hv_ all those games being played right now will determine the future of bitcoin (or the different bitcoins). I mean Bitpay cares about its business and will care about the most useful bitcoin protocol that will help them to best fit their current business model.
As a bitcoin user I must admit that Bitpay currently has one of the most user-friendly bitcoin wallet. Most of my firends/colleagues still use it because it gets the job done. In terms of bitcoin adoption I think that makes a difference.
We will see how this unfold
Thx - you are absolutely right.
Most users are noobs and do not even care about tech and politics behind (Bitcoin) and just buy it like they buy the shiny new IPhone since these merchants (Apple & co) know how to design and sell it to the masses.
These bigs also take care about the risks (we can only hope they do not gain too much of bitcoin - but this is already hard by now) - Bitcoin has grown to this edge of adoption and I understand many 'users' not wanting this kind of adoption - but the ship has left - unstoppable.
Users: Relax and take your popcorn - or play big (start mining !).
Actions like ranting against others (with more stakes) and fight stupid endless ideas does harm the reputation of bitcoin more than it achieves.
IMO it is all aligned due to the Nash equilibrium (yes it is oscillating and we see big amplitudes!) - but it cannot fail - only be slowed down.
I also wonder, if this big noise we noticed all in these fights brought up the biggest ones now - like the PBoC -> Getting more into Bitcoin / licensing it ?
If we are aware of these effects, more silence could help in first place to evolve as far as possible before the big ones come in finally and take too big shares?
