I am confused by everyone's assumption that the 'early adopters' took a risk...pennies worth of electricity is not a risk on generating thousands of worthless bitcoins is not a gamble. If anything, they gambled their brain power on something they saw as immensely useful. Those that propped up the system and invested in BTC for cash and began to offer goods and services for bitcoin are the ones bearing a risk...basically everyone that came in after the 'earliest adopters'.
The entrants into the current market are the ones bearing the greatest risk. Buying in at $14/per is a lot different than buying in for pennies...
This is quite correct. The early adopters had skill and foresight, and that is admirable - but very modest risk, and enormous payoff potential.
The current wave of adopters have far higher risk factors to consider and far higher barriers to entry.
There is nothing more important that the early adopters can do than donate and invest in startups. Even only 10% of the early bitcoin wealth would catapult this next leg of the economy. And, by extension, make their remaining 90% stockpile far more valuable.