Crypto News

Bitcoin Is Physical: Bits And Bytes Have To Live Somewhere

Published

11 months ago

October 18, 2023

Sound money is money that is not prone to sudden debasement. The conversation surrounding sound money has reached a critical point, given the present uncertainties in the global financial landscape.

The spiraling debt of sovereign nations have heightened concerns about currency debasement. In contrast to fiat, which can be created out of thin air, sound money is linked to tangibility: it is something you can touch, weigh, and stow away. There’s a growing chorus of people convinced that gold is the sole antidote to the hyperinflationary threat to fiat money.

The question of whether Bitcoin is sound money has long provoked debates among economists, investors, and financial pundits. Bitcoin, being an intangible digital asset, is often dismissed by sound money advocates because it doesn’t offer the same physical assurances that gold does. You can’t hold bitcoin in your hand, so how could it be sound money?

Advocates for Bitcoin as sound money often respond that, although bitcoin is not physical, it is “backed by mathematics.” But this misses the mark. Although it is true, this argument often fails to persuade the skeptics because mathematics lack a physical basis.

In fact, Bitcoin is literally physical, just like gold is. Being able to explain this to sound money advocates who are Bitcoin skeptics is a key challenge for Bitcoin educators today. Let’s explore some of the ways Bitcoin is physical so that we might make a stronger case to gold enthusiasts as to why Bitcoin is sound money.

The blockchain is physical

To explain the ways in which Bitcoin is physical, we need to delve into technical territory, starting with how flash memory works.

Flash memory, a type of non-volatile storage medium for data, is the most common way that the Bitcoin ledger is recorded in each Bitcoin node. Flash memory is “non-volatile,” which means that the data stored inside it will remain intact, even without a supply of electricity.

At the microscopic level, flash memory is made up of an array of memory cells, each constructed from a MOSFETs (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor). These transistors are tiny switches that have a floating gate that traps or releases electrons. The presence or absence of electrons on this floating gate translates into binary code, which in turn represents data.

When you hold Bitcoin, your ownership record is literally a configuration of physical gates in a MOSFET inside a flash memory chip. Every Bitcoin transaction that ever happened is recorded in the physical states of transistors inside Bitcoin nodes scattered around the globe.

Now, flash memory might not weigh as much as a gold bar, but it is undeniably physical. With a powerful microscope, you could even take a look and see the states of those gates inside flash memory chips with your own eyes.

Private keys are physical

Let’s turn to private keys, which are alphanumeric codes that grant control over some amount of Bitcoin. Whether etched onto a metal plate or stored in a secure chip, your private key is as physically real as a chunk of gold.

If you store your private key in the form of a seed phrase that is either written on paper or etched into metal plates, as many do, then its physicality is obvious. However, while it may be tempting to assume that a seed phrase stored in this way is just a physical representation of something that is non-physical, that’s not quite right.

Hardware wallets are widely considered the best way for individuals to ensure security of their private keys. A hardware wallet typically contains a secure element, a chip that securely stores a private key. The secure element heightens security because it is designed to withstand attempts at physical tampering and unauthorized access.

The secure element inside a hardware wallet does indeed store a private key physically in flash memory in the form of electrical states of transistors. Remember, each transistor is a switch with states that can either be on or off. The private key, therefore, is a specific sequence of these states.

Even the private key stored in a hot wallet on a phone must exist physically in the phone’s non-volatile memory.

Bitcoin’s physicality means that it can survive catastrophes

One of the arguments that people who believe gold to be a superior form of sound money to Bitcoin is that Bitcoin relies on electricity and computers. They argue that, if a civilizational collapse were to occur that would disrupt electricity for an extended period of time, or even permanently, then Bitcoin would be useless. However, this view is mistaken. Bitcoin’s physicality allows it to survive almost any catastrophe. A famous moment from Hollywood will help illustrate the point.

