Is it another thing trying to manipulate you? Yes and No.
You're already in a mad scientist's lab, who is doing experiments on your brain. Everything you think you know is just an illusion that he put in your head. So while bitcoin is just another one of those, he doesn't really need it to manipulate you further; you're already in his complete control.
bitcoin will create all the infrastructure necessary, it will have everyone using it, it will create new patterns, it will almost looks like a kolidescope shifting, and if malicious can pull the plug at at minute, otherwise i think it is a universal gift to humanity to make our lives and earth a better place.