1) A while back I wrote how Michael Saylor's role in Bitcoin was to:
- normalize paper exposure (MSTR),
- push "BTC = Store of Value (not Medium of Exchange)" narratives,
- refuse to normalize Proof-of-Reserves that would discipline the entire paper stack
If Larry Fink was tasked with this job, he'd probably get a lot more pushback.
https://controlplanecapital.com/p/why-microstrategys-best-days-are
2) Jack Dorsey's role seems to be to normalize permissioned, surveilled "Bitcoin payments" with Square.
With Square, every Bitcoin payment generates identity-linked transaction data: buyer, location, device, and amount.
All transactions flow through Square/Cash App's KYC/AML perimeter, meaning both sides of the payment are verified.
That data fuels risk scoring, fraud models, blacklist propagation, and targeted marketing.
So the surveillance value, not the 1% fee, becomes Square's enduring moat.
3) I also wrote about how Bitcoin Core's developers have been attacking Bitcoin's sovereign/MoE use for a very long time now.
From the outside look in, Bitcoin Core is a well-oiled machine. There's barely any dissent. It seems they all embrace the "Bitcoin is arbitrary data storage" narrative. They are solving the problem no Bitcoiner knew they had: "How to store your pictures on other people's computers".
4) 99.9% of Bitcoin influencers seem completely captured or delusional.
I tried listening to a bunch of different podcasts recently and 5 minutes in, I end up wondering if I'm taking crazy pills or something.
So what's the lesson?
The lesson is don't trust, and verify.
Do your own research and don't be a sheep. People prioritize their own interests, not yours. Some people are corrupt, most are fallible, and some are both.
Square’s Bitcoin payments: Supervision, Tax clarity, and Compliance hooks
Square’s Bitcoin payments framework is usable, cheaper, and governable. It delivers the appearance of mass adoption while ensuring supervision, t...
How Bitcoin's developers are attacking its Sovereign/Monetary use
Cheaper witness, friendlier data-paths, RBF normalization, relay policies favoring deep pockets, and node-operator liability drift tilt Bitcoin tow...
