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102 sats \ 8 replies \ @Undisciplined 5h \ on: The part of Bitcoin you *have* to trust bitcoin
I think this axiom is too broad and vague.
Physical reality is a system that the state does not control, for instance.
The state is merely a collection of men. Its power is bounded by the capabilities of finite beings, however grand those may be.
I understood Voskuil's point here to be that we have to assume that we can resist, there's no real evidence that a p2p network like bitcoin will be durable in the face of an consistent effort by strong state. It's something we just kinda have to guess at, or take on faith.
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That’s what I don’t agree with. I don’t see why we can’t assess what the state can and can’t do.
It’s complicated for sure but ultimately it should rest on the same axiom set as our other economic theories.
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we can definitely assess
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If the axiom of resistance is your favorite, the threat-level paradox is mine.
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I look at the world and I believe the state is capable of shutting down internet access. I believe the state is capable of closing all centralized on and off ramps from bitcoin to fiat. I believe the state is capable of identifying people who have used bitcoin and using violence to put them in prison. I believe the state is capable of seizing mining equipment or removing miner access to power. I believe the state is capable of pushing all bitcoin usage to paper bitcoin and putting such onerous kyc requirements on bitcoin usage that few people use it.
I believe a lot more about the state, but what I don't know is whether we have reached a point where the state can't do these things anymore (because bitcoin usage has become so widespread) or whether the state simply has no appetite for it. It's also possible that these are the same thing...until a regime change.
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I mean...there is kind of some real evidence right, as Satoshi pointed out. They've basically given up on doing anything about torrenting and despite many attacks the Pirate Bay remains active to this day. Every once in awhile some big outfit gets busted but it doesn't affect anything.
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TOR and Pirate Bay have a track record of not being shut down, but it is also possible that states have never really perceived them as worth shutting down. I realize that I can make this argument about anything, so it's kinda a cheap shot, but our evidence that a p2p network can resist state control has never really been tested, as far as I can tell.
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