By Gabriel Negrín
Halloween is a special date for Bitcoiners. Their trick or treat? Bitcoin's whitepaper anniversary.
Truth be told — it doesn't matter if the market is bullish or bearish. October 31st represents a date to remember for everyone in space. This year on its thirteenth anniversary, there are many reasons to cheer.
Picture this. Late 2008 — The world is perplexed by the impending effects of the financial crisis. No one knows where things are going. It feels like the recession is bigger than anyone could've expected.
Something impressive was about to happen. Yet, very few people knew about it.
As history has shown us time and time again, human creativity flourishes in times of crisis. In this instance, as a result of a financial crisis, the boom of decentralized markets was about to start.
Something called "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System" was already out. The idea of Bitcoin had already gestated and was slowly spreading.
Thirteen years have passed since bitcoin's whitepaper was released. And boy oh boy, do we now understand what it means. A freer economy. Financial power falls on people, not on a bank. Keys give you control of your money and open the door to freedom.
Thirteen years have passed since its inception. Thirteen years in which the perception of the world changed.
Thirteen years to take the entire planet by surprise.
But what else did this whitepaper bring us?
A growing sense of community that embraces disruptive notions. And not only that, we finally got to see an asset that opens the doors to everyone without distinction.
Bitcoin gave an idea of resilience over entities we thought were invincible when we most needed it.
As stated, October 31st is much more than a date for the crypto community. With that said, we can understand why people tend to choose it to compare historical moments for BTC.
Let's go back in time. Let's imagine Halloween night of 2013 — it's been five years since the Bitcoin whitepaper was released. That day a bitcoin cost a little over $200. Long gone were the days of 10,000 BTC per pizza.
Let's get a little closer to our timeline. Halloween Night 2018. The tenth anniversary of the Bitcoin whitepaper. That October was a red month for Bitcoin — it had lost a little more than a third of its value in a single month. Even so, it closed down a few dollars over 4,000 that night.
Three years since that red October — thirteen since that cold night in 2008. The world is facing a pandemic. Uncertainty attacks all markets.
Context would have suggested a "Red October" like 2018 over a happy October like 2013.
But little do we know that bitcoin does not care about context.
Bitcoin's 13th anniversary month brought us a historical moment. Not only did bitcoin print a new all-time high, but we finally got a Bitcoin ETF.
A futures ETF, but an ETF that could pave the way for a spot ETF.
Far away are the hectic days of the 2017 bull run. This growth is much better. This trend is much more mature — much more than it ever was.
Shall We Celebrate?
On this anniversary we should be celebrating much more than an ETF.
We need to celebrate reaching 60K. We need to celebrate the sense of unity that bitcoin brought us. Beyond all the gains, we should celebrate the freedom it gave us.
I know that every investor's path is very different due to various life circumstances. But I have seen a pattern that repeats itself to those who invested in bitcoin. We all, including myself, have become more conscious of money — of the way it works and what to do and what not to do.
Bitcoin sent me on a path where I am now more aware of money and the power it holds. And that is the best gift bitcoin can give me — even better than profits.
If this hasn't convinced you, I don't know what will. Will you wait to read our article next year to look back and wonder why you didn't invest sooner?
