid BTC completely free and anonymously, to then swap them back to other BTC UTXOs at Boltz or with us.
Yes, when you sell 1 BTC at a CEX they ask to see "source of funds". But you can buy 1 BTC legally with a statement, then sell 1 BTC at 10 different exchanges, 1 per each, showing the same one statement. And if you move your tax residency to Dubai or Tbilisi, you can sell your stash 100% tax free. It is harder to do if your only passport is USA, but still there are ways.
I'm a big fan of bitcoin, but I would be surprised if it's the trigger here. I have a hard time believing that there are all that many people in positions of power who actively believe that the monetary system is threatened by bitcoin.
Rather it seems like safetyism and convenience: we know that governments tend to grow in size and power, and it easier for people in government positions to violate rights and embrace surveillance than it is for them to champion respect for individuals. It seems like all the incentives point toward more surveillance, more control, and those who would resist it are not united.
You have that "hard time" because you believe in authority and government...
Once you stop believing in such nonsense,, you will see the world in a total different way.
When was the last time you stopped obeying what gov says?
Sincere question.
It doesn't really matter if you "love Bitcoin" but in the same time you are an obedient shitizen.
And please don't come up with the lame excuse "I have family and kids, I have to put food on the table...".
If you really want to be a real bitcoiner, you MUST be all the way against govs. Otherwise is just larping.
a couple days ago I went the wrong way one way street because there was no one coming and it was a lot faster to get where I was going.
This is a pretty wimpy example but its the best I got.
I'm not convinced that the amount of effort required to pursue open, obvious resistance to the state is worth it. Seems like one could spend a lot of time just spinning wheels. I have no belief the state will play fair, and they have most of the power.
Where I am at now is that using bitcoin is the best chance I have to outflank their movements. So that's what I spend my time on.
Going the wrong way is reckless and criminal.
Sometimes we need rules without rulers and the street /driving rules are the best example.
If you "violate" these rules you are doing it on your own responsibility.
Remember:
I was just chatting to a friend about this and they said something i hadn't thought of...
Once the legacy social media companies have everyone's official id linked to their account
It will be much easier for them to monetise access, maybe you'll need to sign up to a subscription model to access content
We see this already with 'premium' and maybe it could go mainstream
Real elites don't give 2 fucks about anyone. The people that propose and ratify these laws are normies on a powertrip. The majority is a threat to them, because they need approval to retain their power.
There are generally 2 strategies:
Bitcoiners generally do the latter.
This is just because no one even tried yet. Stop celebrating, start building.
All they want is to tax our every move. And for that they need to watch closely: who deals stuff p2p for cash (including crypto), who claims non-resident status while in fact "qualifies", who hides assets abroad etc. It gets funnier for expats like myself when several legal systems overlap and conflict with each other. The only real solution is to hide from them all.
Farmers are always looking for cheaper and more comprehensive ways to manage their livestock. The tech gets cheaper and the herd none smarter.
Nobody wants to listen the bitcoiners warnings... especially the maxis warnings.
Yet many bitcoiners are fucking statists bootlickers and obey the state....
btw I never use any AI tool, a friend o mine did this and send it to me