A former college football player reflects on the lessons inherent in the sport and how they prepared him to become a Bitcoiner.

This is an opinion editorial by Conor Chepenik, a former college football player and Bitcoin pleb.

Being part of a team can provide valuable experiences that extend well beyond the sport or activity that called for its formation. For me, this was exemplified in college when a teammate introduced me to Bitcoin in 2017. Watching the documentary “

If the planet is going to get on a bitcoin standard, that process is going to involve a whole bunch of proof of work, both literally and figuratively.

I was fortunate enough to attend a Bitcoin dinner for my local Bitcoin meetup: MassAdoption. At that dinner, everyone went around the table talking about their experience with the space and how they got involved. Someone brought up an amazing Matt Odell quote that went, “I’m bullish on Bitcoin but more bullish on Bitcoiners.”

I can’t think of a better way to frame it. Regardless of what happens with the price of bitcoin, the friendships and connections made through this digital currency will always hold value. When it was my turn to present, I talked about the impact that MassAdoption has had on my life. I had no idea that going to a Bitcoin meetup would help me find a group of people committed to making sure future generations don’t have to grow up under a slave system that central banks are frothing at the mouth to implement with their CBDCs.

Every MassAdoption meetup I have attended has turned out to be a cathartic experience — for both me and my partner because this way, she doesn’t have to hear me ramble about Bitcoin all day. I get my fix in at the meetup. I‘ll never stop laughing about how a single white paper has had such a profound impact on the lives of those who have embraced this new form of money.

This is my personal, anecdotal experience so don’t trust me; go verify for yourself. With that disclaimer, I can confidently say that I’ve seen Bitcoiners to be more invested in the growth and success of their community members than in the success of the technology itself. Which is not to say that we aren’t invested in making sure the technology succeeds. Bitcoin just helps you realize that the most important things in life don’t necessarily come from having a certain amount of wealth.

Bitcoiners care deeply about fixing the world, about educating others and about righting the wrongs that are becoming more and more apparent by the day. Many, myself included, came to Bitcoin because number go up, and while I can’t speak for everyone, the reason I stayed is because I believe that Bitcoin is the best hope humanity has to fix the world.

Conclusion

So far in 2023, we’ve seen what looks to be the start of another bull market. I can confidently say after being humbled through two cycles, I have absolutely no idea (in the short term) which way the direction of this coin is going in USD purchasing power terms.

What I do know is that when bitcoin is in its dead phase, you don’t see as many “junior varsity players” coming to celebrate with the true Bitcoiners, at least not until the next bull market. So, if this is a fake pump, remember that the bear market is a great time to build. Bitcoiners are a unique breed of people and the bear market is the time when you find your team, start writing, coding, podcasting, hosting a Bitcoin meetup or whatever else floats your boat. If it turns out that this is the start of the next bull market, then do all of these things and stay humble.

Some would call Bitcoin a mind virus because those who go down the rabbit hole can’t stop talking about it. I’d argue that Bitcoin is the antidote to the problems of fiat nihilism. It’s hard to be passionate about something if you think everything is pointless! Those on team Bitcoin don’t have that problem. Don’t buy into the nihilism that team fiat is poisoning the world with. If CBDCs were an unstoppable force, then mainstream media organizations would not be writing hit pieces about El Salvador in order to discredit them for making bitcoin legal tender.

Of course, the transition is far from over and the mainstream media will keep painting Bitcoin as either dead or a bubble, at least until new media outlets filled with Bitcoiners replace the old ones in due time. So, whatever happens next in 2023, let’s remain patient, teach those who have sinned with their shitcoins and ignore those who are beyond saving. Bitcoin is not just a new form of money, it’s a community of individuals who strive for more self sovereignty, savings and a better future. It’s a team worth being a part of.

This is a guest post by Conor Chepenik. Opinions expressed are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.