Defending Bitcoin in DC with David Zell – What Bitcoin Did

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David Zell is co-founder of the Bitcoin Policy Institute and director of policy at BTC Inc. In this interview, we discuss how the Bitcoin Policy Institute is committed to educating DC politicians in fighting FUD, distinguishing bitcoin from crypto and aligning bitcoin with US national security interests and US values.

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Bitcoin was developed on the shoulders of cypherpunks building new forms of currency outside of government control and oversight. Permission was not requested because permission would not have been granted. The government actively disrupted the cypherpunk vision, seeking to destroy it. The emergence of bitcoins was therefore the opposite of the concerns and approval of policymakers.

But, some believe that the initial battle has been won. Bitcoin is now 14 years old. It spread to all corners of the globe and drastically changed the mindset of those who interacted with it. This includes some of those in the halls of power, who have been won over by his ideology and technical resilience. The question now is how the development of Bitcoin continues.

Bitcoin could continue to evolve without seeking to engage with state levers. Experience suggests this would marginalize Bitcoin and Bitcoiners in the United States. In the meantime, other protocols and blockchains would continue to curry favor with lawmakers and tailor the regulatory framework to their needs. Who would win in this situation?

Or, through advocacy, education, and cooperation with those in DC, Bitcoin could be allowed to expand openly in the United States. Just like the internet, the risks posed by this new innovation would not be allowed to strangle the huge benefits it has to offer to individuals and society.

In a grand scenario, Bitcoin could allow the United States to continue to compete for hegemonic power while continuing to defend individual freedom and sovereignty. It’s a huge prize. Perhaps the biggest prize. This is why there are people willing to invest in developing and maintaining organizations like the Bitcoin Policy Institute. The future owes them gratitude.

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