Seth Michael Steele's avatar
Seth Michael Steele
S_michaelsteele@BitcoinNostr.com
npub14evv...lrc7
We must live together as brothers or perish together as fools #Bitcoin
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sms 1 year ago
Alchemy flips the natural order: it turns something cheap (lead) into something expensive (gold).  Fiat money does the exact same  in a single keystroke…​it turns nothing into billions. That’s worse, because the new money silently steals buying power from everyone who already earned theirs. Gold suffers under this “replication.” We can dig up more, mint more coins, or promise paper claims on gold that don’t exist. Bitcoin, by design, can’t be cloned or inflated: 21 million coins, full stop. Anyone with a node can count every bitcoin in existence. You can’t do that with gold bars in vaults you’ll never see. Bitcoin moves across the globe in minutes and settles finally.​ Gold needs armored trucks, or a trusted ledger that brings us back to paper promises. Software eats the world; energy and computation secure the network. Productive people building tomorrow’s economy naturally prefer a money that lives natively in that same digital realm. If alchemy shows how easy it is to debase gold, fiat shows how easily value can be stolen outright. Bitcoin closes that loophole once and for all. In 2025, for anyone creating real value with their work, stacking sats is no longer a speculation; it’s self defense for your time, talent, and future. image
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sms 1 year ago
Unlike gold, which reflects physical scarcity and industrial demand, or stock indices that price in corporate earnings, Bitcoin represents something fundamentally different. Its price is shaped by a unique fusion of ideology, economics, and technology. It isn’t just digital gold; it’s a decentralized barometer of trust, scarcity, and friction in the global financial system. Bitcoin’s volatility reveals a market still discovering how to value this new form of asset. It’s not unstable because it’s broken, but because it’s early: still calibrating itself as a pricing mechanism in a world that’s never seen anything like it. What makes Bitcoin compelling is its asymmetric upside. Its fixed supply, increasing adoption, and utility as a hedge against fiat debasement give it a long term edge few assets can match. Current sentiment is cautiously optimistic. Bullish narratives around scarcity and long horizon conviction are stronger than the caution about potential cycle tops. Demand flows from institutions through ETFs, from individuals through self-custody, and from macro pressures that expose the fragility of traditional systems. Risks remain: geopolitical shocks, regulatory clampdowns, and environmental debates…but they no longer define the story. Bitcoin’s price is not just about what it’s worth, but about what the world is becoming. As legacy systems strain under the weight of their own contradictions, Bitcoin isn’t just surviving, it’s revealing. It exposes trust gaps, misaligned incentives, and the cracks in monetary foundations. In that mirror, we don’t just see a number…we see a choice, an alternative to doom: hope. image
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sms 1 year ago
The Wisconsin Investment Board has liquidated all of its Bitcoin exposure. Calling them paper hands would be generous…they never actually held Bitcoin itself, only indirect exposure through ETFs. What’s puzzling is that they sold their Bitcoin linked stocks but chose to keep their shares in MicroStrategy. That decision is hard to square. The seeming opposite of Jim Chanos, are they trying to pump the premium? Nah, too much of a big brain move for someone selling sats. Still, every time someone sells, it creates an opportunity for stronger hands to step in. The churn is part of what makes this market exciting. What doesn’t kill Bitcoin only hardens its resilience. It’s a strange chain of accumulation we are seeing: they buy Bitcoin for MSTR and BlackRock, MSTR and BlackRock buy BTC for Coinbase, Coinbase supplies whoever’s on the other end: institutions, black markets, or hackers. And here I am, stuck in the middle with you. image
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sms 1 year ago
Whales move, and the herd follows. I find Bitcoin whale activity interesting, but it’s clear that many of their moves, especially large sell offs, are designed to manipulate the market. I choose not to play that game. I don’t have the capital to move markets, and reacting to those who do rarely works out well. Still, people fall for it all the time. I don’t follow others; I follow my own plan. That plan is simple: take profits into Bitcoin through any productive and sustainable means available. I don’t try to time the market; I focus on time in the market. So far, that approach has brought more than just financial growth…it’s been a personal transformation. And that growth seems to be compounding, regardless of Bitcoin’s short term price. image
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sms 1 year ago
An empty Bitcoin mempool at high prices is uncommon but not unprecedented. It usually signals low onchain activity due to market consolidation, improved scaling, or increased offchain usage. It’s not inherently good or bad, but in this case, I see it as bullish: Bitcoin is near all time highs, transactions are cheap, and confirmations are fast. A major driver is institutional adoption and the rise of Bitcoin ETFs, which have absorbed demand offchain. This keeps the network uncongested and integrates Bitcoin into traditional finance. However, this scaling comes with tradeoffs. ETFs reduce the emphasis on self custody, increase centralization risks, and drift from Bitcoin’s decentralized ethos. While they’ve broadened exposure, they haven’t fully unlocked institutional capital, and retail holders still play a key role in supply distribution. The challenge now is balance. Exposure is scaling rapidly, but true ownership, especially self custody, is lagging. Growth potential remains on both fronts: more institutional and global adoption, and better tools, education, and Layer 2 solutions to empower individual holders. Bitcoin’s future depends on managing this tradeoff: scaling access while preserving its core principles of decentralization and self sovereignty image
