Bitcoin Is for Anyone with David Zell - WBD479

David Zell is a co-founder of the Bitcoin Policy Institute and
Director of Policy at BTC Inc. In this interview, we discuss echo
chambers and groupthink, how Bitcoin being for everyone makes it
stronger, the threat of Bitcoin to China, and political
exploitation.


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Bitcoin’s survival and flourishing from the early days was down
to having an impassioned and protective community. Some of this
was defensive; resilience builds over years of criticism and
ridicule. Some of this was offensive as various existential risks
have had to be overcome.


What has evolved is a kind of ethical militancy, as Bitcoin
maximalists have banded together to thwart anything that could
damage Satoshi’s original vision. However, there is an obvious
drawback to this approach in that some have become hardened to
any idea or person deemed to be antithetical to the cause.


But what is the cause? Can there be divergent opinions on what
Bitcoin is and who it should serve to assist? Can Bitcoin be for
everyone? If the Bitcoin community doesn’t open itself to
adoption by those from across the political spectrum does it risk
stagnating or fragmenting? What about opposing views at the
nation-state level?


These seem like positive discussions to be had: it is an obvious
sign of maturation. It’s intuitive to think it is in Bitcoin’s
interest to have a broad church. But will isolating its
detractors make Bitcoin stronger, or energise the threats against
it?