Oddbean

Bull Run Reflections as bitcoin nears $100k Once you understand Bitcoin, you feel compelled to help others learn about it. Rewind to the last bull run in 2020, and I felt guilty for not trying harder to help more people understand the coin. 🧵 Four years later, as we enter this new bull run, I’m far more at ease. My conscience is clear: All my friends know me as being into #Bitcoin (the ones who are left, lol). My local haunts—cafés, surf shops—tease me about being "Mr. Bitcoin" (I always ask to pay in Bitcoin). The side of my family that talks to me about Bitcoin now saves in Bitcoin. I’ve spent the last 4 years advocating for Bitcoin: BBC Newspapers YouTube TikTok Conferences Even street corners! Even my girlfriend’s friends (who I’ve never met) know me as "the Bitcoin guy." They used to tease her about it on Instagram... now? Not so much. I know my content has inspired others to: Start Bitcoin communities Save in Bitcoin Win arguments against skeptics Try new Bitcoin tools Lighten their mood and remind them Bitcoin is the right path for humanity. None of this is great for my OpSec, of course. But that’s part of being a public advocate in a privacy-focused space. On that note: I don’t own any Bitcoin. Bollocks! I lost it all... time to start stacking again today. 😉 Sadly, and maybe you’ve experienced this too, Bitcoin has strained some friendships. I don’t know why it grinds people so much, but it does. I hope those people eventually come around. And when they do, I hope I have the grace to be compassionate and humble. I choose to advocate for Bitcoin because it’s our best tool to fight authoritarianism and central banking incompetence. It’s the tool for empowerment. Whether you’re: Financially hamstrung in Cuba Cut off in Senegal Left behind in remote Peruvian villages Sidelined in South Africa Or fed up with the status quo in the UK... Bitcoin is the answer. And now, as the mirage of $100k draws closer, I have zero guilt. My conscience is clearer still. I know I’ve done everything I can to promote Bitcoin. And it feels good. But the best part? I've had so much fun. It's been a bloody trip. I've seen the world. I've made some amazing, life long friends. So cheers to you all, my friends. It's been a joy, a rollercoaster and an honour to get to one hundred together. Because remember, number go up = Freedom go up. So here's to the next cycle and to building a bright orange future for the world 🧡 🌍 TL;DR Every opportunity to advocate for Bitcoin, I’ve taken. Made friends. Feels good. https://m.primal.net/MeAE.png https://m.primal.net/MeAD.png https://m.primal.net/MeAB.jpg https://m.primal.net/Mdzz.jpg https://m.primal.net/Mdzy.jpg

Keep it up Joe! The best feeling in this last weeks is talking with people you talked to before and they viewing what you told them with new eyes. Seeing they’re gears turning in their heads is marvellous

Lost one of my friends I’ve had for 20+ years, we don’t talk anymore.. Long story but basically, during the pandemic I snapped and started mass buying bitcoin, telling my group of friends every time I purchased. This one friend kept nagging, ‘I’m a bitcoin OG, owned it back in Silk Road days, it’s going to $10k..’. Ok sure but I’m still buying. Then after rising, ‘it’s going to $19k, you’ll lose your money’ OK I’m still buying. For whatever reason it really pissed him off. Even after the pop to $69k and drop to $16k he would say, ‘going to $10k, I’ll wait for that’. And then after growing anger and nagging he exploded telling me how how he wished I lose all my savings, how he would still go to my funeral, how he went to a better school than me, and finally, how I was a lesser person than him… Blocked him and never talked to him again. I never once insulted, made fun of or put him down, just told him I was buying bitcoin.

Everyone has a story about how we could have been Bitcoin squillionaires but for mistakes/hubris/lack of understanding/insert reason here. Gotta let go of that ego and get to stacking once it clicks; that is all that matters. Your friend couldn’t let go. Common story.

Spot on. Keep doing what you're doing. Being the change you want to see, as cliche as it sounds... knowing you'll sleep like a baby every night -safe in the knowledge that you're doing something important!

Your doing a great Job Joe! Well done. 🚀 I tried pretty hard in last bullrun but struggled to orange pill. Roughly 1% success rate. It felt tiresome. But one big difference to now and then is I'm on orange pill app and nostr making loads of online friends. Back then it was just me. Maybe I was desperately wanting validation acknowledgement and felt abit lonely I had no one to talk bitcoin with. Maybe I came across abit strong and that put people off. These days I feel more relaxed. My understanding and conviction for bitcoin is pretty solid now. Your post definitely making me reconsider and maybe I should re-approach friends and family that have said they aren't interested in Bitcoin. Bitcoin is life changing, my friends family deserves another chance. Will give it another shot. Thanks. 🧡