"What role do intermediaries—such as merchants, distributors, and traders—play in the market? Far from being mere profiteers, these intermediaries play an essential role in the division of labor. Without them, society as a whole could not function." -- Ulrich Fromy Bastiat’s long-forgotten case for middlemen is worth dusting off. Are banks, payment processors, platforms, and merchants actually the bad guys—or is the real issue that we handed them ownership of the very networks they operate? With Bitcoin, Lightning Network, and Nostr as working proofs, we can keep all the speed and convenience that intermediaries provide while stripping away their ability to control, censor, or extract rents. The question is no longer whether it’s possible; it’s what it will actually take to finish building that world. Article: Frédéric Bastiat: The Unseen Role of Intermediaries https://mises.org/mises-wire/frederic-bastiat-unseen-role-intermediaries