1. Money and energy are two fundamental aspects of an economy that require a certain amount of regulation.
2. Governments have been centrally planning the energy sector since 1789, long before the arrival of fiat currency in 1971.
3. Despite the potential of Bitcoin to revolutionize humanity’s relationship with energy and money, government regulations, subsidies, and bans will likely continue to have sway.
Money and energy are two of the most essential elements of an economy. Without energy, raw materials cannot be transformed into consumer goods and services. Similarly, money is necessary to store wealth, calculate revenue and losses, and trade for goods and services that cannot be acquired through barter. Bitcoin, a digital asset and payment system, has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with these two elements. Unfortunately, government regulations, subsidies, and bans are likely to remain in effect, even if Bitcoin becomes the standard.
Since 1789, the United States government has attempted to centrally plan the energy sector. This was two years before the “gold and silver clause” was included in the U.S. Constitution, which allowed individual states to mint their own currency. The government raised a tariff on the sale of British coal in 1789 to benefit the American coal industry. Over the years, governments have continued to intervene in the energy sector. This includes monetary incentives, tax credits, research and development funding, and other forms of subsidies.
In addition to government regulations, subsidies, and bans, the global energy market is further complicated by monopolistic practices, environmental concerns, and resource scarcity. These factors make it difficult for any single currency, including Bitcoin, to solve all of the world’s energy problems.
Despite the potential of Bitcoin to revolutionize the relationship between money and energy, governments will likely continue to employ second-layer fiat money that citizens are forced to use. Governments may also continue to regulate the energy sector, which could make it difficult for Bitcoin to become the universal standard.
The relationship between energy and money is complex, and it is unlikely that Bitcoin will be able to solve all of the world’s energy problems. However, it is possible that Bitcoin can improve the way we interact with both energy and money, and potentially reduce the severity of some of the issues that plague them. In the end, it is up to governments to decide how to best use Bitcoin to benefit the global economy.