The Bitcoin rabbit hole is as deep as it is fascinating. Most people barely scratch the surface, content with a shallow understanding of what Bitcoin is and what it represents. Others, however, dive headfirst and dig so deep that they uncover layers that most never even realize exist.

Let’s break this down into two groups: the surface-level Bitcoiners with their hand shovels and the deep-diving Bitcoiners who roll in with excavators.

{The Hand Shovel Bitcoiners} These are the folks who interact with Bitcoin on a basic, surface level. They see it as a tool or an investment and don’t look much beyond its immediate benefits. They aren’t necessarily wrong in their approach, but they miss out on the deeper understanding of what Bitcoin truly is and what it can do.

Examples of this type of Bitcoiner:

The Speculator: This is the person who buys Bitcoin because they heard it’s a “good investment.” Maybe they saw a headline about a bull run, so they threw in some cash, hoping for quick gains. For them, Bitcoin is just another asset, like stocks or real estate, with no consideration of the bigger picture.

The Inflation Worrier: Some people buy Bitcoin simply as a hedge against inflation. They know fiat currency is losing value and see Bitcoin as a better store of wealth. They’re not wrong, but they stop there, without diving into why Bitcoin works as a store of value or how it fundamentally changes the way we think about money.

The Convenience Seeker: Then there are those who use Bitcoin for occasional transactions—maybe for sending money overseas or making purchases. They enjoy the convenience and low fees but don’t explore the technology behind it or its implications for freedom and decentralization.

These people approach Bitcoin with a hand shovel, digging just enough to get what they need but never venturing deeper into the rabbit hole.

{The Excavator Bitcoiners} Then you’ve got the excavators—the Bitcoiners who dig deep and keep digging. For them, Bitcoin isn’t just a tool or an investment; it’s a lifelong study, a passion, and a revolution. These are the people who don’t just use Bitcoin—they live and breathe it.

Some examples:

The Builders: These are the people creating infrastructure for Bitcoin—developers working on Bitcoin Core, entrepreneurs building businesses on the Lightning Network, or creators of hardware wallets. They’re the ones ensuring Bitcoin is secure, scalable, and usable for the masses.

The Sovereign Individual: There are those who take Bitcoin’s ethos of self-sovereignty seriously. They run their own nodes, use multisig setups to secure their keys, and understand privacy tools like CoinJoin. For them, Bitcoin is more than just money—it’s a tool for reclaiming control over their lives.

The Educators: Some Bitcoiners dedicate their time to helping others understand the rabbit hole. They write books, host podcasts, or create online content to explain Bitcoin’s economic principles, its technical underpinnings, and its impact on society. Think of people like Saifedean Ammous or Robert Breedlove—they don’t just dig; they help others find their own excavators.

The Philosophers: Finally, there are the thinkers who explore Bitcoin’s implications beyond just technology or money. They’re asking the big questions: What does Bitcoin mean for freedom? How does it disrupt power structures? What kind of world does Bitcoin enable?

These excavators dig into Bitcoin’s philosophy, economics, and technology, uncovering insights that challenge conventional thinking.

Why Go Deeper? The difference between the two types of Bitcoiners is curiosity and commitment. Hand shovel users might buy Bitcoin, but their understanding of it is skin-deep. They’re more likely to sell at the first sign of a price drop or abandon ship when regulations get tough. Excavators, on the other hand, are here for the long haul. They’ve seen the potential of Bitcoin and understand it on a level that makes them unshakable.

Going deeper isn’t just about knowing more—it’s about being better prepared. The more you dig into Bitcoin’s technical and philosophical layers, the more you understand its true power and potential. It’s not just digital gold; it’s a decentralized system that redefines money, freedom, and trust.

The beauty of the Bitcoin rabbit hole is that anyone can explore it at their own pace. Whether you’re using a hand shovel or an excavator, you’re contributing to Bitcoin’s growth and adoption. But the deeper you dig, the more you realize how much more there is to uncover.

THE HOLE RUNS DEEP