Bitcoin Receives Support From Public Intellectuals
Bitcoin has had its fair share of critics. However, over the years, it has also relied on advocacies, even evangelizing from high profile individuals. Beyond the early adopters, and dedicated evangelists like Andreas Antonopoulos, Bitcoin has witnessed quite a number of unusual support by being connected with the names of public intellectuals as well as philosophers from all areas. Although the support has been unsettled, it serves to indicate how far the adoption of Bitcoin has reached, overcoming the previous allegations that the entire network is built for scam purposes.
Jordan Peterson: A high-profile Psychology professor, famous for his series on spirituality and self-improvement. He got in touch with Bitcoin when he obtained a paper wallet with a small number of funds at a conference. Some donations cropped up, to a total amount of 0.25 BTC, which was withdrawn in November 2017. The sum is approximately 5,000 at peak prices.
Jordan Peterson brings a set of beliefs to Bitcoin often appealing to Bitcoiners, related to personal improvement, freedom, and independence of thought. Casually, he has become famous and it doesn’t seem to cease in Australia, where Bitcoin has also taken off like wildfire.
Nassim Taleb: A random student and former trader, Nassim Taleb have given extraneous support to Bitcoin. He believes Bitcoin is a strong candidate for the Broadway effect, in which a show running for a while now may hope to make an even longer run. Bitcoin has already survived for nine years, making it highly feasible it would survive another nine, with unexpected price movements and influence. Taleb recently wrote in a blog:
“Which is why Bitcoin is an excellent idea. It fulfills the needs of the complex system, not because it is a cryptocurrency, but precisely because it has no owner, no authority that can decide on its fate. It is owned by the crowd, its users. And it has now a track record of several years, enough for it to be an animal in its own right.”
Daniel Dennett: A philosopher dealing with the ethereal, and anything that is difficult to grasp and formulate. He sees Bitcoin as a valid, real – though unreal mental construct. Just like fiat money. From his book, “From Bacteria to Bachand Back”, Dennett explains that:
“Bitcoin, in contrast, seems much more illusory to most folks, but if they reflect on it, they will discover that the palpable, foldable dollar bills that are physical objects are ontological crutches of sorts, to be thrown away once you’ve learned how to walk, leaving in place only the mutual expectations and habits that can in principle support bitcoin as well as dollars.”
Steven Pinker: Linguist and philosopher, exploring the origins of human cooperation and altruism in his later books. Although Pinker never gave Bitcoin a clear-cut support, his ideas of the internet creating a global community has in fact rolled in, at least in part, via crypto coins.
Lastly but most importantly, Elon Musk.
A name synonymous with the rule-breaking and successful creation, it so happens that Elon Musk has just about 0.25 BTC stored in a wallet somewhere. Musk recently made a furor by being seen holding a book devoted to cryptocurrencies. Musk hasn’t spoken in Bitcoin’s defense but even his presence is inspiring, and probably a publicity boost for the crypto community. At this point, many would prefer the community to be seen as a hotbed of great minds and innovators, rather than ‘lambo-chasers’.
In any case, Elon Musk may be a staying presence in Bitcoin memes.
Some believe the crypto world needs at least some justification. Many have spoken positively, however naturally, there are still vestiges of distrust, only fed by new scam reports. And as the markets threaten to slide in a protracted bear phase, every positive statement gives hope that Bitcoin will keep surviving no matter what happens.
