Thread
What is #Bitcoin backed by?
It’s likely not what you think because most people are asking the wrong question
Thread 1/n
It’s likely not what you think because most people are asking the wrong question
Thread 1/n
People often say: “that can’t be money it isn’t backed by anything”
This is an old way of thinking that originated with paper money.
Prior to paper money, people used precious metal coins (such as gold) because they maintained strong monetary properties:
This is an old way of thinking that originated with paper money.
Prior to paper money, people used precious metal coins (such as gold) because they maintained strong monetary properties:
Scarcity, durability, divisibility, portability, fungibility, and acceptability (the 6 monetary properties)
Paper became money because it was superior to gold in terms of divisibility and portability BUT it lacked scarcity.
Paper became money because it was superior to gold in terms of divisibility and portability BUT it lacked scarcity.
People reasoned that we could benefit from the greater divisibility/portability of paper money as long as it was redeemable in a form of money that was scarce.
This is when money needed to be “backed” by something.
This is when money needed to be “backed” by something.
Since we changed money to paper money that wasn’t scarce, it needed to be backed by something that was.
Since the repeal of the gold standard, politicians have retarded the meaning of the word bc our money is no longer backed by something scarce
Since the repeal of the gold standard, politicians have retarded the meaning of the word bc our money is no longer backed by something scarce
Governments say money is backed by their “full faith and credit” as an attempt to allude populations into the belief that their horrendous credit is economically equivalent to one of the scarcest commodities in the world.
So, what is bitcoin backed by?
So, what is bitcoin backed by?
Nothing.
Sound money, like gold, isn’t “backed”.
Only money that lacks inherent monetary properties must be backed by another money that maintains those properties.
The idea that our base layer money needs to be backed by something is thinking from the era of paper money.
Sound money, like gold, isn’t “backed”.
Only money that lacks inherent monetary properties must be backed by another money that maintains those properties.
The idea that our base layer money needs to be backed by something is thinking from the era of paper money.
Bitcoin does not require backing, it has inherent monetary properties superior to any other form of money that has ever existed.
It's important bc when people think money needs to be backed by something, they assume money requires backing from a government
It's important bc when people think money needs to be backed by something, they assume money requires backing from a government
As we transition out of the fiat era back to sound money, it will be important for individuals remove the narrative that money is something that needs to be backed.
But isn’t Bitcoin backed by energy?
Isn’t Bitcoin backed by proof of work?
But isn’t Bitcoin backed by energy?
Isn’t Bitcoin backed by proof of work?
Bitcoin is ENABLED by these things, and many others: electricity, software, incentives, algorithms, hardware, suppliers, customers, contracts, property rights, real estate, communities, etc.
When you say it is “backed” by these things you are implying that it is redeemable money and are retarding this definition just as fiat practitioners have
You wouldn’t say that gold is backed by mining infrastructure, international agreements, property rights, etc.
You wouldn’t say that gold is backed by mining infrastructure, international agreements, property rights, etc.
You would say that it’s supply is enabled by those things.
As an aside – don’t conflate market value with monetary value. Gold’s market value exists bc it is used in electronics or as jewelry. Gold’s monetary value exists bc it is used as money.
As an aside – don’t conflate market value with monetary value. Gold’s market value exists bc it is used in electronics or as jewelry. Gold’s monetary value exists bc it is used as money.
Gold’s market value in electronics/jewelry could go away tomorrow and it would still maintain monetary value (bc it has strong monetary properties). Market value is not needed for something to have monetary value (as a unit, not at scale)
Lastly, the purpose of definitions is to communicate distinctions in meaning.
By saying something is backed by energy you are inherently reducing the ability to distinguish Bitcoin from everything else that is backed by energy (because energy backs everything).
By saying something is backed by energy you are inherently reducing the ability to distinguish Bitcoin from everything else that is backed by energy (because energy backs everything).
If I told somebody literate in economics this notion they would say: sure, so is everything, that isn’t a good answer.
Economics is a framework for assessing value to make decisions. Discussing what makes #Bitcoin superior money, needs to be under through an economic framework.
Economics is a framework for assessing value to make decisions. Discussing what makes #Bitcoin superior money, needs to be under through an economic framework.
The good news is we already have an economic framework to use – monetary properties.
So here’s how to think about it: all of those things that ENABLE Bitcoin are really enabling it to have superior monetary properties.
So here’s how to think about it: all of those things that ENABLE Bitcoin are really enabling it to have superior monetary properties.
Superior monetary properties are what make Bitcoin inherently sound money and for that reason we don’t need to back it with anything.
This distinction is important because:
This distinction is important because:
(1) Anyone who understands monetary theory will think you are foolish saying Bitcoin is "backed" by energy/algorithms or that you don’t understand the term.
(2) The world needs to realize that sound money does not need to be backed anything, it needs to be inherently superior.
(2) The world needs to realize that sound money does not need to be backed anything, it needs to be inherently superior.
(3)If you think I’m stupid and still want to use the word “backed” for things that enable bitcoin then you need to be complete and list all of them (a challenging task) when defining it for people.
In conclusion:
Bitcoin isn’t backed by anything, it has inherent monetary properties which are enabled by the entire ecosystem of resources, capital, and labor that created it.
Bitcoin isn’t backed by anything, it has inherent monetary properties which are enabled by the entire ecosystem of resources, capital, and labor that created it.
If you are curious to understand this better the first 3 chapters of my book cover it in depth:
www.amazon.com/7th-Property-Bitcoin-Monetary-Revolution/dp/0578902621/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+7th+pro...
www.amazon.com/7th-Property-Bitcoin-Monetary-Revolution/dp/0578902621/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+7th+pro...
If you don’t want to immediately buy my book then check out this series I wrote for @BitcoinMagazine which covers this concept (based on my book):
bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/bitcoin-dimensions-of-money
bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/bitcoin-dimensions-of-money
Disclaimer: this thread is specific to base layer money. Other redeemable forms of money will continue to exist and should be assessed based on the assets that back them.
Mentions
See All
Aaron Segal @LudiMagistR
·
Dec 30, 2021
Good thread!
Jeff Booth @JeffBooth
·
Dec 30, 2021
Great thread Eric!