Spend your Bitcoin, don’t just hoard it

[Abiky]

The "spend Bitcoin" argument says hoarding limits its use as cash. But trading and holding already give Bitcoin its core value: liquidity and store-of-value.

Spending will grow naturally via Layer 2 tech (like Lightning), but Bitcoin’s primary role is digital gold—a secure base layer. Liquidity from traders supports this. Both holding and spending play parts in Bitcoin's evolution.

You think? Because so far, L2 adoption is low. Even when the Lightning Network has been around for a couple of years. Merchants and/or businesses prefer to use alts rather than a Bitcoin L2 network with a steep learning curve. With volatility in mind, Bitcoin will never be used as cash. It will remain a store of value forever (despite Satoshi having created it as a P2P digital cash system).

Besides, how people's perception about BTC will change when the mainstream media and big institutional investment firms are promoting it as the "next Digital Gold"? It's this reason why the masses tend to hoard BTC than spend it. Bitcoin is free (as in liberty) to be used however and whenever you like, so the decision is yours to take.

[HelliumZ]

I think everything will happen naturally. Trading bitcoin everyday by scalpers and day traders means spending bitcoin also. P2P transaction for using bitcoin to buy and sell is not only what that matters.

Liquidity is what that matters and bitcoin is highly liquid.

Bitcoin transactions volume is also high.

This is an automatic process, especially when someone is holding Bitcoin, someone is selling Bitcoin, and someone is buying Bitcoin. This has been happening in an automatic way since Bitcoin was created. Buying, selling, and holding have been going on within the supply market where Bitcoin circulates and will continue to do so in the future. If buying, selling, and holding do not take place, no product creates value.

[Bushdark]

I think everything will happen naturally. Trading bitcoin everyday by scalpers and day traders means spending bitcoin also. P2P transaction for using bitcoin to buy and sell is not only what that matters.

Liquidity is what that matters and bitcoin is highly liquid.

Bitcoin transactions volume is also high.

This is an automatic process, especially when someone is holding Bitcoin, someone is selling Bitcoin, and someone is buying Bitcoin. This has been happening in an automatic way since Bitcoin was created. Buying, selling, and holding have been going on within the supply market where Bitcoin circulates and will continue to do so in the future. If buying, selling, and holding do not take place, no product creates value.

People that are transacting in Bitcoin are the main people that are supporting the adoption of Bitcoin. To be frank, Bitcoin was never created to be hold and left in the wallet for years just for you to wake up and sell everything to an exchange that will later allow users to swap it within the exchange. If we'll hold Bitcoin seeing it an opportunity to invest and never sell while transacting, this can make it stable because it is not in use. Maybe their should be a campaign for people to start using Bitcoin for their shopping online and also in physical stores.

[DubemIfedigbo001]

People that are transacting in Bitcoin are the main people that are supporting the adoption of Bitcoin.

Holding does not in any way stop people from transacting in bitcoin, you may be surprised that those transacting in bitcoin are still the same people holding it. There is such thing as a holding wallet and a spending wallet. I for one have a wallet that the bitcoin that goes into it would not be touched except for consolidation when the fees are low, the same me have a spending wallet from which I transact how I want with the bitcoin there.

I voted for both, more emphasis on the holding though

To be frank, Bitcoin was never created to be hold and left in the wallet for years just for you to wake up and sell everything to an exchange that will later allow users to swap it within the exchange. If we'll hold Bitcoin seeing it an opportunity to invest and never sell while transacting, this can make it stable because it is not in use. Maybe their should be a campaign for people to start using Bitcoin for their shopping online and also in physical stores.

Even Satoshi who created bitcoin mined out about a million bitcoin and have not sold them up until today, what does that tell you?

Bitcoin is a store of value as well as money used for transaction, so it is very right to be held to maintain and even increase value of your finances against putting it in degraded fiat as well as used in transactions, it goes well either way.

[serjent05]

Holding does not in any way stop people from transacting in bitcoin, you may be surprised that those transacting in bitcoin are still the same people holding it. There is such thing as a holding wallet and a spending wallet. I for one have a wallet that the bitcoin that goes into it would not be touched except for consolidation when the fees are low, the same me have a spending wallet from which I transact how I want with the bitcoin there.

True, holding of other people does not stop others from transacting with Bitcoin but it makes Bitcoin more scarce driving the price of BTC to increase.  Making it difficult for other people to acquire BTC in a lower price.

