Several years ago, the author undertook a unique endeavor: the establishment of a Bitcoin circular economy in a fishing village located in Northeast Brazil. This initiative eschewed venture capital funding and avoided the realm of speculative cryptocurrency promises. Instead, it focused on foundational principles—including the establishment of nodes, the utilization of satoshis, in-person education, and engaging discussions within the community.

This initiative gave rise to Praia Bitcoin Jericoacoara, which can be characterized as an innovative experiment in financial sovereignty leveraging open source tools within a coastal context. Over the course of four years, the project transformed a coastal town into an interactive Bitcoin education hub. Community members—including families, shopkeepers, and street vendors—were onboarded; self-custody was taught in small groups; reliable Lightning routes and point-of-sale tools were installed; social programs were funded via sats, and regular meetups integrated Bitcoin into the everyday lives of residents.

Living on the Bitcoin standard revealed important insights into contemporary technological advancements.

In August 2025, the author published four concise articles via X, which differed in style but unified around a central inquiry: What role should Bitcoin play, and what responsibilities should individuals assume in its development? These articles included:

• A report detailing collaboration with the Bitcoin Community Bank in Jericoacoara.
• A critique of the rigidity often associated with Bitcoin maximalism.
• An invitation addressed to Bhutan’s Prime Minister, proposing the adoption of the satoshi as a unit of account.
• A public plea to maintain Bitcoin as a peer-to-peer cash system.

The common thread among these writings is the aspiration to align practical application, theoretical frameworks, and a forward-looking vision.

In the first article, the author presented insights drawn from the tangible experience of crafting a Bitcoin-based circular economy in Northeast Brazil. Drawing inspiration from Bitcoin Beach in El Salvador, the Jericoacoara initiative emphasized education, inclusivity, and the strengthening of local infrastructure. Key accomplishments included the installation of servers, onboarding of local merchants and residents, establishment of social programs, and the pursuit of institutional approval as a Community Bitcoin Bank.

Building a Bitcoin Circular Economy in Jericoacoara

I’m deeply inspired by the progress of @BitcoinEkasi, the momentum of the #spedn movement across Africa, and the compelling journey of @orphansofuganda. These initiatives prove that Bitcoin can serve as a true medium of… pic.twitter.com/KiGndjGZen

— Praia Bitcoin Brazil (@BitcoinBeachBR) August 2, 2025

The initiative faced obstacles, particularly from local authorities resistant to the innovative ideas presented. Despite the challenges posed by state legal and political structures, progress was made. Through the belief that Bitcoin, when integrated into local contexts, transcends mere currency to become a catalyst for communal transformation, the project proceeded. Unfortunately, local authorities failed to grasp this vision, resulting in the denial of a request to establish what would have been Brazil’s first Bitcoin community bank.

In the second article, the author addressed ideological conflicts within the Bitcoin community. The rigid belief system of Bitcoin maximalism, which posits Bitcoin as the sole legitimate cryptocurrency and categorizes all others as scams, served a historic purpose. While it protected ecosystem integrity and identified fraudulent actors, questions arise regarding its utility in promoting widespread adoption and effectively communicating Bitcoin’s value to newcomers. The author noted instances where potentially valuable technological developments were overlooked simply due to their departure from maximalist ideologies.

Upon re-evaluating this stance and engaging with community feedback, the conclusion drawn is that alternative projects often serve as conduits toward broader Bitcoin adoption, functioning as channels that guide users to the core asset. Variants such as stablecoins, altcoins, and even centralized cryptocurrencies may facilitate transitions toward Bitcoin, impacting inflation and aiding price establishment for various commodities. This realization suggests the need for a more inclusive approach—one that honors core Bitcoin principles while remaining open to evolving technological landscapes, engaging regulatory bodies in defining Bitcoin as a decentralized currency in contrast to more centralized alternatives.

Moving on to the third article, the author expanded upon this vision within the diplomatic sphere by articulating a proposal to Bhutan’s Prime Minister. The suggestion centered on considering the satoshi as the national unit of account.

