Satoshi Nakamoto emerged from the shadows of the internet, shortly after the Great Financial Crisis in 2008, to bring the world a new form of money known as Bitcoin. By introducing this alternative option to the world, Satoshi gave every human being an escape from the systemic confiscation of wealth that is fiat money.

“Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver.”

― Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

Much like John Galt in Ayn Rand’s Magnum Opus “Atlas Shrugged”, Nakamoto paved the way for all of the productive members of society who have been taken advantage of by the “looters” to exit the corrupt system and let it crumble under its own weight. In our case instead of moving our physical bodies to a secluded gulch, we can simply move our wealth into Bitcoin.

The Men of the Mind

In the novel, one by one the great industrialists of the era were mysteriously disappearing and giving up on the great enterprises that they had built. People could not understand why these seemingly very successful individuals would leave behind everything they had created. There was however, a common trend amongst these individuals. All of them were highly competent in their field, placed high value on individualism, possessed a strong moral integrity with a bend towards rational self interest. They were fed up with the way that the system was designed to punish the productive individuals in the society and reward those who are least productive.

“From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs”

-Karl Marx

A form of this has crept its way into every civilization today including the United States which once prided itself on individual liberty and personal responsibility. It was predicted by Ayn Rand in 1957 with Atlas Shrugged depicting exactly how these collectivist ideals corrupt and decay a society by rewarding theft and stifling innovation.

As these productive individuals grew increasingly disenchanted with the status quo they began to look for answers, this leads them to finding John Galt. The mysterious figure that is John Galt would visit these people and explain to them all the things they already felt so so deeply abut their broken society but were never able to quite define. After having their eyes opened to the severity of the problem, they are presented the solution in Galt’s Gulch. They are given the option to leave behind the corrupt society that they have been involuntarily fueling with the confiscated product of their efforts.

“We are on strike, we, the men of the mind.

We are on strike against self-immolation. We are on strike against the creed of unearned rewards and unrewarded duties. We are on strike against the dogma that the pursuit of one’s happiness is evil. We are on strike against the doctrine that life is guilt.”
― Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

Satoshi’s gift to the world

“If you saw Atlas, the giant who holds the world on his shoulders, if you saw that he stood, blood running down his chest, his knees buckling, his arms trembling but still trying to hold the world aloft with the last of his strength, and the greater his effort the heavier the world bore down upon his shoulders - What would you tell him?”

I…don’t know. What…could he do? What would you tell him?”

To shrug.”
― Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

When Satoshi Nakamoto created Bitcoin, he did so to solve a problem that he identified in the world around him. He saw the insidious power of central banks and how they create massive inequality and economic distortions. Rather than seek to modify or amend the current system Satoshi built a new and independent system that was built upon sound principals.

After introducing this new protocol for value exchange to the world, Satoshi did one of the most honorable things imaginable and disappeared without a trace. He took no financial reward for his contributions although he would be justified in doing so. By doing this he set a profound example allowing the project and the community around it to flourish.

Today Bitcoin serves as an escape valve for economic value to flow out of the fiat system and into a secure and sound network. Without this option individuals would be trapped into having their purchasing power lowly taxed away or forced to take on risk simply to preserve value. Wealthy individuals under a fiat system must own large amounts of property such as real estate, stocks, bonds, ect because they are able to store value better than their currency. these investments come with risks and drive a monetary premium to the assets which makes housing less affordable, stocks overvalued, and bonds seem less risky than they truly are.

Much like Galt’s Gulch those who benefit from or are dependent on the legacy system will be the last to abandon it, even while it falls apart. The first ones to defect are those who are most negatively impacted by the current regime, like Atlas holding the world on their shoulders they are finally offered the chance to shrug the weight off. Those who have been working hard at their job for years but still struggle to save for retirement due to fiat debasement, public figures who have been de-banked for their views, entrepreneurs who are forced to hold toxic government debt on their balance sheets due to regulation, all will clearly see the value the Bitcoin offers.

And so, I salute to all of you who have decided to shrug off the yolk of central bank oppression and build a more prosperous future on the sound foundation the Satoshi gave to us. I hope to meet you all one day in Nakamoto Gulch.