Bitcoin is Free Speech

In the last few weeks, the State’s war on free speech has noticeably picked up steam.

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The UK has been particularly tyrannical, arresting citizens for “hateful” views posted on social media and going so far as to threaten extraditing non-citizens abroad who don’t comply. It’s beyond the understanding of most people just how dangerous a precedent this is; most will follow like sheep to the slaughter and self-censor or otherwise capitulate to this injustice. We’ve grown desensitized to “Nazi” comparisons being thrown around flippantly in politics, but make no mistake, this is a moment where the shoe fits.

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Freedom to express your thoughts without retaliation from the State is perhaps the most important right endowed upon humanity, because it provides a free market of ideas whereby, when left alone, the best ideas tend to thrive and the worst tend to die.

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But free speech isn’t merely expression of thoughts and ideas, though. One important attribute of this inalienable right that we take for granted is freedom of transaction.

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What we buy, when we purchase goods and services, and how much of a thing we acquire serves as a voice to the market as to what is valued and, consequently, what should and shouldn’t be produced and in what quantities. These seemingly small decisions, when made by millions in a society or billions globally, spring from them the markets that bring us space heaters, smartphones, meat, diesel trucks, LED lights, leather sofas, and other goods we desire.

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The ability to transact without interference also offers us autonomy over the what we choose to consume, where we live, what we drive, and, importantly, what individuals, institutions, and non-profit organizations we support financially.

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Today, the State possesses a powerful means of fighting both analog and digital speech in the form of law enforcement agencies and cooperation with Big Tech companies. And with a centralized banking system, it too can cut off the financial lifeblood of individuals, families, and business with the stroke of a keyboard or through the coercion of various authorities.

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One of Bitcoin’s greatest, and most under-appreciated, benefits is the ability to for anyone around the globe to transact without permission, fear of censorship, or with no need for third-party facilitation.

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In short, Bitcoin offers the opportunity for its users to freely express themselves with what they buy, from whom they buy things, to whom they make financial contributions, and much more.

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With enough adoption, Bitcoin becomes the catalyst to limit State control over our lives. And, short of massive, international coordination, this new reality becomes inevitable over a long enough time horizon.

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The importance of adopting Bitcoin as your savings vehicle extends beyond merely protecting your wealth and into protecting the freedom to use your wealth as you so desire.

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This is not to be taken lightly. If you think “it can’t happen here,” it’s only because you aren’t paying attention to where it is already happening.

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