A Reminder and The Uncomfortable Truth About Recent Events

First off, I am sorry for anyone who is suffering because of the recent events. What has happened to you is unfair, illegal and...avoidable.

Let these events serve as a reminder. A reminder of why Bitcoin was created in the first place. Born out of the financial crisis in 2009, Satoshi gifted us with something never before known to man - Incorruptible, portable, censorship resistant, open, permissionless, trustless, verifiable, unforgeable, digital hard money.

A way out.

Bitcoin gives you something you can truly own. Property rights that nobody can take from you or modify the terms of. You can choose to store generational wealth in your head with just 12 words. You can choose for your wealth to die with you, impossible to recover.

So then, how did someone steal your Bitcoin? Isn't Bitcoin supposed to fix this?

If you lost Bitcoin in the recent exchange collapses, it is because you chose to have your Bitcoin there. That is the uncomfortable truth, and I know it sucks. But let this be a lesson in choices. Bitcoin gives you the inalienable ability to choose who you trust with your wealth. Next time choose yourself.

Take control of your Bitcoin. Take responsibility for it. Take ownership of it. That is where the magic is, and it is what makes Bitcoin special. Don't be tricked into giving those things away to smooth talking charlatans, who promise to make you rich, then steal from you. Opt out.

If we accept the person we are when we fall, the journey ends. That failure becomes our destination. To love the journey is to accept no such end. I have found, through painful experience, that the most important step a person can take is always the next one.

~ Dalinar Kholin (Oathbringer)

If you want to learn more, my favorite resource to point people to is BTC Sessions. He has tutorial videos that will guide you step by step on how to self custody: https://www.youtube.com/c/BTCSessions

If you are interested in more philosophical Bitcoin topics, I recommend starting with Jeff Booth. Here is a great podcast between him and Preston Pysch to get the juices flowing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaqj2DcSSNA

I doubt this reaches many people, but it was cathartic to write.