The 1999 movie Fight Club famously ends with the destruction of all consumer debt. In the final scene, we watch the anti-heroes look out the windows of a skyscraper, gazing upon collapsing buildings. We are told that these buildings contained all records of consumer debt. With the buildings destroyed, the debt is wiped out, and “financial equilibrium” is restored.

Although it makes for a thought provoking ending, audiences watching the movie had trouble suspending disbelief in this scene. Are we really supposed to believe that all records of consumer debt are held in a few buildings? Even dozens of buildings? Intuitively, we would assume that there must be copies of these records spread all over the world, in various cities, computers, and files. Even if most of these records were destroyed, although recovery may be slow, copies would eventually be located and the pre-existing state of credit and debt would be restored.

The Bitcoin blockchain is much more robust even than records of consumer debt. The Bitcoin ledger doesn’t exist in a single location or even a handful of locations; it’s replicated across thousands of nodes worldwide, at almost every imaginable longitude and latitude. Each node holds a physical copy of the ledger in its flash memory, and collectively, all of the Bitcoin nodes serve as an absurdly redundant global backup system. They all talk to each other and confirm that their physical states are identical to each other.

In fact, planet Earth is continuously bathed in the Bitcoin blockchain by satellites that broadcast it 24 hours a day. Even if internet connectivity were disrupted for an extended period in some locations, those locations could stay in sync with the Bitcoin network using an inexpensive radio dish.

In the wake of any catastrophic event that might disrupt infrastructure, one of the primary objectives for recovery would be the restoration of power and communication networks. As history has shown, recovering societies prioritize reestablishing these utilities as a foundation for rebuilding. Once power and internet connectivity are restored, so too is the Bitcoin network. All the physical copies of the ledger, stored in flash memory across decentralized nodes worldwide, and even in space, would be there to ensure the continuity and integrity of the system.

This decentralization makes it extremely unlikely that any catastrophe — be it an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), nuclear detonation, or even a meteor strike — could wipe out all of the physical copies of the ledger.

Of course, there is always the possibility of a catastrophe so intense as to trigger a planet-wide extinction-level event. In that case, the human species will have bigger problems to contend with than which form of money to use, and will be no better off with gold than with Bitcoin.

If more people knew bitcoin is physical, more people would adopt it

Why is it vital to spread understanding about Bitcoin being physical?

In an age where financial systems are becoming increasingly abstract and detached from the tangible, people crave the security of something concrete. That’s why many resort to gold, real estate, and other physical assets.

The argument that Bitcoin can’t serve as sound money because it lacks the tangibility of gold is a misunderstanding of how Bitcoin technology works. Bitcoin is not an abstract, ephemeral digital construct. It is a form of sound money that has physical existence.

Understanding Bitcoin’s physicality can remove a significant mental block for many potential users. This would allow them to benefit from including Bitcoin in their own financial arsenal, as well as improving the resilience of the Bitcoin network itself through the introduction of a sizable cohort of committed sound money proponents.

This is a guest post by Dave Birnbaum. Opinions expressed are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.

Even digital pieces of data cannot exist without having a physical presence in computer memory somewhere.

Crypto News

Detroit Aims to Drive Digital Asset Innovation on Day Three of the America Loves Crypto Tour

Published

2 days ago

September 13, 2024

Crypto-natives and fans of Detroit rapper Big Sean flocked to the Lager House, just outside of downtown Detroit, for the third stop of the America Loves Crypto Tour. The event provided both an evening of live entertainment and a call to action to get out the crypto vote in the upcoming 2024 elections following previous stops in Arizona and Nevada.

Michigan is considered a battleground state, and the Stand With Crypto Alliance sees the state’s 940,000 bi-partisan Bitcoin and crypto owners — 25,000 of which are Stand With Crypto members — as potentially crucial for the upcoming presidential election. The 2020 election’s margin within Michigan was only about 156,000 voters, which means that crypto voters could well swing the electoral outcomes in 2024.

