Just a thought...
The outerworld looks at current-politics and institutionalization for Bitcoin's relevancy, as if it really mattered.
The real value isn't generated by politicians and institutions - Those are just figureheads you may look to when you're weak-willed, and have a desperate need for leadership and idolization,
Instead, the real value is in the grass-roots ecosystem.
- An ongoing feud between 2 of the most popular #Bitcoin software implementations, and based on that the direction Bitcoin should head in - You may have your own opinion on this, that's fine, but the fact it's happening, is necessary for progress. I remember this very feeling from back in 2016 with the blocksize wars.
- The proliferation of the #Lightning Network as it leaves the Experimental label (whoo, been a while!!) behind and becomes not only production, but mission-critical ready.
- The non-stop adoption of Bitcoin as a #MoE, trickle or flood, as it shows itself as an alternative to so many that had a real need for it, from merchants to those deemed 'unbankable'.
- The development of #Cashu as a custodial layer for sats, with a genuine use-case within communities.
Nothing stops this train.
It's going to keep moving and improving and refining and evolving, whether you like it or not. It's past the point of no return.
I'd be remiss not to mention #Nostr also, providing a fairly safe space for so much development and adoption in a form that calls back to the original cypherpunk movement - This is as genuine as it gets.
Meanwhile, the outerworld has no real knowledge of any of this yet - When it hits them, it's going to hit them so HARD.
Even the Bitcoin twitters/Xs and Reddits and whatnot, they're completely oblivious to Bitcoin's real development.
The ecosystem is flourishing, without anyone giving it permission to do so. That's powerful.