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sms 1 year ago
Companies operating on some form of a Bitcoin standard seem to be growing in number faster than I can keep track of, and there’s no sign of that slowing down. It’s likely this trend continues until the number becomes too large to count. Investing in a company that holds Bitcoin is essentially a dual bet: on Bitcoin itself and on the company’s ability to execute its strategy well. This approach can offer diversification, leverage, and access through traditional markets, but it also comes with added risks, fees, and less control. Buying Bitcoin directly is simpler, cheaper, and gives you full ownership, but it lacks the potential upside that a well managed Bitcoin focused company could deliver, and you’re fully responsible for your own custody and security. Strategy is likely the strongest option for corporate Bitcoin exposure. It has the largest holdings, strong market liquidity, and a consistent, high conviction strategy, making it a good fit for someone already committed to a Bitcoin heavy approach. Other companies with smaller Bitcoin positions can be less efficient or riskier ways to gain exposure. They may still offer value if you’re looking for diversification, a bargain, or a bet on a unique business model or region, but in many cases, these firms are simply imitating the strategy without the same level of conviction or execution, making them less compelling; unless you’re chasing early momentum or non Bitcoin growth potential. image
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sms 1 year ago
Some advocate for increasing or removing the OP_RETURN size limit to support current data storage use cases, Layer 2 solutions, and reduce dependence on less efficient methods like Taproot outputs. They argue it’s a practical response to growing demand and aligns with Bitcoin’s design, since OP_RETURN data is prunable and doesn’t add to the UTXO set. Others worry about blockchain bloat, potential security concerns, and a drift away from Bitcoin’s core use as a monetary ledger. The debate is ongoing, with no consensus yet among Bitcoin developers. It’s a bit of a catch 22: nobody wants more spam or mission creep, but people are already using Bitcoin for other purposes. Ignoring that use either leads to UTXO bloat or forces developers to find more prunable alternatives; each with trade-offs and unknown consequences. Bitcoin can run efficiently on multiple clients as long as they follow the same consensus rules and are well maintained. This supports decentralization and resilience. However, the risk of forks increases when clients diverge or aren’t well tested. Historical forks like Bitcoin Cash were mainly ideological, but poor coordination between clients can make technical disagreements worse. Bitcoin’s slow upgrade cycle and the dominance of Bitcoin Core reduce these risks, but they also limit diversity. To me, Bitcoin has always been about coordination over conflict. It encourages building rather than destroying. The debate between Knots and Core isn’t a threat…it’s innovation. Both sides have valid points. Bitcoin has always improved through trial and error. If either side spots and fixes a problem, Bitcoin benefits in the long run. image
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sms 1 year ago
Strategy alone is acquiring Bitcoin at a rate that exceeds the pace of new issuance, effectively offsetting supply inflation and then some. Plenty of companies are now attempting similar strategies, some claiming theirs is superior. Regardless of those claims, if even a few come close to MicroStrategy’s level of success, it not only validates their approach it creates a dramatic supply demand imbalance that can only be resolved through upward price action. The success of other firms doesn’t undermine MicroStrategy; it reinforces the thesis. With over 555,000 BTC, their position isn’t just a statement…it’s a roar. In the end, capital deployed speaks louder than potential plans. Proof of work beats proof of intent. The only way to surpass Strategy is to outstack or outhodl them, but anyone who tries only drives demand higher benefiting Strategy in the process. The name of the game is bitcoin accumulation, so the same logic applies to any individual or institution holding Bitcoin. image
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sms 1 year ago
So thankful for this woman right here, and for all the conspiracy theorist moms out there, who have raised or are raising unapologetically toxic Bitcoin maximalists. She made me a Bitcoiner before Bitcoin even existed. Finding Bitcoin felt like finding a missing piece of who I’ve always been. And guess what she wanted for Mother’s Day? Gear to start her own conspiracy podcast. Needless to say…I’m hyped. (Excuse the hair I’m like a smooth brains mad skintest👨🏻‍🔬) image
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sms 1 year ago
Whenever I get the chance to stack sats, I take it. I’m not concerned with how it makes others feel; my conviction in #Bitcoin is unwavering. Their reactions say more about them than they ever could about #Bitcoin. I’ll be there for the next step, not out of need, but because I choose to be. #Bitcoin is truth: unstoppable, irreversible, and inevitable. image
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sms 1 year ago
My grandfather found a 7 leaf clover…you know what that means: 7 FIGURE #BITCOIN
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sms 1 year ago
Maybe you didn’t stack as many sats as you wanted during the recent dip, but if your stack is growing, you’re on the right track. I don’t care how legitimized crypto gets; nothing else comes close to challenging Bitcoin’s superiority. Onwards and upwards my friends. image
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sms 1 year ago
The bigger exchanges get the less I trust them with my sats. The more they follow the path of banks the less funny I find it. I don’t think they are evil I just think it’s more important for my sats to be in my own hands, maybe it ought to be considered rude to leave sats with exchanges, personally I’d hate to have the temptation of that many bitcoin. It’d talk to me like the green goblin mask. As the price goes up the temptation only increases, demand isn’t stopping, and I will let you do your own math on supply. image
