For years, Bitcoin in Ireland has trampled silently at the basic level, discussed in pubs and meetings, discussed groups of telegrams and occasionally sprayed through titles with predictable suspicion. But recently, the temperature is starting to increase. With the release of “A Sound Punt: The Houses for Ireland for the interest for Bitcoin” of Bitcoin Network Ireland (BNI), and a weekend that sees both Bitcoin Irelanda Conference and Aontú’s Ard Fheis, is a clear momentum on the island of Emerald.
A solid point: a document for citizens of Ireland
The new document, published today by Bitcoin Network Ireland, is a concise and accessible document created to cut the noise and present the merits of Bitcoin to the general public and politicians. Its goal is simple: to provide a rational entrance point and without jargon on why Bitcoin counts, especially in an era of taste in euros and increasing living costs.
The name itself is an intelligent word game: although it is a nod to the “solid money” and the former currency of Ireland, the punt, also jokingly suggests that although most people consider it associated with risk, this may be worth re -evaluating. It is a sign that it is more than technology: it is a matter of claiming monetary sovereignty and review of what makes money “good” first.
What BNI is trying to achieve is to fill an important gap in understanding, helping citizens looking for changes and government officials who seek solutions to recognize that the state -of -the -art solid money has value for everyone. As Parker Lewis notoriously noticed, “like all successful money, Bitcoin is money for enemies”, a neutral system that serves all participants regardless of their political position.
The long and complicated relationship of Ireland with money
To appreciate the meaning of this moment, it is worth noting that the relationship of Ireland with money has always been distinguished by its European neighbors. While the Romans introduced the coinage in Great Britain over a thousand years before it was adopted in Ireland. The native Irish resisted the money issued by the state, based on barter and ingots until the second millennium.
In ancient Ireland, the absence of minting was a testimony of a society that was stateless, highly decentralized and embraced a polycentric legal system that varied among the clans. The ideal of that society was that no man in society ruled on others and even the kings could be disposed of if they abused their power.
So perhaps it is not a coincidence that Ireland was the last European company that adopted the coinage, since the coinage gives power to the sovereigns. In the end, this period was forced to earth by the English crown in 1601 with the final stages of the nine-year war (1594-1603) and the growing English control over Ireland. To date, Ireland has never had its own fluid currency; It has always been linked to external powers: first the pound, then the European monetary system and now the euro under the ECB. So it should not be a coincidence that in recent years the EU has become relentlessly of power and influence on Ireland.
“Give me control over the currency of a nation and I don’t care who does its laws.” – Mayer Amschel Rothschild (1743-1812)
Perhaps, given this historical context, Ireland is univocally positioned to understand the value of solid sound and the Senzapoli. Bitcoin represents a return to monetary independence that preceded the currencies issued by the state, but with the technological advantages of the digital era. Where the ancient Irish kingdoms used market goods that could not be manipulated by distant authorities, Bitcoin offers a modern equivalent: a system that cannot be degraded or controlled by any power, both domestic and foreign.
This historic skepticism towards the controlled currency is centrally taking back in the present, since the Irish state and its citizens face a new wave of economic uncertainty through debts and euro rates. Geopolitical and economic tensions rarely felt less stable. Tariff disputes, renewed issues on the Direct Foreign Investment Model of Ireland and potential technological and pharmaceutical layoffs will certainly increase attention to sovereignty and resilience. The release of “a sound punt” is timely, inviting the nation to question once again the wisdom of linking its fortunes to distant monetary authorities.
A political crossroads
In conjunction with the release of “A Sound Punt”, Dr. Niall Burke – a respected academic member and BNI – will be advanced two movements at the Aontoú Ard Fheis (Party Conference). Aontú, the party that saw the largest increase in votes in the last general elections, has proven to be receptive in Bitcoin and is opening its doors to conversations which, until recently, have been relegated to the margins. Those Bitcoin movements are presented and accepted in a great party conference is an indicator of how the conversation is turning.
In the meantime, the Bitcoin Ireland Conference is collecting the growing community of plebs, manufacturers and supporters of the country. These circles, once on the outskirts, are finding doors that open in political clubs.
Public discontent and a request for financial autonomy
It is not only the bitcoiners who are looking for alternatives. Ireland is witnessing its greatest public events from the post-gfc days of 2012. Recent marches have attracted over 100,000 people on the streets of Dublin. These protests reflect the deep frustration and the feeling that the political establishment is no longer in line with its people.
What is particularly surprising is like Bitcoin could serve from common ground for apparently opposite interests. For demonstrators, Bitcoin offers protection from inflation and defends the overcoming of the government. For a government worried about stability and economic growth, Bitcoin can be the solution it needs, in particular to protect pension funds and in fact the state investment fund, ISIF, from inflation in the coming decades. This is the paradox and the promise of solid stateless money. We need everyone’s interests because it applies property rights and cannot be captured or controlled by any single faction.
Finally, but not less important, the incursion of Mma Star Conor McGregor both in politics and in Bitcoin is something that few would have planned a year ago, but for those with an ear on the ground, this was a development story for a little time. His proposal for a Bitcoin national reserve is emblematic of a wider national round: Bitcoin is finally entering the Zeitgeist and perhaps he, like BNI, has a part to carry out to keep him there.
Bitcoin is an open source monetary protocol and the adoption comes from all neighborhoods, regardless of politics. Bitcoin is neutral, it does not support any partisan cause. What is perhaps not recognized enough is how much Bitcoin enhancer can be and we should focus on its ability to join rather than dividing, giving all Irish citizens, regardless of their political opinions: Tool for individual freedom, the protection of inflation and practical solutions for businesses.
Back to the “A Sound Punt” document
The document itself makes a convincing case for the interest of Ireland for Bitcoin:
- Solid money principles: Evaluates bitcoin compared to the six characteristics of “good money”: disabilities, divisibility, uniformity, portability, verifiability and scarcity.
- Value shop: The document highlights Bitcoin’s fixed offer as protection from the increase in inflation and currency degradation.
- Practical examples: Provides evidence of the monetization of Bitcoin, comparing the purchase costs of a house in euros against Bitcoin within a decade.
- Common concern refutations: The article deals with the most common objections to Bitcoin: use of energy, volatility, criminal activity, undermining traditional currencies and speculation – offering balanced counter -tank to each.
- Passages of action: Rather than only theoretical topics, the document outlines specific actions for people, businesses and the government to be considered, from education to strategic reserves of bitcoin.
The beginning of a process
Nobody expects the Irish government to announce a Bitcoin treasure next week, and it is questionable if it should establish one. But “a sound punt” marks the beginning of a process that could, over time, help to remodel the Ireland approach to money and economic sovereignty.
This accessible primer is only the first step in the wider educational mission of Bitcoin Ireland. Bni plans to publish a much more complete political document for politicians in the coming months, which is currently going through the assembly phase. While “A Sound Punt” introduces the concepts to the general public, the next document will provide the detailed recommendations of analyzes and policies that the decision makers need.
While BNI works to raise this conversation through public education and the analysis of policies, the goal remains clear: to help all citizens to recognize the universal proposal of Bitcoin. Keeping a modest strategic allocation of Bitcoin – on an individual or institutional level – imposes a certain protection against uncertainty and hope in a moment of growing concerns.
Download a Sound Punt: the case for the interest of Ireland for Bitcoin from the Bitcoin Network Ireland website.