Bitcoin Doesn't Need A Messiah
We were left with Bitcoin the discovery, and not Satoshi the discoverer, and that is the biggest blessing to humanity.
Who discovered fire? Can you imagine the moment when humans had that first spark, and flames and heat appeared? According to historians, fire was first discovered about two million years ago and was used as a source of heat and light. It was also used to protect humans from predators, create hunting tools, and cook.
I wonder what those humans would say if they saw how fire was used today. They never imagined an entire food industry built around cooking with heat. Or would they imagine fire leading to the creation of metal and skyscrapers? Would they be disappointed with how their discovery is being used?
The discovery of fire did not belong to just the humans who created the first flames, but rather humanity. Since its discovery, fire has evolved from its original purpose and has been vital to our evolution as a species. Simply put, without discovering fire, humans are still living in caves.
What does it mean to discover something? According to The Britannica Dictionary
Discover (verb) - to see, find, or become aware of (something) for the first time
Like fire, Bitcoin is also a discovery, a new form of money for humanity. But unlike fire, this discovery was documented and has a creator – Satoshi Nakamoto. The mysterious figure released a white paper in 2008 outlining his discovery and explaining its purpose and use in the world.
Who is Satoshi? The identity of Bitcoin’s creator is heavily debated and disputed to this day. I believe Satoshi to be multiple people. Why do I think this? Satoshi starts the third line of the Bitcoin white paper with “We propose a solution…” so I am inclined to believe it was a group of people who worked on this discovery. Bitcoin is highly complex, and for one person to have worked on this alone would be a massive leap of faith. Since its discovery, there have been many claims and suspicions about who the creator is, but no real consensus has been reached on Satoshi’s identity.
But like fire, will it ultimately matter who discovered Bitcoin? I argue that it doesn’t matter who Satoshi is. It’s irrelevant what Satoshi originally intended for Bitcoin. Even if Satoshi revealed himself today, Bitcoin is now in the hands of humanity, and we will use this tool as we see fit, just like all our ancestors did with fire. The white paper may be titled Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System, but 13 years removed from the original idea, many minds working on Bitcoin have created multiple uses for it.
Imagine if Satoshi was around today. Would he be made into a messiah? Would humans put an immense amount of pressure on Satoshi to lead us out of the economic mess the world is in? Would the paparazzi follow his every move? Would Satoshi have more Instagram followers than Cristiano Ronaldo?
We were left with Bitcoin the discovery, and not Satoshi the discoverer, and that is the biggest blessing to humanity. If Satoshi was human and a public figure, he would be susceptible to what all humans face. Would the world forgive if Satoshi acted irrationally or emotionally? Would Satoshi withstand other humans trying to manipulate, physically hurt, or blackmail him? What about if Satoshi was forced to choose between Bitcoin or his family? I don’t think any human on earth could handle being Satoshi.
Bitcoin is better off leaderless, and the proof is in its accomplishment. Since Satoshi’s disappearance, Bitcoin has continued to grow in power and reach. No CEO, no board of directors, no marketing department, no public relations team, no one to call the captain, and Bitcoin has still found its way to a value of about one trillion dollars.
There are Bitcoin wallets, exchanges, books, merchandise, and more. It has brought opportunities to parts of the world that previously never had a chance. Humans continue to use Bitcoin and figure out ways to improve their lives and communities. Without someone to turn to for guidance, we turn inward to thought, innovation, and hard work to continue Bitcoin’s evolution into our species.