Open Letter to Dr. Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bhutan

Your Excellency @tsheringtobgay,
It is with deep respect and admiration that I write to you, recognizing Bhutan’s remarkable journey in preserving its sovereignty, cultural identity, and commitment to Gross National… pic.twitter.com/2tuTgfzAQi

— Praia Bitcoin Brazil (@BitcoinBeachBR) August 19, 2025

The proposal, while more symbolic in nature, aimed to envision Bitcoin as a tool for exploring alternative development paradigms that could operate independently of IMF influence and the U.S. dollar, all while honoring local cultural contexts and sovereignty. The reactions to this correspondence highlighted the ideological diversity present even within the Bitcoin ecosystem, with varying perspectives from conservatives, centrists, and progressives, each interpreting the protocol through distinct lenses.

This article serves as a focal point, uniting the experiences of practical engagement, ideological discourse, and diplomatic exploration, and advocating for a re-examination of the collective goals within the Bitcoin community. Rather than merely reiterating established doctrines, this moment demands critical reflection. It necessitates a commitment to fostering freedom in practical contexts—within local communities, diverse dialogues, and institutional frameworks.

In the fourth article, the author distilled messages to Bitcoin Core into a singular imperative: maintain Bitcoin as a peer-to-peer cash system, rather than a generic data host.

Hello @bitcoincoreorg,

We live Bitcoin. We dedicate our lives to it, full time, nonstop. On the ground, we work as part of Bitcoin’s invisible team, often without salaries, simply because we believe in its power to fix money and defend society from injustice and… pic.twitter.com/QLieljdVJn

— Praia Bitcoin Brazil (@BitcoinBeachBR) August 23, 2025

In advocating for this perspective, the author cautioned against the risks that emerge from loosening default data-carrying settings, as they might introduce bloating, legal uncertainty, and reputational challenges to the protocol. The call to action for developers was to adopt a long-term perspective, prioritizing the essence of Bitcoin over short-term cycles. The author highlighted that Bitcoin should be viewed as money—not merely as a platform for arbitrary content. Transactions, while capable of minor annotations, should not veer into unrelated domains.

This consideration raises broader questions about the identity of Bitcoin: What is its desired future? Through this discourse, distinct factions within the community were revealed—each group valuing Bitcoin for varying reasons and accepting different trade-offs. The subsequent sections delineate these factions while demonstrating their interconnectedness.

As the visibility of Bitcoin Knots increased in comparison to that of Bitcoin Core, and as developers voiced concerns regarding the pull-request process, the author was reminded of the First Follower principle—movements gain traction not solely due to a singular leader’s brilliance but when early adopters make participation accessible and demonstrative.

Through extensive analysis of geopolitical dynamics and future trends, the author identified four predominant archetypes among Bitcoiners, defined by their distinct perspectives. These archetypes are outlined as follows:

The Four Archetypes of Bitcoin

Bitcoin Database, Coordination Builders

Core belief: Bitcoin serves as a neutral public record capable of coordinating people and software. While monetary applications are significant, they are not the sole function.

Priorities: Time-stamps, proofs, public records, identity verification, new media integrations, and enhancing features on upper layers to maintain Layer 1 (L1) stability.

Strengths: They attract innovators and new users, broadening the landscape of practical applications and experiments.

Risks and blind spots: The focus may shift away from monetary use, and excessive non-monetary data could lead to controversies and an inefficient use of block space.

Attitude toward Lightning: Open to its use when it enhances application responsiveness while promoting L1 simplicity.

Success indicators: Development of useful applications with genuine user engagement; active developer participation; minimal impact on L1.

Notable examples: Casey Rodarmor with Ordinals; Muneeb Ali with Stacks; Burak involved in Ark research; Maxim Orlovsky and RGB; fiatjaf associated with Nostr; OpenTimestamps. (Note: these are illustrative examples and not endorsements.)

Tagline: “Bitcoin is a database.”

Bitcoin Central, Market Pragmatists

Core belief: Bitcoin functions both as a currency and an asset; its price and liquidity are crucial for substantial adoption and contribute to funding security and development.

Priorities: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs), compliant on- and off-ramps, and the development of robust, liquid markets while providing investor education.

Strengths: Enhanced liquidity supports the influx of new users and provides necessary funding for projects, mining, and educational initiatives.

