Can BTC realistically serve as a safe-haven or inflation hedge in its current form — or is that only possible after further adoption and reduced volatility?
Bitcoin is already a store of value and a hedge to inflation because the price increases overtime whike that of fiat is the opposite. The price history of bitcoin has proven that which is why you see that big tech firms and some countries government are creating a bitcoin reserve.
The adoption is bitcoin will keep on increasing because it's a new asset that a lot of people haven't find found out the real potential of bitcoin that it's worth throwing some value into and gives you the opportunity to be your own bank based on its decentralized nature.