Bitcoin in a Suit: Why the Tech’s Big Battle is Already Won

John Biggs is a New York-based writer. After spending years as a programmer, Biggs decided to become a full-time journalist. His work has appeared in publications such as the New York Times, Gizmodo and Men’s Health. Biggs is currently an editor for TechCrunch and the CEO of bitcoin stealth startup Freemit.
In this piece he details why he thinks bitcoin will eventually succeed.
A week ago I was in Belgrade watching a panel on “blockchain.”
The makeup of the panel was typical: a young, plugged-in VC, an older banker guy and a crypto-anarchistic dude in a T-shirt. It was like watching a movie called “Bitcoin is Good And Bad” for the 50th time. I knew what was happening but I couldn’t look away.
The panel started normally – VC guy said he liked the blockchain specifically but was iffy about those bitcoins, the older gentleman said bitcoin was bad, but then the anarchist dude was quiet. He let the banker talk. The banker said that bitcoin was untraceable. It was a fad. The crypto guy let him talk. bitcoin was a tulip bulb, said the old dude. It would never work, he clamored.
And the anarchist stayed quiet. Then the old dude was done.
The anarchist calmly explained what the future of bitcoin and cryptocurrencies held. He made cogent points that he had practiced many times. While the banker chortled at his own jokes, the VC talked about the blockchain and the audience grunted.
The anarchist won the discussion through reasoned argument.
‘Bitcoin in a suit’
This is the face of bitcoin discourse in late 2015. It’s a calm discussion where the craziest people in the room are the ones who are against bitcoin. We’ve won.
I asked the anarchist, Aaron Koenig, what he was thinking on stage. He said:
“I’ve been through this many times.”

This post was published at Coin Desk on November 29, 2015.