Bitcoin 2025: We Won the Price War. Did We Lose Its Soul?

[Ruttoshi]

But now that the suits are running the show, the vibe is... sterile.

Who's running what, there are so many similar topics like this and i wonder what problem you guys are trying to create. Even if we all agree that we didn't like institutional involvement in BTC, who's going to stop them from buying it? Are many of us not using BTC today because it is censorship resistant, or we should change that when people we do not like try to buy it.

Nothing's changed, no group or institution is controlling the network or running the show.

The fear is that institutions can easily manipulate the price of Bitcoin if they own a large chunk of it. But there is absolutely nothing we can do about it, since everyone is free to buy, sell or hodl Bitcoin. Bitcoin is not losing its privacy feature because we can still use it without any third party.  

https://river.com/learn/who-owns-the-most-bitcoin/

From the chart above, it shows that individuals still holds the highest number of bitcoin and that makes it safe because the institutions are not in power to manipulate the price since they are late to the game and bitcoin is decentralized.

I remember in 2022, it was everyone's wish to see bitcoin price hits six digits and if not for the ETFs, we might not have achieved 100k easily, because the ETFs helped more people who are skeptical about bitcoin to come on board and I believe that was what also motivated other big tech firm companies to have trust and believe in bitcoin to be a store of value due to the slowly debasement of dollar.

I don't think that anyone keeping his bitcoin in his self custody will be worried about the decentralization of bitcoin dying slowly because bitcoin is beyond human long-term manipulation by any entity.

[maydna]

If that is about the price, Bitcoin is not at highs because the price will increase more. But if that is about getting list on Wall Street books, that also not in highs because Bitcoin will get in highs when Bitcoin become additional payment systems besides of using fiat.

The revolutionary still there and running although we think that is gone. They are moving step by step and spread many good news to new people. Bitcoin will still decentralized without any government can control. I don't know about the challenge but I suppose Bitcoin will still online and become more popular in the future. The government will not believe this but that is happen so we may see a change sooner or later.

[Marvell1]

If that is about the price, Bitcoin is not at highs because the price will increase more. But if that is about getting list on Wall Street books, that also not in highs because Bitcoin will get in highs when Bitcoin become additional payment systems besides of using fiat.

While bitcoin prices will continue to rise further in the future as adoption spreads globally, but bitcoin prices are no longer low. It has grown from under $1 to $100k and is now worth over $2 trillion, which is not a small number and not low either.

I also suspect that bitcoin could become both part of a national reserve (safe haven) and a complementary payment system alongside fiat money. It can only be 1 of 2, and I choose bitcoin to be used more by the world as an asset.
When it comes to payment systems, the factors people care about are speed and transaction fees, not decentralization. So if crypto is the world's choice as a payment method, stablecoins or altcoins will be the choice, not bitcoin, IMO.

[nemesis_incarnate]

Can you still buy BTC?

Can you buy as much as your soul desires? Can you still use without these third-parties in question?

The answers are right in front of you.

[MusaPk]

That's why where Bitcoin is now is a bit bittersweet. It's gotten its 6-digit figure, yeah. It's even earned the nod of the most powerful country of the world. But has it become the money that it's designed to be? Probably not.

I've paid bills in Bitcoin, but through a centralized app. Many are proud to have used Bitcoin as money but via a Bitcoin payment processing provider. Some are saying they've used Bitcoin as payment but from a custodial wallet. Satoshi would have a facepalm listening to these stories.

However, to treat Bitcoin as an asset isn't that bad really. If the asset is kept in such a way that no third party can have control over it, that somehow serves Bitcoin's purpose. That's still freedom from the abuses of the powers that be.

The beauty of bitcoin is that it's open for everyone, bitcoin has a huge community that is built over a period of time and likewise the institutes can't be stopped from entering into Bitcoin. The one positive aspect of entry of institutes into bitcoin is enormous increase in price of Bitcoin and is expected to grow further with time. As far as Bitcoin network is concerned, it's still very much run independent nodes which are difficult to control or manipulate. If these institutes quit Bitcoin in future theyit might have effect on Bitcoin price not on its decentralization nor on security.

[melinoe]

The beauty of bitcoin is that it's open for everyone, bitcoin has a huge community that is built over a period of time and likewise the institutes can't be stopped from entering into Bitcoin. The one positive aspect of entry of institutes into bitcoin is enormous increase in price of Bitcoin and is expected to grow further with time. As far as Bitcoin network is concerned, it's still very much run independent nodes which are difficult to control or manipulate. If these institutes quit Bitcoin in future theyit might have effect on Bitcoin price not on its decentralization nor on security.

BTC is open to everybody, and that's natural that bigger players take notice of it.

We can't avoid it - only to adapt to it.

[hyudien]

So, the 2024 ETF and Halving hype actually paid off. Bitcoin is at highs we used to just dream about, and it's a legit asset on Wall Street's books. We won.

