Bitcoin in the eyes of the New York Times media: It is a social movement

纳撒尼尔•波普is a New York Times reporter and the author of the acclaimed book Digital Gold: Bitcoin and the Inside Story of the Misfits and Millionaires Trying to Reinvent Money . But he believes he got into the digital currency space by accident.

In the spring of 2013, he watched Bitcoin take off with The New York Times and wondered whether the phenomenon was worth reporting on, given that it could be a flash in the pan.

They didn’t have an answer until the famous文克莱沃斯兄弟contacted the New York Times to discuss digital currencies and enthusiastically announced the number of Bitcoins they owned (worth about $11 million at the time).

Pope said:

“I like to talk about Bitcoin specifically through some of the people who actually own Bitcoin because they’re kind of risking their personal reputation to do so, and no one else is willing to do that before.”

After the article came out, it received an unexpectedly positive response. Popp believes this is due to the Winklevoss brothers' public disclosure of information and people's growing interest in Bitcoin, an innovative technology.

Skepticism about Bitcoin

Although Pope accidentally became the New York Times reporter responsible for covering Bitcoin, he still remains skeptical about digital currencies to a certain extent.

"I doubt it will survive, but I also find it fascinating. If people lose faith in it, then it will die."

Initially, Pope resisted book agents’ suggestions that he write a book, telling them that he didn’t believe Bitcoin would survive long enough to make a book about it.

However, he eventually wrote the book Digital Gold. As for why, he said:

“I’ve been in constant conversation with a number of Bitcoin enthusiasts who have been telling me that the technology is very interesting.”

Two weeks before BitInstant CEO Charlie查理•史莱姆was arrested and jailed, Pope had a "passionate conversation" with him and wallet provider Blockchain founder尼克•卡里.

The two's enthusiasm for Bitcoin touched Popper, and he finally decided to write a book. However, Popper said that this book is not simply about Bitcoin technology, but about the stories of the followers behind Bitcoin.

A social movement

In Popper's view, Bitcoin is a social movement.

“Bitcoin technology may be interesting, but if people don’t adopt it and spend money on it, then the technology is meaningless. So, you only understand what it is if you understand why people adopt it.”

There have been calls for Bitcoin to enter the mainstream and be accepted by the general public, but Pope said the reason why this has not happened is actually very simple.

“Right now, the average person can’t do anything with Bitcoin, but in places like Argentina, it’s relatively useful.”

In countries like China, Bitcoin is used more as a speculative gambling game, but it is still an innovation relative to the existing gambling industry. Elsewhere in the United States, Bitcoin is also mainly used for online gambling and drug transactions.

“Bitcoin needs to be better and give people a better experience, not just in terms of actual transactions.”

Like others, Pope believes that a killer app for bitcoin could usher in the digital currency into the mainstream.

“Bitcoin needs to be better than what it replaces. It can’t just be equal to the replacement, it has to be better.”