Like many of us, I think I’ve been without any meaningful sense of community since the beginning of the lockdowns in early 2020. Sure, I’ve had kept in touch with friends, gone on plenty of walks with my neighbours, and done a few family events through Zoom, but it’s not the same thing. Call me old school, but I still feel that giving someone a hug or shaking someone’s hand still means something. Seeing someone smile when you tell them how happy you are to see them still means something. Things have definitely gotten better over the past few months, but the mental and social (not to mention economic) scars from everything that we’ve gone through in the past few years haven’t quite fully healed yet, especially here in Canada. Even though it’s felt like it sometimes, we’re not living in a dystopian metaverse. Human interaction is still very, very important.
Meeting in the metaverse = PoS
Meeting in the real world = PoW
If you’ve read my first article on this Substack, you’ll know that the first 6 to 9 months of my Bitcoin journey were quite lonely. There’s nothing unique about that. Diving head first into the Bitcoin rabbit hole really changes us, and I think most of the people who choose the orange pill go through a solitary period of internal reflection and questioning. There are parts of the journey that just need to be done alone, but I’ve found out recently that there comes a point where we all need community. Bitcoin is like religion in that way. I’m not the first to make the observation that the Bitcoin journey is similar to a religious awakening, and there are reasons why that comparison is so common. Both are uniquely personal, and there’s something about both journeys where there comes a point where we need to know that we’re not alone. Maybe it’s just a part of being human. I’ve never been a religious person, but I’ve always appreciated the comradery and sense of community that comes with being a part of a church. My first experience feeling this kind of community happened when I first become involved with the FIRE (financial independence / retire early) movement. I’ve attended about a dozen FIRE meetups over the years, and it was the first time that I felt that I was a part of a “belief-based community”. Aside from expanding my views on finance and investing, I knew that I was surrounded by like-minded people, and that kind of environment is where magic happens. It’s motivating and inspiring to know that there are other people out there like you.
Like most things, imagine how much things get better when you go from a fiat standard to a Bitcoin standard…
Bitcoin is just different. It’s just so much more than just a set of beliefs. It’s actually a set of truths founded on mathematics and actual scarcity… but it’s so much more than that. Bitcoin is a network, and I’m not just talking about miners and nodes. It’s a network of rebellious (in the good way), low time preference, intellectually curious people from all over the world who see this technology as a way to improve humanity. Everyone who’s ever attended a Bitcoin meetup and has been surrounded by fellow Bitcoiners knows exactly what I mean. Meeting someone who has taken the deep dive is an instant friendship filter for me. It’s not simply a common set of beliefs or interests. The journey itself is proof of work. I’ve been fortunate to attend quite a few meetups in the last few months and I’ve been lucky enough to meet a wide range of characters. I’ve spoken to entrepreneurs, podcasters, self proclaimed “toxic maxis”, and even pre-coiner retirees. I’ve taken something away from every single conversation I’ve had at these get-togethers. Anyone who’s curious enough to take the time to hangout with a bunch of people who believe in magic internet money, whether they’re a hardcore HODLer since the Mt. Gox days, hold a few sats on an exchange, or are a complete no-coiner, is cool in my book. A pre-coiner at a Bitcoin meetup is a Bitcoiner as far as I’m concerned. Everyone knows a “Number Go Up Bitcoiner”, but I’ve yet to meet one of those at a Bitcoin meetup… I wonder what Ethereum meetups looks like?
Being so new to Bitcoin, it’s exciting to learn from people who have been around longer than I have. Sometimes, that means learning about how the Lightning Network actually works, or the importance of running your own node, but some of the more important things I’ve learned from these meetups are much more personal. Asking questions like “How did you get your wife to buy into you being a Bitcoiner?” or “How often do people tell you to be quiet when you’re talking about Bitcoin?” in person is a lot less awkward than asking them on Twitter. It’s especially important to talk to veterans during bear markets. They’ve been through the cycle before and are willing to share some of their experience.
My first experience meeting a group of Bitcoiners in person was unique, to say the least. How many people can say that their first Bitcoin meetup took place in the middle (literally) of a convoy of truckers? While I was certainly overwhelmed by the weight of the moment, I was incredibly excited be around a group of Bitcoiners “in real life”. The instant kinship I felt really propelled my orange pilling further and gave me a genuine jolt of hope when I needed it most. I met some great people that day (including one that has become a very close friend), but I really needed more time to really interact with people and talk about Bitcoin, the journey, and how I can contribute. Unfortunately for me, it wasn’t exactly the best circumstances for those kinds of discussions, since people at the outdoor meetup were clearly distracted by all the honking. Still, being around people that “got it” meant the world to me, and it left me craving more interaction. Everyone remembers their first time, even if it wasn’t perfect. I’ve attended 3 other organized Bitcoin meetups since then (in 3 different cities, and in 2 different languages) and each one has left me feeling more bullish… And price never came up once in any conversation I had. Not once. I’ll be attending my 4th meetup later this week, and I’m already making arrangements for #5. It’s amazing to see the diversity at the meetups. People from different backgrounds with different stories, but all them Bitcoiners. Low time preference, proof work folk. My kind of people. The kind of people that make you want to be a better.
A HUGE reason why writing and putting these articles “out there” is so I can find my place in the Bitcoin world. I don’t quite know where I fit in yet, but I know that I’m not meant to just sit in front of a computer. I know that I’m meant to bring people together in some way, and with every Bitcoin meetup I go to, that thought is reinforced. See you at Bitcoin 2023.