EDUCATORS NOT INFLUENCERS

Guest Written by Daniel Prince

“So, how did you first learn about Bitcoin?”

It’s a question every Bitcoiner has either asked or been asked. It’s the icebreaker at meetups, the opening line at conferences. It always leads to a familiar back-and-forth, swapping stories about the people who lit the path on your rabbit hole journey, what podcasts you binged, what books you devoured, and the ‘aha’ moments and epiphanies that they unlocked for you. 

“Holy shit, this changes everything. Fix the money and you fix the world!”

Maybe it started with a scrappy Medium article shared around Reddit or Twitter. Maybe it was buried in a chapter of the latest Bitcoin book you’re devouring like a nutrient-starved scholar. Maybe it was a Bitcoin podcast guest who dropped a line so profound you hit the back button five times. Or maybe it was the YouTube tutorial that kept you up until 2 a.m. after your family had long gone to bed. Each journey is unique, but all of them lead to the same place: a complete shift in worldview. That moment when digital scarcity hits you like a freight train, and you realise your old beliefs weren’t built to last. Suddenly, you’re questioning everything: money, markets, politics, property, energy, religion. Nothing is off-limits. (I, for one, never tire of learning about other people’s experiences. Perhaps that’s why I have a podcast.) 

Paying homage to those who came before us, Javier’s artwork captures this intellectual explosion. Those who took it upon themselves to spread the word and fan the flames of education of not just Bitcoin but philosophy, anthropology, financial markets, politics, private property rights, engineering, energy, physics, religion, spirituality, art, and so much more. 

Bitcoin touches everything, because money touches everything, and when a money suddenly presents itself as “Hey, I am digitally and finitely scarce,” shit changes quickly. Your mind suddenly sits up and takes notice; you feel a total mental shift and instinctively start to question your pre-programmed world views.

At first, there were few voices. For those of us who were thirsty for more knowledge in the early days, it was drip-fed via a weekly podcast or by hunting around the internet for credible sources. But those voices inspired others. Gradually, then suddenly.

Ordinary people, filled with new insights but no outlet, overcame imposter syndrome to write, record, and share the new ideas burning in their hearts and minds. They grew to become the next wave of educators, who then inspired the next. And on it goes. 

This wheel of sharing knowledge and telling stories will never stop spinning – ever. It’s a primal instinct; it’s encoded in our DNA. Nothing stops this train. As time unfolds and more educators join the cause, the number of people joining the Bitcoin network will go up and pump forever, Laura. I remain forever thankful to those who educated and inspired me – they know who they are, and if you look closely at this wonderful piece of artwork, you will find them etched into Javier’s incredible tribute. Remember: Bitcoin has educators, not influencers. And I am here for it. Daniel Prince. Host of The Once Bitten Podcast.