Day 6 - Walking Away Was Satoshi's Genius Move
Picture this...
Imagine a startup founder building a company poised to become a unicorn, then suddenly walking away—leaving all control, shares, and rights to the community. That’s exactly what Satoshi Nakamoto did with #Bitcoin, and it’s the key to Bitcoin’s genius.
A simple act that made all the difference...
Satoshi didn’t just create a groundbreaking digital currency—he removed himself from it, ensuring Bitcoin’s true decentralization. Unlike other cryptocurrencies, where founders hold power or influence, Satoshi’s decision to step away made Bitcoin a currency that belongs to no one and everyone.
Centralization kills money...
Money is a unique public good. It’s something society collectively agrees to use as a representation of value. Our blood, sweat, time, and effort is captured in the value of our money.
Historically, we’ve given governments the power to create and issue money, but this has often led to misuse. Central banks print money excessively, diluting its worth, and ultimately reducing the value of our collective time and effort.
On the other hand, transferring control over money creation to private companies is equally risky. Corporations, driven by profit, can compromise the public good in their pursuit of shareholder gains. We’ve seen this with social media and big tech platforms, where profit motives often lead to exploitative practices.
Centralized control—whether governmental or corporate—isn’t the answer.
A truly decentralized form of money...
This is where Bitcoin stands out.
It is decentralized, peer-to-peer, and immune to both government and corporate control. It has been algorithmically designed with a hard cap of 21 million - no more, no less. No single entity can manipulate Bitcoin’s supply or use it for political or financial power.
By stepping away, Satoshi Nakamoto ensured Bitcoin remains for the people, governed by its community and network, rather than any central authority, not even the currency's creator.
In a world where the management of money has often been flawed, Bitcoin offers a new, decentralized approach—one that’s transparent, secure, and ultimately belongs to everyone.
That’s the true genius of Satoshi Nakamoto.
Day 6 - Walking Away Was Satoshi's Genius Move
By stepping away, Satoshi Nakamoto ensured Bitcoin remains for the people, governed by its community and network, rather than any central authority...
About 2.5 years ago, I embarked on a transformative journey into the world of Bitcoin, and it all started with a simple conversation.
The Spark: A Recommendation Request
I was asked to recommend someone to run operations for Qala, a new program designed to train African software engineers for careers in Bitcoin development.
Up until that moment, I only knew of Bitcoin as a digital currency and investment asset but had no idea about the technology or the community of developers behind it.
The recommendation request triggered my curiosity. After all, how could I recommend someone for something I didn’t fully understand?
Little did I know that this would be the beginning of an exciting journey down the Bitcoin rabbit hole.
A New Realization
I began by downloading The Bitcoin Standard and diving into a few blogs.
The more I read, the more I realized just how vast and revolutionary the Bitcoin ecosystem really was.
It is not just a digital asset; it is an alternative to our broken global monetary system, a system I believed is responsible for many of the challenges facing my beloved Africa.
Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto's peer-to-peer electronic cash system, offers a way out. But for Africa to benefit, we have to engage this new technology as producers, not just consumers—unlike how we have engaged previous waves of technology.
Qala was aiming to equip Africans with the skills to become value creators in the Bitcoin space, but it needed the right leadership and guidance.
Perfect Alignment: My Background in Learning and Development
Having recently stepped away from day-to-day operations at CcHub, I had completed a research-based Master’s in Learning Science at the Paris University School of Interdisciplinary Research. My research & thesis focused on what motivates young adults in Africa to engage in informal learning.
This new Bitcoin program aligned perfectly with my interests in African development, capacity building and education. It wasn’t just a good fit; it felt like a calling.
Taking the Leap
So, instead of recommending someone else for the job, I offered myself… and I got it!
To be continued…
One of the mantras I live by is, “You develop best when you are developing others.”
I deeply believe that teaching others is the most powerful way to deepen your understanding of any subject. This belief has guided me throughout my life and eventually led me to pursue an MSc in EdTech/Learning Science.
Teaching not only benefits those you’re sharing knowledge with, but it also accelerates your own learning and growth.
Here are some reasons why I find teaching as such a transformative practice:
1. Teaching forces you to learn the subject more deeply.
When you teach something, you can’t just gloss over the basics—you need to know the topic inside and out. Preparing to teach others pushes you to dig deeper into the material, helping you discover nuances and details you might not have noticed before. It challenges you to not only understand but also explain concepts in a way that others can grasp. In the process, you gain a richer and more thorough understanding of your subject.
2. Repetition makes knowledge stick.
One of the best ways to make knowledge stick is through repetition, and teaching gives you plenty of opportunities for that. Every time you explain a concept to someone else, you’re reinforcing that knowledge in your own mind. The more you teach, the more ingrained that information becomes, solidifying it in your long-term memory.
3. Answering questions helps you explore new angles.
Students often ask questions that make you think about your subject in new ways. Sometimes their questions lead you to ideas or areas you hadn’t considered before. This back-and-forth exchange not only keeps the material fresh but also expands your own understanding as you explore different aspects of the topic.
Remember, teaching isn’t just about passing on knowledge. It’s about reinforcing your own understanding, deepening your expertise, and continuously learning from the people you’re teaching.
So, if you know something worth sharing, don’t hesitate—start teaching!
Whenever I start any design process—whether it’s for life, business, a conference, a product, a social service, or even a learning experience—there are three key questions I always ask myself.
These questions help me get my bearings, like figuring out where I am before I begin the journey toward the change I want to make.
Here are the questions:
1. What outcome am I designing for?
We don’t design just for the sake of it. The whole point of designing is to bring something specific to life, a particular goal or vision. You likely have a clear picture in your mind of what that looks like, but it’s important to say it out loud or write it down. Why? Because defining the outcome not only helps you clarify exactly what you’re aiming for, but it also creates something concrete that you can share with others who might join you in the design process.
2. What resources do we have for the design?
Every design is built from the resources available to you. This could be physical objects, people, locations, funds—whatever you can pull from. Think of it like cooking a meal. You need to know what ingredients you already have and what you might need to go out and get. By identifying your resources upfront, you can figure out whether your design is realistic and start planning any necessary prep work before diving in.
3. What constraints do we need to consider?
Constraints are the real-world factors you have to account for. What limitations or requirements must your design meet to work in the context you’re designing for? For example, are there age restrictions, legal requirements, or specific needs of the people you’re designing for? Constraints help you understand the boundaries your design will need to function within.
So, as you get ready to create something new and bring about the change you’re passionate about, remember to ask yourself these three questions. They’ll help you stay grounded and clear before you make your first move.
May the force be with you!