Agreed, governments see it as a threat, not as an upgrade. The whole point of all the tax rules, regulations, and KYC nonsense are there to make sure regular people stick with fiat and don’t seriously use Bitcoin for real transactions; to keep power in the hands of the state and banks.

All the new tools (Lightning, Cashu, privacy wallets, etc.) are great, but they won’t change this core fact. Anything that gets big enough to matter will be targeted, outlawed, or neutered. And mass adoption is never happening through “better UX” or “education”, it only happens if/when the fiat system breaks down and people have no choice.

Where most people get it wrong is thinking “acceptance” or “mainstreaming” is the goal. That’s bait. If it’s allowed, it’s because it’s not a threat. If it’s a threat, it’s not allowed. So don’t look for permission. Don’t expect mass adoption. Build and use Bitcoin in ways that survive without needing state approval: small, p2p, off the radar, and ready to adapt when the system cracks. The only real adoption is what the state can’t see or stop. Everything else is just a simulation or a waiting room.

Bottom line that most bitcoiners don't get: Stop thinking Bitcoin will win by playing by the system’s rules. It wins by surviving, adapting, and being ready for collapse, not by being “accepted.”