Risks and blind spots: Over-reliance on custodian services and a focus on short-term strategies may lead to wealth concentration.

Attitude toward Lightning: Practical—utilized where it can enhance access for more users.

Success indicators: Market activity and depth; security budget associated with hashrates; participation from ETFs and retail investors.

Notable examples: Michael Saylor; iShares and Fidelity Bitcoin ETFs; market-making entities; on-chain analysts. Edge Case: Over-reliance on leveraged positions and large corporate treasuries.

Tagline: “We care about price.”

Bitcoin Conservatives, Monetary Purists

Core belief: Bitcoin is primarily a monetary asset. Protecting the base layer is essential, emphasizing non-negotiable values such as scarcity, neutrality, and self-custody. The philosophy encourages saving before spending, exemplified here in a circular economy.

Priorities: Maintaining simple, stable principles at L1; encouraging individuals to operate their own nodes; educating users about keys, unspent transaction outputs (UTXOs), and transaction fees; promoting diversity among miners and clients; fostering long-term perspectives.

Strengths: They cultivate a clear set of incentives and robust culture, highlighting that if money is compromised, all economic valuations are distorted. Their mantra is to prioritize monetary integrity.

Risks and blind spots: User experience (UX) and payment solutions may lag, potentially leading to feelings of exclusion among newcomers. Adoption could stall if everyday usability is overlooked.

Attitude toward Lightning: Often skeptical, favoring on-chain transaction finality. They caution against the complexities that could arise from custodial solutions.

Success indicators: Increased coins held in self-custody; a healthy number of nodes; decentralized mining operations; growth in long-term holders.

Notable examples: Saifedean Ammous; Pierre Rochard; initiatives epitomizing the “proof-of-keys” movement; advocates for full-node culture and cold storage. Edge Case: Absolute refusal to sell, perceiving every altcoin as a potential scam.

Tagline: “Bitcoin is digital gold.”

Bitcoin Minimalists: Digital Gold and Digital Cash, Tool for Social Transformation

Core belief: Bitcoin should serve as both digital gold for savings and digital cash for transactions, ensuring the smallest possible trust surface.

Priorities: On-chain savings with final settlement; non-custodial Lightning transactions when feasible; employing electronic cash mints like Cashu for privacy while providing simple access to private keys; optimizing merchant transactions for self-custody.

Strengths: They harmonize savings with practical use without sacrificing user sovereignty.

Risks and blind spots: Potential friction may hinder distribution, with hesitance to adopt abstraction in user experience leading to fragmentation across minimalist systems.

Attitude toward Lightning: Supportive but with strict guidelines, preferring non-custodial or minimally trusted solutions and advising caution regarding substantial custodial platforms.

Success indicators: Users who manage both on-chain savings and non-custodial spending; seamless withdrawal mechanisms to private keys; high rates of transaction success without custodial dependencies.

Tagline: “Buy, spend, replace.”

Conclusion

The culture surrounding Bitcoin encompasses four distinct perspectives that often communicate ineffectively. Builders extend the operational framework, market pragmatists validate everyday utility, monetary purists facilitate broader distribution, and minimalists safeguard foundational principles.

Together, these various approaches create a constructive tension, ensuring the continued utility and resilience of Bitcoin for individuals in real-world scenarios.

Through extensive experience within a circular economy and continuous discourse concerning these issues, the author’s perspective is straightforward: Bitcoin represents money. It is essential to maintain simplicity within the base layer, promote on-chain savings, and encourage spending in sats when beneficial to communities—such is the role of a circular economy. Support for Lightning should only be fostered when maintaining uncomplicated pathways to personal keys remains available. The author does not endorse the notion of “Bitcoin as Database,” as this perspective distracts from its monetary purpose while opening avenues for inefficiency, misunderstanding, and potential reputational damage.

The path forward must be both practical and principled. Ideas should be evaluated on their ability to enhance self-custody, ensure reliable payments without custodial reliance, increase liquidity to facilitate security and education, and respect the constraints of the base layer. Adherence to these principles will foster constructive collaboration among differing factions, ultimately allowing more individuals to benefit from a free, neutral, and credibly decentralized monetary system.

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