Surprise, surprise, Bitcoin maximalist extraordinaire, Michael Saylor is at it again. He’s not shied away from his Bitcoin prediction. Arthur’s original prediction was $100 million per coin, but now he projects a mind-boggling $21 million per coin by 2046! That’s no small jump from his last, still modest, $13 million goal. What’s fueling this newfound, almost religious, fervor? He cites "unexpected regulatory and adoption developments." Let's be real: it all seems to hinge on one very specific, and potentially problematic, development: Donald Trump's renewed embrace of Bitcoin.

Trump's Love Affair: Blessing or Curse?

Saylor himself points to the White House's (read: Trump's) newfound affection for Bitcoin as an "extraordinary development." However, dig a little deeper and you can see that on the surface, it looks like a godsend. A major political figure championing crypto? What's not to like?

Here’s where my progressive hackles rise. This is not merely the product of market forces or technological innovation. It’s not just the growing entanglement of Bitcoin with a particularly toxic form of right-wing politics. First, let’s be clear that Trump’s pro-Bitcoin position is not a benign display of technophilic neutrality. This strategic decision has been a long time coming. Its goal is to tap into the bottom line of this favored demographic that usually so reliably carries the libertarian and rightward-leaning water.

Is this really how we want Bitcoin to develop? Or will that decentralized ethos be smeared as it gets used like a pawn in a high-stakes political chess match?

Relying on the whims of a politician, especially one as unpredictable as Trump, is a risky gamble. What happens if the political winds shift? What if Trump’s pro-Bitcoin position is just a short term play? Bitcoin's value could plummet.

Beyond Trump: A Progressive Crypto Vision

Rather than hanging on to Trump’s undergarments, isn’t it time for us to collectively work towards fostering a stable and widely-beneficial crypto ecosystem? One that is not beholden to the political machinations of one man, or one party.

Now that’s the sort of “extraordinary development” I’m hoping for. Not the temporary praise of a political leader, but the building of a genuinely fair and green financial infrastructure.

  • Regulations are designed to protect consumers and prevent illicit activities, without stifling innovation.
  • Energy-efficient mining practices are incentivized, reducing Bitcoin's environmental footprint.
  • Financial literacy programs are implemented to empower marginalized communities to participate in the crypto economy safely and responsibly.

Saylor’s $21 million prediction looks a lot less like a theregonomically-zoned, carefully-researched calculated forecast and a lot more like a political wish. He’s doubling down with the Republicans’ biggest Trump bet. This move is designed to advance a particular vision of America that most of us should find deeply troubling.

$21 Million: A Political Pipe Dream?

Perhaps we shouldn’t overlook the panic lurking just below the surface of these gloomy forecasts. Fear of missing out (Fomo) is the FOMO crux and perhaps the most powerful motivator. Saylor is arguably, in some sense, exploiting this anxiety, encouraging people to invest today before it’s “too late.”

Is $21 million Bitcoin by 2046 a feasible scenario? Maybe. But is that really the outcome we want to achieve? Fleecing Bitcoin’s decentralization and neutrality to align it with a deeply polarizing political figure and party is cause for alarm. I, for one, am not convinced.

In no way am I suggesting that Bitcoin is evil. All I’m saying is that we should be critically looking at who’s pushing it and the reasons why. Here’s to an innovative, equitable, inclusive crypto future. It’s got to be sustainable and truly independent – of any one politician, regardless of which party they may belong to.

In the end, the concern isn’t whether or not Bitcoin will come to a value of $21 million. It's at what cost?

Ultimately, the question isn't just if Bitcoin will reach $21 million. It's at what cost?