Former Bitcoin Advocate Roger Ver Outlines Conditions for Renewed Support

In a recent interview, Roger Ver, a prominent figure in Bitcoin's early adoption, expressed his current perspective on the cryptocurrency market. Ver believes that Bitcoin has not lived up to its potential in providing economic freedom and sees projects like Monero as having greater potential in this regard. He stepped away from supporting Bitcoin in 2017 due to his preference for Bitcoin Cash's focus on being an efficient medium of exchange. Ver also discussed his new book, "Hijacking Bitcoin," which delves into the history of BTC and alleges censorship and unethical tactics by some actors. He criticized external interference in the pricing of Bitcoin, stating that it is not a true free market due to regulations and bureaucratic influence.

Roger Ver, Former Bitcoin Evangelist, Delineates Conditions for Renewed Support

Roger Ver, an influential figure in the early adoption of Bitcoin (BTC), recently graced the Bitcoin Takeover Podcast with his insights. In a wide-ranging conversation with Vlad Costa, Ver shared his views on Ross Ulbricht's 40th birthday, the evolution of cryptocurrencies, and the circumstances that would compel him to once again champion Bitcoin.

Economic Freedom as a Litmus Test

Ver emphasized that his support for Bitcoin would hinge on its ability to advance economic freedom globally. However, he expressed skepticism about BTC's efficacy in this regard over the past seven years.

"Once I see BTC as a product that has the potential to enhance economic freedom worldwide, I'll gladly rejoin the fold. However, at present, I believe projects like Monero, Zano, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, and their ilk carry far greater potential for fostering global freedom," Ver remarked.

Monero's Ascendance in the Darknet

Ver observed a shift from BTC to Monero (XMR) in the darknet due to Monero's privacy-enhancing features. According to him, these features align with the goal of "promoting greater economic freedom globally."

Ver's New Book: 'Hijacking Bitcoin'

Once dubbed the "Bitcoin Jesus," Ver parted ways with BTC's dominant version in 2017, embracing Bitcoin Cash (BCH) as an alternative. BCH, he explained, aims to be both an efficient medium of exchange and a reliable store of value.

"People tend to use the same asset for both mediums of exchange and stores of value," Ver noted.

Ver announced the upcoming release of his new book, "Hijacking Bitcoin: The Hidden History of BTC," co-authored with Steve Patterson. The book, now available for pre-order on Amazon, has already secured the top spot in the "General Technology & Reference" category. Notably, BCH is accepted as a payment option for the book.

"This is a story that needs to be told. History is often written by the victors. The big block camp has thus far lost the Bitcoin-scaling debate, but it's crucial for both sides to have their voices heard. One side has engaged in extensive censorship and unethical tactics, which are detailed in the book," Ver explained.

Free Market Dynamics and Bitcoin Pricing

In the ongoing discourse between Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash, Ver denounced external interference in the pricing of BTC. He argued that the free market has yet to fully determine the value of Bitcoin relative to its alternatives.

"The free market has not had its final say on the matter of Bitcoin's superiority. Furthermore, we lack a truly free market environment for determining the prices of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies," Ver asserted.

"This is far from a free market. Bureaucrats and politicians worldwide are imposing regulations left and right. BTC has an ETF, Ethereum may have one soon, Ripple is under fire from the SEC, Bitcoin Cash is in limbo, and Monero is banned from exchanges in countless countries because of its privacy features. We're nowhere near a free market," Ver continued.

Ver opined that the cryptocurrency market could have attained greater significance and value had Bitcoin effectively functioned as a medium of exchange.

The interview, spanning almost one and a half hours, marked one of Ver's most extensive interviews in recent years. His outspoken views are likely to generate further discussion and debate on the future of Bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency landscape.