IN NASHVILLE, THE AMERICAN BITCOIN REVIVAL BEGINS.
Grassroots Bitcoin, held at Bitcoin Park in Nashville, Tennessee, brought together Bitcoin meetup organizers from across the country.
Americans are suckers for a good revival. A revival is a religious fervor that spreads across the country, frequently spawning new churches and social movements. Revivals begin with a profound and pervasive dissatisfaction with the status quo. Then a few luminaries take the stage and begin preaching a new and improved way to believe and organize. These pioneers preached to the masses and gathered a following. They take their message on the road and attempt to reach as many people as possible.
The social and legal landscape are irreversibly altered in the aftermath of a revival. New churches sprout up while old ones splinter, shrink, and adapt. Laws are enacted, and social institutions must contend with a newly organized and dedicated constituency. Related social movements diverge and chart their own course for societal change. As everyone adjusts to their country’s new reality, the religious fervor fades.
I believe we are in the midst of another American revival. Unlike previous revivals, this one is purely monetary in nature.
I recently spent time at Bitcoin Park in Nashville, Tennessee, meeting other Bitcoin meet up organizers from across the United States and Canada. ODELL and bit kite invited us to a Grassroots Bitcoin event to collaborate and discuss how we can increase bitcoin adoption and support local communities. I met dozens of other organizers of meet ups. We exchanged stories and learned about each other’s motivations, goals, and aspirations.ย
- Bitcoin as a human rights tool
- I use Bitcoin as a small business tool.
- Techniques for growing your bitcoin meet up, both technical and social.
- Cold storage tools for self-sufficiency.
- Tools and advice for buying, selling, and managing bitcoin.
- How and why should we collaborate with politicians to achieve our common goals?
From complimentary pelican cases to the ultimate Bitcoin social event, a beefsteak dinner, there was an abundance of Bitcoin culture on display. I do not agree with all of the Bitcoiners’ beliefs. For example, I drove several hours to get my first COVID-19 vaccine, and I try to eat more vegetables than meat. Grow your own food and learn to shoot a gun because it could literally save your life one day, according to other popular Bitcoin beliefs. I think that a growing social movement needs a strong cultural identity, and Bitcoin is no different.
The variety of personalities and backgrounds on display was one of the things that struck me about this group. There were city dwellers and country dwellers, as well as Christians, Muslims, Jews, and atheists. I noticed brogrammers rubbing shoulders with ranchers and sharing meals. There were HVAC repairmen, ex-cops, and flight attendants among them. Bitcoin truly appeals to men and women of all backgrounds. When a former pastor took the stage near the end of the event and declared that Bitcoin was his new church, it occurred to me that we are in the early stages of another American revival. A revival must appeal to a broad and deep cross-section of society in order to be successful. That’s exactly what I witnessed in Nashville.
Bitcoin’s social movement is small but fervent, rooted in a deep apprehension and distrust of the top-down forces at work in our society. I believe a sea change has occurred in the last few years. The majority of the meet ups in Nashville were founded in the aftermath of the COVID lockdowns. Our national response to the pandemic, I believe, sparked a lot of skepticism, which is now taking root at these meet ups.
I’ve been a Bitcoin user for much longer than I’d like to admit. I’ve had numerous conversations with no-coiners, and their reactions have ranged from mild interest to outright rejection. I stopped starting these conversations over time. My eyes have been opened to the movement’s fiery, impassioned core in the last week. I’ve never met a group of Bitcoiners with more conviction or a stronger sense of purpose. I believe we are nearing a tipping point; there has never been a better time to seek out bitcoin skeptics and give them the push they need to install a wallet and begin their journey.
Throughout the event, attendees shared stories and photos of all the ordinary people they orange-pilled. Talking your waiter into downloading a bitcoin wallet and receiving their first tip in SATs became a badge of honor. Bitcoiners are hungry for converts, and their message is very compelling in these times of high inflation and rising authoritarianism. 2020 strikes me as a drought year in American society. People were told where they could go, how they should behave, and what they should wear. This kind of environment is bound to elicit a counter-cultural reaction from a free-loving populace in a country founded on the ideals of individual liberty. Bitcoin organizers are the spearhead of a burgeoning social movement. I see a fire burning in these people, and they are spreading the embers to the masses one by one.
Forest fires are always small at first. When the conditions are favorable, they grow at an exponential rate. Slowly at first, but if you stop paying attention, the conflagration will catch you off guard with its speed and intensity. Following the fire, a new season of growth and renewal emerges from the ashes. Don’t let yourself be caught off guard. Join your local Bitcoin meet up and let’s address the source of so many of our society’s problems. Let’s get the money sorted out.
One final point. I believe that America’s robust culture of individual liberties uniquely qualifies us to be Bitcoin’s home. The residence of freedom money. However, this is far from certain. We need the support of politicians to get there. A revival can be an effective tool for advancing political careers. Invite your elected officials to a Bitcoin meet up. Show them the power of this social movement firsthand. Talk to them about the difficulties you’re having in spreading bitcoin adoption and how they can earn your vote. They are paying attention. Make certain that they receive the correct message.