The True Potential of Bitcoin Lies in Universal Access
The question that needs to be asked is: Why scaling? Why is it so critical that Bitcoin can scale to handle the needs of billions, not just a privileged few? The answer to this question reveals the true potential of Bitcoin and why failing to scale not only limits the technology but also undermines the core principles it was built upon.
At its heart, Bitcoin was designed to be more than just a currency. It was meant to be a timestamp server, a system that allows individuals to prove the existence of information at a specific point in time. This is revolutionary because it doesn’t just serve as a payment system; it provides a way for individuals to maintain evidence, protect intellectual property, and prove the authenticity of transactions without relying on a third party. But this power is only accessible when Bitcoin scales and can process millions, even billions, of microtransactions.
The original vision of Bitcoin didn’t anticipate a world where only the wealthy would benefit. It was designed to be open to everyone—a system where transactions cost a fraction of a cent, making it possible for individuals to save and timestamp data with minimal cost. In such a system, people could preserve everything: contracts, personal records, ownership claims, and so much more. Scaling makes this possible. Without it, Bitcoin’s true potential is lost.
The High Cost of Limited Scaling: Who Benefits?
Now, consider the alternative: a Bitcoin network that doesn’t scale. In this scenario, we see transaction fees rising to $50, $100, or even more. Who can afford to use Bitcoin as a timestamp server in such a world? Certainly not the average person trying to preserve the authenticity of a simple document. Instead, this high cost of transaction pushes Bitcoin into the hands of the wealthy and the powerful.
What we are left with is a system where the plutocrats—those with enough wealth to spend hundreds on transactions—gain control, while ordinary individuals are forced onto second-layer solutions like Lightning. These systems, while promising in some ways, lack the robustness and security of the Bitcoin network. They serve as a cheaper alternative but strip away the very features that make Bitcoin a truth machine.
The problem with not scaling is that it excludes the very people who need Bitcoin the most. The whole point of decentralised systems like Bitcoin is to give individuals control over their own data, transactions, and evidence. But that control is meaningless if it costs a prohibitive amount to use the system.
Why the World Needs Bitcoin to Scale: A Future for Everyone
Scaling is not a technical problem, it’s a moral imperative. A Bitcoin network that can handle billions of microtransactions allows anyone, anywhere in the world, to record their data, secure their transactions, and prove their claims. It provides a foundation for trust, where individuals are no longer at the mercy of governments, corporations, or financial elites.
Imagine a world where a person in a rural village can timestamp their land ownership records, protecting them from fraud or government seizure. Imagine a small business owner who can prove their intellectual property without expensive legal processes. Imagine a world where every transaction, no matter how small, can be secured and validated for mere pennies. This is the world Bitcoin can create if it scales.
Without scaling, we deny people that future. We limit Bitcoin to the hands of the rich, creating yet another system where power and privilege dictate access. That’s not what Bitcoin was supposed to be.
The Need for Universal Access: Scaling Bitcoin for the Greater Good
Scaling Bitcoin isn’t just about processing more transactions—it’s about universal access. The beauty of Bitcoin lies in its ability to democratise access to financial services and secure systems of proof. But none of this happens without scaling. If transactions are too expensive, we cut off billions from using the network for its intended purpose: preserving evidence, controlling data, and securing transactions.
This system must remain open to everyone, not just those who can afford the costs. By scaling Bitcoin, we ensure that everyone, from the smallest user to the largest corporation, has the ability to use it for what it was designed to do. This means maintaining evidence, proving ownership, securing intellectual property, and processing everyday transactions. It’s not just about who has the most money—it’s about who has access to the tools that will shape the future.
Scaling for the Future: Ensuring Bitcoin’s Role as the Ultimate Timestamp Server
Bitcoin’s ultimate value lies in its ability to function as a timestamp server—a way to record and prove the existence of data, transactions, and evidence. Without scaling, this function becomes a privilege for the few, not a right for the many. It becomes a system where only those with the resources can protect their data and secure their transactions, while the rest are pushed onto second-layer solutions that offer only a fraction of Bitcoin’s promise.
Scaling Bitcoin is not just a technical necessity, it’s the key to unlocking its true potential as a tool for personal sovereignty. It’s about ensuring that everyone has the ability to control their own data, their own transactions, and their own future. If Bitcoin can scale to handle billions of transactions at a fraction of a cent, it can serve as the foundation for a new era of individual empowerment—where everyone has access, and no one is left behind.
This is the future we should strive for, and this is why scaling Bitcoin matters. It’s about more than just processing power—it’s about ensuring that the promise of Bitcoin is open to all, not just a select few.