Quote from: KingsDen on Today at 11:28:41 AM

Quote from: zander1983 on Today at 10:32:48 AM

One of the most valid criticisms of Bitcoin is that it reduces the ability of the Unite States to sanction enemies of the West e.g. the billions of dollars in accounts belonging to Russians confiscated last year after the invasion, and the kicking off of Russian banks from the SWIFT network.

Bitcoin was created with many things in mind but one of the most famous reasons bitcoin was created is to be an alternative currency used by humanity in purchase of goods and services and also in other transactions. This clearly means that bitcoin is money.
And having an alternative of spending money other than the Fiat money is a good one.
For instance in my local banking, one of the banks was febiting people's account for no reason. And since I had an account in another bank, I simply moved my money to the other bank and stopped using the former bank.

This is the situation with the west as you discussed in the topic. If you are stopped from using one pattern of payment, you have no option than to embrace bitcoin because it is an alternative and the representative of freedom.

Which is a good thing in oppressive regimes that oppress their own people - the people now have a way our of financial prison - but not so good when that oppressive regime is being targeted by sanctions - they now have a way out of those: Bitcoin. And Im hearing this more as a valid critcism of Bitcoin from people in important think-tanks. My retort is usually "the money based sanctions werent very effective anyway". Which is true but usually not satisfactory.