Bitcoin Must Burn The Ships – Bitcoin Magazine
This is an opinion editor of Interstellar Bitcoin, a contributor to Bitcoin Magazine.
In 1519, Hernán Cortés led a Spanish army to present-day Mexico to conquer the Aztec Empire. In the event of a landfall, two leaders mutinied to return to Cuba by order of the governor who had ordered the fleet led by Cortés. In response, Cortés dropped his fleet to prevent any future mutiny by closing the only road to retreat.
Against all odds, Cortés went on to defeat an opposing force of over 300,000 Aztecs, a few thousand Spaniards, superior military technology, an unforeseen outbreak of smallpox, and wise political alliances that eventually prevailed.
Many of those on the expedition had never seen a battle before, including Cortés himself. Historians will point to August 13, 1521 as the final victory of the Spanish campaign against the Aztec Empire. However, Cortés really won the moment he “burned the ships.”
At its core, the metaphor of “burning the ships” represents the point of no return: the psychological obligation to cross a line in the sand once and for all. Outside this event horizon, there can be no securing or looking over the shoulder. From now on, everything – all thoughts and efforts – must be focused on succeeding in the new reality.
Like Cortés, Bitcoiners have crossed the Atlantic to the Promised Land. But while Bitcoiners still use fiat money, we will not be really free. Until we burn the ships, we will not win.
Bitcoiners are the remnants. We lead by example. We must show the world that we are not afraid to live on a bitcoin standard. We must use bitcoin not only as a store of value, but as an account unit and means of exchange for our daily lives.
We must strive for peace and prosperity, by building circular bitcoin economies that remain resilient to the volatility of the fiat exchange rate. We must continue to study to build the knowledge and the intellectual depth that strict discourse can thrive on. We must build large stacks on which generational wealth is built. In the end, only the strong survive.
It is an incipient movement in the Bitcoin cultural sphere known as #GetOnZero which polarizes many people. This movement represents “burning the ships”. This change of state is both functional and psychological. It drives companies to build better products for Bitcoiners. It drives Bitcoiners to harden our determination as Bitcoiners. It shows that we are willing to go down with the ship. It proves that we are fearless in the face of insurmountable odds.
“Give me Bitcoin or give me death.”
Critics say it is “too early” or point to statistics in an attempt to rationalize why it is better to keep a fiat currency. While such notions may seem right on paper, in practice we are not prepared to do what it takes to win before Bitcoiners take the big leap. Until we are ready to release the fiat currency, it will continue to survive culturally and functionally. Bitcoiners, like Cortés, must embrace burning ships. When we do, the process of hyperbitcoinization that is already underway will accelerate rapidly.
The moment Bitcoiners burn the ships is the moment Bitcoiners win.
This is a guest post by Interstellar Bitcoin. Expressed opinions are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of BTC, Inc. or Bitcoin Magazine.
