Post
Topic
Board Bitcoin Discussion
Re: Is holding Bitcoin generally good?
by
Bleaking6
on 18/06/2025, 04:22:12 UTC
ey, I totally get where you're coming from, and you don't sound anti-Bitcoin at all—just thoughtful and curious about its bigger picture. Your point about Bitcoin being more than just a "buy and HODL" asset is spot on, and it’s refreshing to see someone wrestling with these ideas openly.If everyone who bought Bitcoin just locked it away in private wallets forever, the network would still function, but it’d be a pretty stagnant system. Bitcoin’s strength comes from its decentralization, security, and the fact that miners keep the network running by processing transactions. Miners get paid through block rewards (newly minted Bitcoin) and transaction fees. If no one’s moving Bitcoin on-chain—say, because everyone’s just HODLing—transaction volume drops, fees might not be enough to incentivize miners, and over time, that could weaken the network’s security. The block reward keeps halving every four years, so eventually, fees need to pick up the slack. Low activity could also make Bitcoin less appealing as a living, breathing system, which might hurt its value and adoption.Does that mean selling or moving Bitcoin on-chain is “bad”? Not at all. Moving Bitcoin—whether you’re selling, spending, or sending it—keeps the network active. Every transaction is a signal that Bitcoin’s being used, which helps miners and reinforces the network’s purpose. The catch is, reckless selling (like dumping huge amounts) can mess with price stability, which some folks worry could scare off new users. But regular movement? That’s Bitcoin doing what it’s meant to do.I hear you on wanting Bitcoin to be more than a store of value. Holding is great for long-term believers like you (and me, honestly—I’m stacking too), but Bitcoin’s real magic happens when it’s used. Imagine a world where people pay for coffee, send remittances, or settle contracts with Bitcoin seamlessly. That’s the dream Satoshi hinted at: a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. Right now, high fees and slow confirmation times on the base layer make small daily transactions tricky, but solutions like the Lightning Network are trying to fix that. Adoption’s growing in places like El Salvador, where folks are using Bitcoin for real-world stuff, and that’s the kind of utility you’re talking about.You’re not pessimistic—you’re idealistic, and that’s awesome. HODLing’s a strategy, not a religion. Bitcoin’s community sometimes gets stuck in the “number go up” mindset, but plenty of people share your vision. Look at devs building apps, merchants accepting BTC, or folks in hyperinflated economies using it to survive. They’re proving Bitcoin’s more than a digital gold bar.We can’t force utility overnight, though. It’ll take better tech, more education, and businesses taking a leap. Encouraging people to use Bitcoin—spending it, accepting it, building on it—while still holding some for the long haul could strike the balance you’re looking for. Maybe try spending a little BTC at a merchant that accepts it or check out Lightning wallets to see how it feels. That’s what I’ve been experimenting with, and it’s eye-opening.What do you think—any ideas on how we could push for more real-world use without losing the HODL ethos?