Local startup founders, university blockchain clubs, former State Representative Ryan Berman (R) and operatives of the Stand With Crypto Alliance took the stage for the third stop on the battleground state roadshow to communicate a simple message: Digital asset owners and entrepreneurs have leverage, and it’s time to make their political voices heard.

The last few years have seen the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) inconsistent regulatory actions have a chilling effect on the industry. Adam Zientarski, co-founder of Detroit Ledger Technologies, remarked that he would like to see that change so that “startups can actually be focused on growth and not on moving the company to another country”. On behalf of entrepreneurs in the state, he simply asks regulators to “let them build.”

In an interview with Bitcoin Magazine, former Michigan State representative and Attorney General candidate Ryan Berman echoed similar thoughts on the role of regulation.

“You can’t predict what is going to happen in this technology space, but we want to make sure people can innovate and have the tools necessary without government blocking them,” Berrman said. “Detroit has been on a rebound over the last couple of decades. It would be beneficial and put Michigan on the map to say ‘Hey, we want to welcome these types of companies, we want innovation.’”

Berrman went on to emphasize the economic importance of fostering innovation in the state:

“Here, at this event, we’ve heard from these entrepreneurs from the University of Michigan, [which] has half of their student body from out of state. The other half is in-state kids from our big schools – currently, our students leave the state looking for jobs. What can we do to keep our students here? Technology is at the forefront.

Crypto Education: Not Just For Elected Officials

Technological innovation took the driver’s seat during the America Loves Crypto’s stop in The Motor City, and what stuck out was the cultural interest in Bitcoin and crypto co-mingled with the pride many Detroiters, in particular college students, have for their state of residence. President of the University of Michigan Blockchain Club Evan Solomon received raucous applause from the crowd when shouting out his alma mater.

College students and educational institutions, a particular point of pride for Michigan, seem to be paying strong attention to Bitcoin and crypto during this election season. Speaking with Bitcoin Magazine, Solomon proudly shared that his on-campus club has received support from the prestigious Ross School of Business to host an event with 25 visiting organizations in attendance.

Yet, Solomon also remarked that clear regulation is “the single most important thing” when it comes to fostering talent and strengthening the industry in the state. When students consider what careers or companies to pursue post-college, the stigma of over-regulation is a major factor. But the tides are turning and Solmon is optimistic following a 2023 meeting with U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D), saying: “I thought the reception was great, they wanted to hear us out, and they wanted to hear about the applications.”

Code And Law: Constitutional Battles for Developers

Bitcoin and crypto are in the State of Michigan not just a matter of revenue and economic development, but of important constitutional considerations for more than 940,000 Michigan crypto owners.

Berman, who has a background in law, explained that overlapping First, Second and Fourth Amendment considerations have informed his perspective on crypto. Specifically, he argued that 3D printing files for creating firearms are as much a Second Amendment constitutional right as they are issues of free speech and privacy, and he sees overlap with cryptocurrency in that regard now that developers of open source privacy tools are also being prosecuted.

“Freedom of speech is what our Founding Fathers were all about. Publishing a manual can be bad if somebody uses it for a bad purpose, but [in the case of 3D-printed guns] there’s plenty of legitimate purposes as well. But even if there aren’t any, it doesn’t matter what the purpose is, it’s all about freedom, it’s all about the First Amendment. I’m totally an advocate for not only the Second and First Amendments, but the Fourth Amendment in particular when you’re talking about encrypted communications.”

America Loves Crypto continues its road show this week and the following in Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. Attendees can RSVP for these free events where they will be able to register to vote while connecting with like-minded folks ahead of election day this November.

The Motor City and State of Michigan see opportunity in creating a business-friendly environment for the Bitcoin and crypto industry, welcoming the Stand With Crypto Alliance.

Crypto News

Bitcoin Surges to $60,000 as Markets Brace for Potential Fed Rate Cut

Published

2 days ago

September 13, 2024

Bitcoin has climbed back to $60,000, fueled by anticipation of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut expected next week. Bitcoin’s rally comes as markets prepare for the possibility of a 25-50 basis point rate reduction, a move that many believe could further boost BTC and risk-on investments.