But now that the suits are running the show, the vibe is... sterile. The wild, revolutionary energy is gone, replaced by corporate custody solutions and regulatory chatter. The cypherpunk dream feels like it's been traded for a spot in a 401(k).

Is this what "making it" looks like? A higher price tag in exchange for its soul? What's the point if Bitcoin just becomes another toy for the system it was supposed to challenge?

So you are worried about the current level of institutional adoption but on the other hand you are also happy with what bitcoin has achieved, ok man let's see if there were no them and ETF it might take some time to reach the current price and stability level, however the billionaires play a big role but don't worry bitcoin still cannot be controlled by any party its decentralized nature will remain strong and again anyone can own bitcoin there are no restrictions.

[fikrett]

So you are worried about the current level of institutional adoption but on the other hand you are also happy with what bitcoin has achieved, ok man let's see if there were no them and ETF it might take some time to reach the current price and stability level, however the billionaires play a big role but don't worry bitcoin still cannot be controlled by any party its decentralized nature will remain strong and again anyone can own bitcoin there are no restrictions.

We can say that it's natural that others start taking notice and make their own moves regarding BTC - they only speed up what is already set into the gears regarding the adoption process.

[bubilas]

So, the 2024 ETF and Halving hype actually paid off. Bitcoin is at highs we used to just dream about, and it's a legit asset on Wall Street's books. We won.

But now that the suits are running the show, the vibe is... sterile. The wild, revolutionary energy is gone, replaced by corporate custody solutions and regulatory chatter. The cypherpunk dream feels like it's been traded for a spot in a 401(k).

Is this what "making it" looks like? A higher price tag in exchange for its soul? What's the point if Bitcoin just becomes another toy for the system it was supposed to challenge?

We've lost our anonymity, and that's expected. When Ordinal slowed down the Bitcoin network, I was angry because that stupid, unnecessary information was destroying the very essence of Bitcoin, but it's alive again. Nevertheless, it happened, and it was disgusting. Unfortunately, I now feel like the community has truly abandoned the idea of ​​freedom by submitting its documents for KYC, even though Bitcoin's price is high. It's a shame, of course, that it turned out this way, but perhaps this is the best we can get.
Otherwise, Bitcoin would have been regulated to the point of destruction, and we wouldn't be able to exchange it anywhere.
I'm agree with that situation? Ofc no.

[Rustam Meraj]

Recent growth and acceptance from big companies are win for those who believed in it early on but you are right to wonder if it has lost its original spirit. Old ebellious energy of Bitcoin is being replaced with careful rule following world of traditional finance. This change gives Bitcoin more value and makes it more accepted but it also takes away from its original goal of being free decentralized currency. Technology itself is still open to all so its future really depends on how people choose to use it.

[Ishicryptic]

This is one of the functions of decentralization you cannot stop anyone, institutions or government from holding Bitcoin, there is no restrictions whatsoever about who buys and sells it. What we should understand is that no institutions can directly control the price of Bitcoin on the long term, their accumulation and dump on the market can only have short term effects but on the long term Bitcoin recovers from any minor manipulations. The soul of Bitcoin volatility is in it's demand and supply, any fundamentals can trigger FUD and FOMO not necessarily because institutions are major holders. Bitcoin as an investment asset needs more holders who are not willing to sell on the short term so it can create scarcity in the market which will be lesser supply and that is how price can continue to increase.

[₿itcoin]

yeah we won the price war & we didnt have to sell our soul to win. We did it while maintaining Bitcoins decentralization, self custody, censorship resistance, anti state ethos. The hype surrounding halving &  institutional funding like the spot ETF approved last year brought Bitcoin into the mainstream. Yeah I agree that these have brought annoying 401 k funds, custody desks &  regulators, however not necessarily death. I think they are strength, because they have led to more capital, more legitimacy &  better infrastructure like large custodians & custody firm. If we continue to teach self custody, build private rails, and oppose nanny state regulation, both worlds can coexist

[pawanjain]

That's why where Bitcoin is now is a bit bittersweet. It's gotten its 6-digit figure, yeah. It's even earned the nod of the most powerful country of the world. But has it become the money that it's designed to be? Probably not.

I've paid bills in Bitcoin, but through a centralized app. Many are proud to have used Bitcoin as money but via a Bitcoin payment processing provider. Some are saying they've used Bitcoin as payment but from a custodial wallet. Satoshi would have a facepalm listening to these stories.

However, to treat Bitcoin as an asset isn't that bad really. If the asset is kept in such a way that no third party can have control over it, that somehow serves Bitcoin's purpose. That's still freedom from the abuses of the powers that be.

Makes sense. As a matter of fact, people should hold their coins in a non-custodial wallet only.
At the end, bitcoin gives you the freedom to hold your own money and use it whenever you want and that's exactly what we do by holding it in our non-custodial/hardware wallets.
So to answer the OP, did we lose its soul ? No, at least not yet.