To be frank, Bitcoin was never created to be hold and left in the wallet for years just for you to wake up and sell everything to an exchange that will later allow users to swap it within the exchange. If we'll hold Bitcoin seeing it an opportunity to invest and never sell while transacting, this can make it stable because it is not in use. Maybe their should be a campaign for people to start using Bitcoin for their shopping online and also in physical stores.

Well Bitcoin is meant to be use as an alternative payment option to bypass third-party that bloat the price of the transaction so holding it for long term is not the reason why it is created but it does help to increase the scarcity of the coins in the market thus driving the price to increase.

Even Satoshi who created bitcoin mined out about a million bitcoin and have not sold them up until today, what does that tell you?

It tells me that Satoshi is not in this world anymore, or he has lost access on his Bitcoin.

[Raflesia]

Whatever others do but I am still comfortable with the investment and hodl that I am currently doing because regardless of whether we hodl or trade I think for small investors like me things like this don't have a big impact especially since there are still a lot of people who try to trade with some things like for those who trade.

This may seem selfish to some people but bitcoin adoption will continue forever even if we hoard our bitcoins.
There are still many people/investors who still store their bitcoin even from the early period but adoption still continues so what difference does it make for now even though there are still many who still hoard their bitcoin (hodl) adoption will still happen.

[livingfree]

I think that I have seen thread's like this several years ago and the intention is to help the adoption. You're helping the economy when you are spending your Bitcoin.

On the otherhand, you're also helping with the price appreciation of it when you're holding it. Each of us can literally spend it like a rich guy in just one day with all that we hold.

But it's important to remember that the longer the days are going through and as day passes by, we're seeing the value of it appreciates more and there are only a few supplies left for the world.

[Livingleged]

Holding Bitcoin offers several compelling advantages that make it an attractive asset for long-term investors. Its fixed supply of just 21 million coins creates true scarcity, unlike fiat currencies that can be endlessly printed, positioning Bitcoin as a powerful hedge against inflation and currency debasement—often referred to as “digital gold

The decentralized nature of the Bitcoin network means no government, bank, or intermediary can control, censor, or seize your holdings, giving you true self-custody and financial sovereignty through private keys.

Historically, Bitcoin has delivered exceptional long-term appreciation, outperforming most traditional assets due to growing global adoption, network effects, institutional investment from companies like MicroStrategy, and the introduction of spot Bitcoin ETFs that have brought significant legitimacy and capital inflows.

[Antona]

Whatever others do but I am still comfortable with the investment and hodl that I am currently doing because regardless of whether we hodl or trade I think for small investors like me things like this don't have a big impact especially since there are still a lot of people who try to trade with some things like for those who trade.

This may seem selfish to some people but bitcoin adoption will continue forever even if we hoard our bitcoins.
There are still many people/investors who still store their bitcoin even from the early period but adoption still continues so what difference does it make for now even though there are still many who still hoard their bitcoin (hodl) adoption will still happen.

The beauty of Bitcoin is it doesn't force a use case. It's a tool some will use it as savings, some as spending money both are valid and both drive adoption one by creating demand, the other by proving utility your personal strategy should fit your goals, not someone else's vision for the network

[Youngrebel]

It is never even possible to for all to hold their Bitcoin at thesame time and no one is spending.  Just like saving money in the banks you are saving but a few times you withdraw to settle some issues, and after ward's you start saving again.
Different people with different goals with their own timelines to fulfil or achieve these set goal, so depending on the goals of the individual he has to hold and keep on accumulating as much Bitcoin as possible..

[Abiky]

I think that I have seen thread's like this several years ago and the intention is to help the adoption. You're helping the economy when you are spending your Bitcoin.

On the otherhand, you're also helping with the price appreciation of it when you're holding it. Each of us can literally spend it like a rich guy in just one day with all that we hold.

But it's important to remember that the longer the days are going through and as day passes by, we're seeing the value of it appreciates more and there are only a few supplies left for the world.

Bitcoin was originally designed as "Peer to Peer Electronic Cash". Not as a store of value. Unfortunately, its economic properties make it more suitable as "Digital Gold". Mainstream propaganda has also led the masses to hoard as much BTC as they can with the hopes of turning a profit in the long run. Since the majority of Bitcoin users are "hodling" it, the BTC economy will remain relatively stagnant. I think this is the reason why network fees have dropped so low lately (minimum fee less than 1 sat according to Mempool.space).