BREAKING: $60,000 #Bitcoin 🚀 pic.twitter.com/pualhxdQOU

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) September 13, 2024

Earlier this summer, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell hinted that a rate cut could come as early as September. Speaking on June 12th, Powell noted that the central bank would consider lowering rates once they were confident inflation was moving back toward their 2% target. This week’s announcement that U.S. inflation has dropped to 2.5%, lower than expectations, has potentially paved the way for such a move.

JUST IN: 🇺🇸 Fed Chair Powell says an interest rate cut could come as soon as September 👀 pic.twitter.com/RuIFqVZqSC

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) July 31, 2024

The Federal Reserve announce its decision this coming Wednesday, September 18, at the next scheduled Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. A rate cut could provide additional momentum for Bitcoin, which has already risen more than 125% over the last year.

Just yesterday, the European Central Bank cut its key interest rate by 0.25 percentage points, following the Bank of Canada’s decision to also reduce its policy rate by 25 basis points last week.

Bitcoin touches $60,000 ahead of a potential interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve, signaling market optimism amid falling reported inflation data.

Crypto News

Bitcoin Price Action: What to Expect Next

Published

2 days ago

September 13, 2024

Bitcoin’s recent price movements have caused concern among investors about what might come next. However, by looking at key indicators such as the 200-week moving average, Pi Cycle Top Indicator, and the Golden Ratio Multiplier, we can gain insights into potential support and resistance levels for Bitcoin.

Leaning Bearish?

In recent weeks, Bitcoin’s price has fluctuated, dipping as low as $53,000 before stabilizing in the middle of our newly formed $50,000 to $60,000 range. If this bearish price action is to continue and price breaks to lower lows the 200-week moving average heatmap (blue line), a historically critical support level, is currently close to $39,000 but fast approaching $40,000 (white line). This round psychological level also aligns with the Bitcoin Investor Tool (green line), which has also converged with the 200-week moving average, could serve as potential downside targets.

Figure 1: Converging levels of support at $40,000 if bearish price action continues.

Nearby Targets

Above current price there are several important levels closer to the current price that investors need to keep an eye on. The Pi Cycle Top Indicator (upper orange line) suggests a crucial resistance level around $62,000, based on the 111-day moving average. The Golden Ratio Multiplier (lower orange line) indicates that the 350-day moving average, currently around $53,000, has been a solid level of support during this market cycle, especially as this is close to the technical $52,000 support and significant psychological support of $50,000.

Figure 2: Nearby support between $53,000 and $50,000, with immediate resistance between $60,000 and $62,000.

More Chop?

In the short term, Bitcoin could very well continue ranging between the low $50,000 region and the $60,000 resistance, similar to the range we had formed between $70,000 and $60,000 that led to fairly stagnant price action for a majority of 2024. Despite recent downturns, Bitcoin’s long-term outlook is still promising. In the past, Bitcoin has experienced similar periods of fluctuating prices before eventually reaching new highs. However, this process can take some time, potentially weeks or even months, before a sustainable trend reversal occurs following periods of low volatility.

Figure 3: Monthly volatility is rapidly decreasing, potentially as BTC finds a new range between $50,000 and $60,000. View Live Chart 🔍

Conclusion

For long-term investors, it’s important to remain calm and not be swayed by day-to-day price changes. Over-trading often leads to poor decisions and losses, and the key is to stick to a strategy, whether it involves accumulating at support levels or taking profits at resistance.

Bitcoin’s recent price action has not been ideal, but with some simple technical analysis and a clear understanding of support and resistance levels, investors can prepare and react rather than over overreact to natural market fluctuations.

For a more in-depth look into this topic, check out our recent YouTube video here: Bitcoin Price Action: What to Expect Next

Bitcoin’s Path Forward: Insights into Price Targets, Support, and Resistance Zones