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sms 1 year ago
If you still think we’re in a fractional reserve banking system, you’ve been misled. Since March 26, 2020, we’ve operated under an optional reserve system. That means banks aren’t required to hold any reserves, zero, and it’s perfectly legal. Fractional reserve banking was reckless. Optional reserves are outright insane. There’s no individual metaphor for it because no sane person lives like this. If you thought the old system was fragile, this one is a house of cards in a hurricane. This doesn’t lead to a stronger dollar. It leads to decay. Strength requires discipline. Bitcoin is the most disciplined asset on Earth and that’s why it keeps getting stronger. Ask yourself: what do the cycles depend on more: Bitcoin’s certainty or the dollar’s instability? And what happens if fiat fails while you’re holding fiat wrapped Bitcoin? Maybe it never happens. But if it does, and most of your “Bitcoin” is just an IOU, you’ve failed the one test that matters. Cold storage is self sovereignty. Everything else is a gamble. image
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sms 1 year ago
New Hampshire is the first state to pass vaguely bullish legislation allowing the state to invest 5% of its budget in cryptocurrencies with a market cap over $500 billion and precious metals. All I see as a step forward is bitcoin stacked. While other states will no longer have first mover advantage; they could regain the advantage by adopting stronger, bitcoin first policies. Everything bleeds against bitcoin, unless it’s working with Bitcoin’s wind in its sails. States and nations are bound to learn this like the rest of us did. image
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sms 1 year ago
Upgrade your money, upgrade your life. Converting fiat to Bitcoin has brought me peace. The stress and constant worry disappeared, replaced by clarity and the freedom to pursue what matters; not just chasing dollars. Isn’t that what we really need? More people chasing purpose, fewer climbing broken ladders. Forward thinking companies are realizing that a Bitcoin standard doesn’t just preserve value, it unlocks potential. While the shift feels sudden, it’s been building quietly for years. Still, I can’t shake the sense that the real face melting has yet to come. Whatever comes, I know one thing: my sats are mine. That’s all that matters. (Photo posted fine with cellular data today…obviously signaling that nostr is winning) image
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sms 1 year ago
It’s half bitcoin going to infinity dollars and half dollars going to zero bitcoin. This isn’t speculation it’s functionality. (Having trouble uploading pictures to nostr with cellular data, fiber optic was accidentally clipped by landscaping so no wifi for this guy until Thursday :0…maybe imagine something cool here lol 🧡💜)
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sms 1 year ago
Take your Bitcoin off exchanges…before someone else does. Self custody not only strengthens price through reduced supply, it becomes more critical as demand rises. I love Bitcoin in any weather, but something tells me the skies are about to clear. image
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sms 1 year ago
I don’t care when other assets outperform Bitcoin in the short term; especially when they’re not Bitcoin based or Bitcoin adjacent. My capital reflects my conviction. I’ve put everything behind Bitcoin because I believe it’s the most asymmetric opportunity available, and I’ve worked relentlessly to build exposure. I’m still doing so. Maybe pragmatic maximalism is what Bitcoin needs right now. The more companies offer Bitcoin native products, the more people are exposed to its unique advantages. Supporting businesses that support Bitcoin just makes sense. There’s real value in promoting diversity of approaches within a shared conviction; different angles of the same vision. But let me be clear: I’ll never sell sats for proxy IOUs. I’ll only consider Bitcoin related investments using newly generated fiat, and I’ll never hold more paper claims than actual Bitcoin. Everything is priced in sats. My only concern with proxy products is whether they are honest and efficient. When it comes to storing value, nothing gives me more peace of mind than self custodied Bitcoin. It’s my unit of account. No matter the price, I’ll always stack. If there’s a conversion rate, I’ll convert. My grandfather told me to take big risks while I’m young, because there’s time to recover. That stuck with me. Going all in on Bitcoin early and continuing to double down has been the best decision I’ve ever made. The opportunity is far from over. Every day, I thank God for letting me witness this historic moment; the birth of a new form of meaning and value. Bitcoin is proving to be duality squared, an asset that challenges every other category. It’s becoming clear that if something relates to money, Bitcoin will outperform it. Its potential value is everything. Flipping the switch to pricing in Bitcoin takes time, but once you do, you start seeing the world more honestly. Bitcoin delivers more alpha than any other asset. It’s the apex asset. Its superiority is becoming harder to deny. We see it clearly already. Mainstream adoption is still in the acknowledgment phase; they’re just toying with the idea. But the more serious they get, the more upside they’ll discover. image
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sms 1 year ago
Short Bitcoin and find out. You’re free to try, but that’s not a bet I’d take. I believe Bitcoin will continue rising over time, not because it follows anyone’s pattern, but because I understand what it is: the most accurate, forward looking price index for global events. It gives greater weight to (Bitcoin) Based economies and operates under the hardest monetary policy in existence. That makes it the strongest and most agile asset in a race full of evolving, unpredictable obstacles. It’s still a great time to stack sats. Time in the market always beats trying to time it. I stack every payday price is irrelevant. image