With the ever-increasing number of alts, the situation will only get worse. At least, in terms of the BTC economy "flowing". On the bright side, reduced circulation of BTC across the Blockchain means ample space for anyone to use it as they wish. Perhaps, this will increase BTC's usage as "Digital Cash". One can only hope.

[SquirrelJulietGarden]

Bitcoin was originally designed as "Peer to Peer Electronic Cash". Not as a store of value. Unfortunately, its economic properties make it more suitable as "Digital Gold". Mainstream propaganda has also led the masses to hoard as much BTC as they can with the hopes of turning a profit in the long run. Since the majority of Bitcoin users are "hodling" it, the BTC economy will remain relatively stagnant. I think this is the reason why network fees have dropped so low lately (minimum fee less than 1 sat according to Mempool.space).

With the ever-increasing number of alts, the situation will only get worse. At least, in terms of the BTC economy "flowing". On the bright side, reduced circulation of BTC across the Blockchain means ample space for anyone to use it as they wish. Perhaps, this will increase BTC's usage as "Digital Cash". One can only hope.

The Bitcoin economy is bigger than only Bitcoin transactions as it is from Bitcoin ecosystem with companies and products directly done through the Bitcoin blockchain and with bitcoins but I think it can be included companies and products that are only Bitcoin derivatives.

Like Bitcoin Spot ETFs and their products don't give their customers bitcoins directly but their activities actually contribute a lot of transactions on chain as well as impacts on the Bitcoin market.

I believe you are too experienced so you knew about it very well too, but with newbies I recommend them a book: The bullish case for Bitcoin.

[m2017]

But it's important to remember that the longer the days are going through and as day passes by, we're seeing the value of it appreciates more and there are only a few supplies left for the world.

So where do "they are" disappear to? Evaporate?

The same number of bitcoin remains in the world (even those "lost" due to loss of access to wallets could, in theory, be returned to general circulation in the future by gaining access through new technologies, such as quantum computers). Only a portion of bitcoin can participate in circulation (buying and selling), while the other portion is stored in users' wallets for investment purposes.

Bitcoin doesn't disappear, and the total number remains unchanged – 21 million.

I think this is the reason why network fees have dropped so low lately (minimum fee less than 1 sat according to Mempool.space).

That's a good thing, right? Low fees can encourage crypto market to spend more on buying and selling goods and services through bitcoin

That infamous buying coffee through BTC becomes possible with low fees.

[Pablo-wood]

We can still spend our sats and at the same time hoard some just the way we spend our fiat and still have reserve for the future. Like every currency out there Bitcoin can comfortably serve both purposes it's up to the user to decide how they handle theirs but it's better to spend some in solving real world problems than stacking it while dieing in lack or scarcity.

[Antona]

We can still spend our sats and at the same time hoard some just the way we spend our fiat and still have reserve for the future. Like every currency out there Bitcoin can comfortably serve both purposes it's up to the user to decide how they handle theirs but it's better to spend some in solving real world problems than stacking it while dieing in lack or scarcity.

Totally agree with this take the "never spend your Bitcoin" maxi mindset can be extreme. It's meant to be used using it for real needs proves its utility beyond just a vault. The trick is balancing spending with stacking for sure

[Raflesia]

Whatever others do but I am still comfortable with the investment and hodl that I am currently doing because regardless of whether we hodl or trade I think for small investors like me things like this don't have a big impact especially since there are still a lot of people who try to trade with some things like for those who trade.

This may seem selfish to some people but bitcoin adoption will continue forever even if we hoard our bitcoins.
There are still many people/investors who still store their bitcoin even from the early period but adoption still continues so what difference does it make for now even though there are still many who still hoard their bitcoin (hodl) adoption will still happen.

The beauty of Bitcoin is it doesn't force a use case. It's a tool some will use it as savings, some as spending money both are valid and both drive adoption one by creating demand, the other by proving utility your personal strategy should fit your goals, not someone else's vision for the network

When talking about goals, it cannot be denied that Satoshi's initial goal of creating bitcoin was for alternative payments and we cannot deny that, but for now the use of bitcoin is increasing and making this an investment and hodl for a certain period of time depends on the beliefs and goals that we want to achieve, not as a mistake.

Adoption will always occur even though there are more and more investors today but that does not make bitcoin lose its adoption power even now they are growing in terms of adoption in a better direction.
We are too focused on making it seem as if what we do is the most correct and making other people's choices is a mistake, even though things like this certainly cannot be used as a benchmark because we have our own beliefs and goals even though we are in the same asset bitcoin.