For meaningful adoption, we must accept that bitcoin is not for everyone

This is an opinion editorial from Fernando Nikolic, Director of Marketing and Communications at Blockstream.

“Bitcoin is not for everyone.” It’s a bold statement that may seem counterproductive when the goal is mass adoption. After all, shouldn’t our goal be to convince everyone about the benefits of bitcoin? Well, the truth is that we can’t do that. And that’s okay.

In our world, it’s easy to live within a filter bubble, surrounded by like-minded people who reinforce our beliefs. But as we strive to bring bitcoin to the masses, we quickly realize that not everyone shares our enthusiasm. The resounding tone of “no” can be discouraging, and there are many examples of people claiming to “give up” on orange-pilling norms.

This is not the way forward. We just need to resist the temptation to use the same message on the ocean of regular people we want to get on our side.

finding our swimming pool

Instead, we need to find our own swimming pool, a smaller audience that gives us a chance to make a real impact. It is unrealistic to expect that everyone will adopt bitcoin even with the most compelling pitch. By acknowledging this reality, we can focus our efforts on those who are open to change and receptive to the message.

An example of someone who understands this is Herman Vivier of Bitcoin Easier. He is focused on building a circular economy in a very specific place: the township of JCC Camp in South Africa – and knows everything about the people in that community: their pain, beliefs, needs, doubts – and his local community. educates about it. Bitcoin based on this information.

Vivier knows that some things we may value will not be seen in the same regard among members of his community, so he takes their language, blends it with the truth of bitcoin, and makes the case for bitcoin as such. from that only they can truly understand.

It is a matter of honor for me. We must accept that bitcoin is not for everyone. This does not mean that we are excluding or dismissing individuals; It’s about recognizing that our offering is tailored to different, specific groups.

By saying, “It’s not up to you,” we show respect for everyone’s time, beliefs, and wishes. We can proudly declare, “This is for you. Not for other people, but for you.”

In order to create something worthwhile for those who are willing to listen and study bitcoin, we must embrace the freedom to ignore the critics who will never understand it. Our focus should be on making our stories better for the people who really need to hear it, and who want to hear it.

Success lies in changing the lives of those who trust us, who engage with our vision. What other people think outside of our target audience becomes completely irrelevant!

Because there’s one thing about normies that applies everywhere: They really struggle to articulate their wishes clearly. But they know what they want. As bitcoiners, we understand this thoroughlyBut the complexity of our knowledge often makes it challenging to express them in consistent ways.

Simplifying our message and acknowledging that bitcoin is not for everyone allows us to focus on those who are ready to listen.

just like neil woodfine wrote,

“Every minute spent ‘spreading the word’ or ‘promoting awareness’ would be better spent coding, designing, PMing, documenting, selling or marketing a product.”

stand for something

Finally, bitcoiners have an opportunity to stand for something. Instead of claiming “Bitcoin is for everyone”, we should start by identifying the audience to serve.

By understanding their needs, wants and dreams, we can create something special for them. This sometimes requires going to extremes to raise a concrete issue, finding your side, and standing up for something specific rather than trying to satisfy everyone.

In doing so, we can create powerful narratives that resonate and inspire meaningful adoption.

This is a guest post by Fernando Nikolic. The opinions expressed are solely his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of BTC Inc. or Bitcoin Magazine.