More than ever we need to heed the call of Satoshi Nakamoto and use, create, and foster the use of bitcoin as intended; peer to peer in all ways. All of the words of the Bitcoin White paper are extremely important. However, it is obvious that they were very discerning in the terms used in the opening description in the abstract.
Abstract. A PURELY peer-to-peer version of electronic cash would allow online payments to be sent DIRECTLY from ONE PARTY to ANOTHER WITHOUT going through a financial institution. (SOURCE: https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf)
I modified the text by using upper case on a few key words in the opening statement of the document. I emphasize this to show that most have yet to find the way. Even some who are hodling $BTC do so through banks or bank-like organizations. What part of that is purely peer-to-peer? The bank is not your peer. FTX was not your peer. Neither was Mt. Gox and neither is Coinbase, Kraken, etc.
The continued, but recently stepped up actions of governments; the forced and coerced closing of exchanges, especially peer-to-peer ones has really captured my attention. Most recently, the Paxful suspension of exchange services (see: https://news.bitcoin.com/p2p-bitcoin-exchange-paxful-suspends-marketplace-with-uncertainty-of-return/) really opened my eyes. I've recently been reading more about and from bitcoin users in South America and Africa, so my first thought was what the hell are they going to do in Nigeria?! My second thought was how can I help.
The answer is simple. We must return to the roots. We must follow Satoshi! We must base our actions and decisions with the important words in mind. Purely peer-to-peer; Directly from one party to another without going though financial institutions. You are your own bank and we are the financial system! But only if we do it right.
I am in the process of switching to bitcoin only organizations and peer-to-peer exchanges like Robosats, Bisq, Boltz, etc. I have severely reduced and will soon completely stop using centralized exchanges. More and more, and more than ever; Peer-to-peer.
This is the way!
Big shout out and much LOVE to @darthcoin for his guides and guidance: https://darthcoin.substack.com/