Right now, a massive winter storm is paralyzing the United States. In Texas, the power grid is struggling to keep the lights on, and families are facing life-threatening cold. But while citizens are being asked to conserve energy, one industry may stand to profit in millions . As an engineer, I’ve spent years analyzing the cost structures of the crypto ecosystem. When you look past the " environmental savior " marketing, the numbers reveal a disturbing reality: Bitcoin isn't just an environmental disaster; it is a system that profits from our vulnerability. 1. The "Hostage" Economy: Profiting While Cities Are Threatened Bitcoin miners have a unique business model: They can earn millions of dollars for turning their machines off . In Texas, the grid operator (ERCOT) struggles with stability during extreme weather. To manage this, they use "Demand Response" programs. In 2023, during extreme heatwaves and the aftermath of grid failures that cost lives—i...
L et's discuss money! We all use it. We pay cash, tap cards, transfer money online, and save for the future. But we rarely stop to ask: What makes money work? When Bitcoin was launched in 2009, it promised to be the "future of money." It's advocates claimed it would replace banks, credit cards, and government currencies . Fifteen years later, that promise has collapsed. Bitcoin hasn't replaced the dollar or any national currency. Instead, it has become more like a speculative gambling chip. Why? It’s not just because of "volatility." For something to function as money in a modern economy, it must perform six essential jobs, and this article will prove you that Bitcoin fails at every single one of them. Job 1: Store Value (The "Savings" Test) The Job: If you put your life savings into money today, you need to be confident it will buy roughly the same amount (or more) of food and shelter over the next years. Bitcoin’s Failure: Bitcoin is not ...