Someone can stop you from using Bitcoin. Governments could cripple your access to bitcoin or the ability for you to exchange it for cash. This can happen any time.
While many Bitcoin devs are freelancec, there are still many paid. You can't rely only on free developers. Look at the Linux ecosystem, it requires many companies paying devs to make all the components.
As of Mar 27, 2024, the average annual pay for a Bitcoin Developer in the United States is $129,348 a year. All this depends on companies funding the developers. If that stops, that will affect Bitcoin greatly.
Correct, governments control fiat and the on and off ramps but they cannot stop me from using Bitcoin or transacting peer to peer on the Bitcoin network. No one can stop me from using my Bitcoin.
I understand and I agree there are paid developers, there is nothing wrong with that. As I stated above, there are plenty of entities that are focused on building on and developing Bitcoin, but none control the network itself. Yes if those companies were to stop paying the developers it would effect Bitcoin greatly, but it would not stop the network, nor our ability to utilize the network and to transact.
China is a perfect example on how Governments can ruin Crypto for a country with their Great Firewall.
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