Bitcoin Is Infantile, But It’s Revolutionary Nonetheless
Jeff Berwick, the so-called Dollar Vigilante (a skeptic of the U.S. fiat system), recently sat down with BlockTV, an up-and-coming crypto-centric media outlet, to discuss his optimistic outlook on Bitcoin (BTC). It should come as no surprise that Berwick was bullish on decentralized cryptocurrencies, especially considering his seeming distaste for government-issued currency, but his comments held credence nonetheless.
@DollarVigilante Jeff Berwick says we have nearly reached a #crypto bottom and predicts a 2019 explosion. #bitcoinsummit #bitcoin pic.twitter.com/FMoeWJt7Rk
— BLOCKTV (@BLOCKTVnews) January 9, 2019
In a shortened version of BlockTV’s interview, Berwick first noted that once Bitcoin, long touted as a way for consumers to “be their own bank,” is well-known as a non-intermediated currency (rather than an asset for criminals), it will likely gain revolutionary-level traction. He added that the fact that you can essentially store BTC (private keys) in your head, even without governmental or bank control, may only add to this paradigm shift. Berwick explained:
Once even some people understand [Bitcoin’s potential], I couldn’t even possibly imagine where this movement could go.
However, the fiat skeptic claimed that at its core, cryptocurrencies are still in a quite infantile state, in spite of the recent ten year anniversary of Bitcoin’s first block. Keeping this in mind, Berwick noted that while many consumers have cast cryptocurrencies off, especially following the boom and bust cycle of 2017/2018, that was likely just a small blip in the grand scheme of things.
The decentralist isn’t the only industry insider to believe that BTC at $20,000 was just the start of something great. Per previous reports from Ethereum World News, Angel Versetti, the CEO of blockchain startup Ambrosus, noted that the real cryptocurrency bubble is when this asset class reaches an aggregate valuation of $15 trillion to $20 trillion.
Berwick, like Versetti, hinted at the sentiment that this technological development is game-changing, and is still undervalued from a long-term perspective. The BlockTV interviewee, who claims that he will be able to survive and thrive “during and after the Dollar collapse,” noted that “nothing can stop a good idea.” Even more so for an idea that keeps “currency out of the hands of governments and central banks.”
And this idea has already started to catch on. Per our previous reports, TIME Magazine lauded cryptocurrencies, BTC specifically, as a way to allow ‘average Joes to get out of the vises imposed by authoritarianism-centric entities.
Berwick noted that he expects for this thematic development to continue in the future, especially as governments continue to struggle to keep their jurisdictions in-check.
Institutional Money To Flow Into Crypto
Dollar Vigilante went on to touch on his short-term forecasts for this market, which has been beaten to hell and back in recent months. Berwick noted that while he cannot be 100% sure of about predicting this industry’s developments for 2019, he expects that prices have hit (or are nearing) the bottom by and large.
Yet, in spite of his bottom call, he noted that cryptocurrencies could remain in a lull until 2019’s end, echoing analysis done by other analysts, including Filb Filb and Murad Mahmudov. However, Berwick noted that with the arrival of institutional money (which he isn’t necessarily a fan of), via platforms like Bakkt, a potential Bitcoin ETF, and Nasdaq’s proposed futures, will “change the game completely.” He explained that as soon as institutional money starts flowing, cryptocurrencies prices will explode en bloc, as there are presumed trillions waiting on the sidelines.
He added that with equity markets on the verge of “the biggest collapse ever,” as predicted by a number of decentralists, cryptocurrencies will likely outperform.
Title Image Courtesy of Bruno Van Der Kraan
