Hmmm🤔You just gave me food for thought. I guess I subconsciously believed without realizing it, that they are one and the same. That is, the network IS the asset. Metcalfe law. 

Another interesting point is that, I actually think of Bitcoin as money, not an asset. For me, assets are for speculation, like securities (i.e., stocks) and bonds, to gain money. 

By contrast, money is about transacting in the market economy to acquire goods and services. Different use cases.