From monopoly of trust to distributed trust: a cultural shift in the way we think about money. The traditional financial system is based on hierarchical trust; we rely on banks, central banks, and the state. This is a 'vertical' model in which a few institutions hold a monopoly on public trust. Bitcoin overturns this paradigm. The network operates according to mathematical rules and distributed verification, with each node independently checking the validity of transactions. Users do not have to trust the other party, but rather the cryptographic protocol. This is why we talk about a 'trustless' system: not because trust disappears, but because it is redistributed horizontally. Some studies define this phenomenon as 'trustless trust': a new social model in which guarantees come from a set of publicly verifiable software rules rather than a central authority. This raises an essential question: What does it mean to trust code rather than institutions? International institutions remind us that traditional trust remains a fundamental public good. At the same time, Bitcoin's popularity shows that distributed digital trust is already an operational reality, particularly in countries where financial institutions are not trusted. Understanding how trust works is key to understanding how our freedoms work. #freedom #trust #institution #bitcoin #trustless #model #public #financial #system #money

Individual monetary sovereignty occurs when individuals regain ownership of their assets. In many economies, managing money requires trust in intermediaries, such as banks, which are guaranteed by the central bank. However, there are limits on withdrawals and funds can be frozen in extraordinary situations. This model is based on an implicit assumption. control of money is not really in the hands of individuals. Bitcoin introduces a different paradigm. Since 2009, individuals who hold their private keys have been able to store and transfer value independently of banks, governments and payment systems. The protocol defines a fixed, known and verifiable supply that cannot be expanded at will, thereby reducing the risk of devaluation induced by expansionary monetary policies. This operational sovereignty is crucial in times of crisis: hyperinflation in Lebanon and Venezuela, currency restrictions in Nigeria and recurring devaluations in emerging markets have prompted millions of people to choose Bitcoin over traditional currencies to protect their purchasing power. According to the Human Rights Foundation, over 87% of the world's population lives in countries with unstable currencies. For many of these people, Bitcoin is not a speculative investment, but a means of achieving economic self-determination. Of course, self-custody entails responsibility for key management, cyber risk and short-term volatility. However, the principle remains: for the first time, individuals can hold wealth without asking anyone's permission. Awareness is the first step towards economic freedom. #freedom #economic #bitcoin #awarness #monetary #selfcustody #firststep