Doesn't it look like one of the reason why Bitcoin adoption might have slowed down a bit and big players like Amazon aren't still accepting Bitcoin as a payment medium is due to a shift of this core value system from Bitcoin being a tool for financial freedom and liberation to what's now mostly looked at as an asset that's more of an investible nature rather than one that comes in to liberate people from the chains of the centralized financial systems?
That's the sad reality that everybody seems to be content with as long as Bitcoin appreciates in value.
It's fair to say that Bitcoin has already become mainstream in the sense that almost everyone has heard of it and a huge part of retail investors is, or have been in the past, invested in it (in 99% via centralised exchanges or investment platforms). But yet, in terms of adoption as a payment system, there isn't much progress and I think most of bitcoiners (if this term has any meaning anymore) have eased to the fact that Bitcoin doesn't work as money. It's simply too slow, expensive and unpredictable (when it comes to tx cost/confirmation time).
Even on this very forum, when you go to
lending board you'll see that most prefer to use stablecoins over bitcoins (to no surprise).
Personally, I think Bitcoin mustn't get co-opted by regulations and financial institutions if it is to maintain any meaning to its existence. Being able to freely exchange it, including for goods/services is an important part of it.
