Like most Bitcoin fans out there, I talk about Bitcoin a lot. From the person sitting next to me on the plane to the waiter serving my table drinks, every chance I get I end up talking about Bitcoin. This isn’t something I intentionally force on people, it’s something that just naturally ends up fitting into so many different conversations and every time a Bitcoin conversation starts, I eventually am asked the same question:
Isn’t Bitcoin Dead?
As soon as the conversation turns this way, I become almost defensive. Not because I think the other person is wrong but because the person has clearly been fed the wrong information. So, why does this happen? Why do so many people out there think Bitcoin mining is dead?
Well…maybe it’s because…
Or…
Or maybe this one?
119 Times and Counting
According to 99 Bitcoins, Bitcoin has already died 119 times in the media. This number is, of course, the root cause of why so many people out there believe that Bitcoin has been a failed experiment. Repeated exposure to the same storyline has spread to the masses and influenced those that don’t truly understand Bitcoin to have an entirely incorrect view of where it stands today.
So, as a community, how do we deal with this situation? We can fight this misinformation with one simple solution: facts and awareness.
5 Facts That Show Bitcoin is Alive and Well
Next time you’re asked if Bitcoin is dead, here are 5 fast facts you can offer them.
Fact 1: Bitcoin related startups have raised over 1.3 Billion in venture capital funding.
Fact 2: On January 21, 2012, one single Bitcoin was worth $17.34. Today, one Bitcoin is worth $896. That represents a 5067% Increase.
Fact 3: Bitcoin’s market cap is currently well over $14 billion.
Fact 4: Bitcoin’s recent price increases have triggered increases in other altcoins, showing that public faith in cryptocurrency is growing.
Fact 5: Bitcoin saw an overall 54% appreciation in 2016 alone.
#ExploreBitcoin is Back
Knowing these facts isn’t enough, of course. We need to spread this information and raise awareness around the fact that Bitcoin is not only alive, it’s thriving and only just getting started.
Raising awareness about Bitcoin and bitcoin farming has been an ongoing effort for us here at Genesis Mining. Last year, we launched our #ExploreBitcoin campaign which featured billboards and taxi signs across the United States with one core goal: make Bitcoin known.
Here was one of our #ExploreBitcoin billboards in San Francisco:
One here in South Florida:
And one of the most popular, our billboard calling out JP Morgan’s CEO:
Today, we’re proud to announce the campaign continues.
The campaign continues because Bitcoin has a long way to go and it needs the support of the community if we want it to ever truly reach its full potential. Bitcoin’s core technology is one of the most exciting innovations that the world has ever seen but as a community, we’re making the mistake of thinking that’s all it takes.
Scanning through history, the corporate graveyard is scattered with companies that had incredible technology but in the end, failed. They failed because having a great technology isn’t enough. It’s all about execution and If we don’t execute, this is exactly where we could end up as well.
Community Call to Action
The companies, entrepreneurs, users, and community need to join together and show the world that Bitcoin is here to stay and not going anywhere. We need to join forces and together explain to the world why Bitcoin matters and why a world with Bitcoin would be a better place. As a company with the privilege to work in this incredibly exciting industry, we view this as our duty and we call on all others to do the same.
In 2017, we will lead by example. Not only across the US but across the world, we’re on a mission to raise awareness about Bitcoin and fight the misconceptions and misinformation that’s already out there.
To kick off our US campaign, we’re rolling out a series of billboards in California, New York, Texas and Florida. These new billboards will aim to highlight those articles that falsely predicted Bitcoin’s death so many times.
Our first billboard went live at the Bitcoin Miami Conference and quickly rose to the top post on the Bitcoin subreddit. In the upcoming days, dozens of others will be rolled out. We’ll be sharing images on social media as they go live but if you happen to see one, don’t hesitate to tweet us the pictures directly!
Stay tuned
We can promise you this isn’t the last time you’ll hear about the #ExploreBitcoin campaign. Across the globe, our team is developing ideas to help raise awareness about bitcoin and in the upcoming months, we will release these ideas to the public.
From myself and the rest of the Genesis Mining team, we want to thank you for your support on these campaigns. Being part of the community is very important to us and your positive reinforcement encourages us to keep up the fight.
Sincerely,
Marco Streng
