The Bitcoin ETFs are roaring. $3 billion in a week? That’s not pocket change – that’s a tsunami of institutional treasury money, the likes of which have never flooded the crypto shores before. Instead, we’re led to believe this is all bullish, that $100,000 Bitcoin is imminent. But come on – who’s this truly benefiting? Are we, the people, simply observers as Wall Street makes bank from our digital gold?

Institutional Feast, Retail Crumbs?

The headlines scream about "bullish tailwinds" and "best weekly performance since November 2024." What does that really look like for you and I on a daily basis? For one thing, big firms are bullishly accumulating Bitcoin for sale these days. This tsunami of demand might drive prices well out of reach of the typical investor in Bangalore or Boston.

Think about it. Suppose you are a young first-time homebuyer and saving for a down payment on a house. Or maybe you’re saving up to put a dent in your retirement. You see Bitcoin making headlines, and you think, "Hey, maybe I can grab a piece of that action." Then you look at the underlying price itself, and it’s already approaching all-time-short highs. That little voice in your head starts whispering: "Am I too late? Is this just a game for the big boys now?"

It's the digital equivalent of gentrification. Hipster coffee shops and boutique bakeries aren’t far behind. Overnight though, the former working-class neighborhood is made unaffordable for longtime working-class residents. Are we witnessing the same thing occur with Bitcoin?

Mining Costs, El Salvador, Inequality.

Charles Edwards calculates the fundamental energy value of Bitcoin to be $130,000. Okay, great. pic 2 height=400 What does that have to do with the price of rice in El Salvador? Well, everything.

Bitcoin’s “intrinsic value” derived from energy expenditure is a really interesting idea. Yet it’s an equally reckless rationale if it allows for pricing out the average investors to become justified. Further, the halving already made bitcoin mining more difficult, raising miners’ costs of production. If the price of Bitcoin continues to appreciate, fueled by this institutional demand, it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. The winners take all—and the rest of us are left fighting over what’s left.

Remember when they made Bitcoin legal tender? The plan was to financially liberate the unbanked and stimulate the economy. But if Bitcoin is out of reach for the average Salvadoran, that dream is gone. Instead, it just become another tool for the elite to continue to amass wealth and prosperity while everyone else is stuck.

In a way, it’s a perverse form of trickle-down economics. Rather than having wealth trickle down, it’s being concentrated at the top.

FOMO or Financial Empowerment?

So, what can we do? Are we fated to be spectators in this Bitcoin gold rush? Absolutely not.

This isn't about getting rich quick. It's about financial empowerment. It’s not about being in the room where it happens, it’s about eating dinner with the decision makers, not sitting outside on the street.

Think of it like this: Bitcoin is the internet of money. Yet as was the case during the dawning years of the internet, access is far from equitable. It’s our responsibility to ensure that all Americans can fully participate in this exciting new digital economy.

  • Dollar-Cost Averaging: Don't try to time the market. Invest a fixed amount regularly, regardless of the price. It's a long-term game.
  • Explore Altcoins: Bitcoin isn't the only game in town. Research other cryptocurrencies with smaller market caps and greater potential for growth. Just be careful and do your homework!
  • Demand Change: Advocate for policies that promote wider access to crypto investments. Let your elected officials know that financial inclusion matters. Support initiatives that educate people about cryptocurrency and help them navigate the risks.

We must not allow fear of missing out (FOMO) to lead our decision making. We can’t afford to be timid, reactive, or short-term in our approach. Let’s use this institutional wave to be the spark that leads to broader adoption and real financial empowerment. Let’s work together to ensure that Bitcoin doesn’t end up being just for Wall Street, but for Main Street.

(Image: A meme of a Shiba Inu dog looking longingly at a Bitcoin logo behind a velvet rope, with the caption "When you can't afford a whole Bitcoin but still want to moon.")

(Image: A meme of a Shiba Inu dog looking longingly at a Bitcoin logo behind a velvet rope, with the caption "When you can't afford a whole Bitcoin but still want to moon.")