Bitcoin, once seen as a form of protest against the 2008 financial crisis, has now gained widespread adoption and success. It is no longer just a Wall Street phenomenon, but has also impacted global politics and macroeconomics. Stablecoins, which are crypto tokens pegged to the US dollar, are being used globally for easy payments and savings. Bitcoin's price has risen significantly over the years and is now reported daily in mainstream financial news. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recognized the risks of crypto assets and the Washington-based establishment has taken notice. Central bankers around the world, including Iran and El Salvador, have also made moves in the crypto space. The appeal of stablecoins and bitcoin extends beyond the developing world, with a substantial number of Americans owning crypto. However, compromises have been made along the way, with the ideology of the original cypherpunks conflicting with the practicalities of everyday politics. Bitcoin ETFs have made it easier for investors to enter the market, but they lose the self-sovereignty and self-custody aspects of owning bitcoin. Stablecoins have replaced bitcoin as the primary means of exchange and are backed by traditional financial systems, which goes against bitcoin's purpose to disrupt the system. Bitcoin's original goals of privacy and anonymity have also been compromised, with surveillance companies monitoring transactions on the network. The question remains whether bitcoin advocates can accept these compromises and if the rise in bitcoin's price compensates for the erosion of its original principles. Overall, bitcoin is now being taken seriously as a political movement by authorities at the highest levels.



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