Buckminster Fuller didn't just foresee the evolution of the Bitcoin network; he understood economists would not see it coming and suggested it would spread "bit-by-bit."
First, why would specialists like economists miss it?
"Economists traditionally try to maximize what you have, but the idea that you could go from wire to wireless or from visible structuring to invisible alloy structuring did not occur to them at all. It was outside their point of view—beyond their range of vision."
We also tend to dismiss things we cannot see:
"99% of all evolutionary trends are invisible."
Therefore, it was not part of their mental models:
"No economic accounting books list metaphysical assets."
Then, Fuller suggests Bitcoin literacy will be emergent, one person at a time, rather than top down:
"'Bit-by-bit,' its ramifications in those groups will reach the group surfaces, whence contacts are made with other groups. Suddenly as the picture puzzle races to completeness of countenance, these group representatives, discovering, as man continually must, 'that it is a small world after all', will find, even though it be in the guise of jest, that 4D [Bitcoin] is a subject of common progressive, harmonic, and creative interest to them all."
The Gradual Spread of New Ideas "Bit-by-bit":
Fuller explains that new concepts take time to penetrate different groups in society.
Initially, only a few individuals or specialized groups may understand or discuss an idea, but over time, its influence spreads as more people encounter it.
Cross-Group Interaction Leads to Awareness:
As these smaller groups reach a point where they interact with other groups, knowledge and interest in the idea expand.
These "group surfaces" represent the point at which ideas cross into mainstream conversations.
The Puzzle Metaphor: Sudden Realization:
Fuller compares the spread of ideas to a puzzle coming together—at first, individual pieces may seem disconnected, but as more pieces fall into place, the bigger picture emerges.
When enough people and groups have engaged with the idea, its importance and interconnectedness become impossible to ignore.
The "Small World" Effect:
The phrase "it is a small world after all" suggests that, despite perceived differences, people across various fields and backgrounds will eventually recognize their shared interest in the concept.
Even if introduced as a joke or casual discussion ("in the guise of jest"), the idea of Bitcoin Network will resonate universally once its benefits become evident.
The Bitcoin Network as a Unifying and Progressive Concept:
Fuller envisions the Bitcoin Network as a harmonizing, creative force that benefits different groups in various ways.
Once people from various disciplines realize the common ground they share, they will collectively advance the idea.
Memeing it into Reality:
Even casual conversations or jokes can serve as entry points for serious discussions about revolutionary concepts like the Bitcoin Network.
The phrase "guise of jest" means that an idea—such as Bitcoin—might initially be discussed or introduced in a lighthearted, humorous, or seemingly unserious way, but underneath that presentation lies a profound and serious truth.
Fuller suggests that people might first encounter Bitcoin as a joke, a casual remark, or something unconventional that seems amusing, but as they engage with it, they will recognize its more profound significance.
This reflects how groundbreaking ideas often begin as radical, even laughable concepts, before they gain serious acceptance once their full implications become clear.
In Summary:
New ideas spread gradually but eventually reach a tipping point where they become universally acknowledged.
Cross-group interactions accelerate awareness, making once-isolated concepts mainstream and widely discussed.
Like a puzzle coming together, people will eventually see the bigger picture and recognize the idea’s value.
Fuller understood that truth and efficiency ultimately prevail once people connect the dots across different domains.
