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Bitcoin - Despised Freedom – 1/1 Original: Discover a masterpiece that draws attention to social parallels in the course of human history in an aesthetic way – handmade, unique, and unshakeable.
A letter to the human being of the future:
With my pencil artwork "Bitcoin - Despised Freedom", that I completed with block 789868, I would like to describe to you how Bitcoin and its pioneers were often misrepresented in the early years of this renaissance. You may be amazed when you read block '789868' and wonder what it must have been like back when Bitcoin was still in its infancy and find it hard to imagine what I'm about to tell you.
I know now, at this moment as I write these words, that whether it is the block 10.000.000, 21.000.000 or much later, you perceive Bitcoin as one of the most normal and natural things in the world, though it was not always so in the minds of your ancestors.
At the time I created this drawing, Bitcoin has been fully functional for just over 14 years, yet a lot has happened in these years. Not only with Bitcoin as a monetary network itself, but also (geo)politically, economically, societally around the world.
At that time, our species was going through a difficult phase in its timeline. A phenomenon affecting the vast majority of people and certainly a massive number of animals on the planet in some way, caused by a broken financial system that had become ever more toxic over many decades. Money controlled by states and banks.
Some people, the cypherpunks and also Satoshi Nakamoto, realized early enough that this financial system was the cause of numerous problems and with the rise of the Internet, privacy, and money on the Internet would one day become elemental.
Bitcoin was to spring up and flourish like a lotus flower in the middle of the chaotic mud of a major global economic crisis. But only a tiny fraction of people paid attention to it. Even fewer understood Bitcoin and recognized the possibilities and necessity of an uncontrollable, scarce and neutral money.
This Bitcoin lotus had a hard time taking root at first: while the world recovered from a near-collapse in the short term, Bitcoin was little more than a gimmick in its earliest days and was left smirking even by many IT experts.
In the months that followed, Bitcoin was listed on an exchange for the first time, attracting initial interest. The digital, supposedly anonymous payment method was used for illegal purchases on the Internet due to its P2P electronic cash properties.
More than a decade later, Bitcoin still has a reputation for being money for criminals. But I know, and I'm sure you know even better, that Bitcoin's transparency makes it an unwise choice for funding criminal activity. You will laugh, our current fiat money is much better suited to this.
As interest grew, so did Bitcoin's exchange value into our current currencies. Yes, the world had umpteen different currencies back then. Many countries had their own to compete with others. You probably don't understand this and believe me, neither do I. The rising prices led to increasing speculation prices would fall or climb even further. Consequently, Bitcoin was quickly branded as a vehicle for speculation in order to multiply one's money.
This is certainly highly strange for you, as Bitcoin is probably the most stable thing you know. That reputation also stubbornly clings to Bitcoin and makes it difficult for many people to appreciate the true and significant reasons why it was discovered and why this new type of monetary system exists.
However, the current prevalent prejudices and misconceptions will seriously knock your socks off: Bitcoin is a waste of energy and an environmental polluter. Before you smile or marvel, don't forget that people often have more opinions than knowledge, especially about things that are new to them. I don't think you can blame the majority of people for creating such mindsets. After all, our current media coverage, which is mostly state-funded, does a good job of spreading these untruths.
I can't tell you whether states and the media are doing this out of ignorance or calculation. One thing is certain: Bitcoin is a direct competitor to their monetary system, which has been growing progressively unstable for decades as it is based on debt, credit, and inflation.
I honestly wonder how much importance Bitcoin has in your world. How crucial it is to the global energy supply. What happened to the Kardashev scale? What technologies have been made possible by Bitcoin that my peers and I could not have imagined in 2023?
Amid all these prejudices and misconceptions, the Bitcoin network is growing. It is rapidly expanding energy usage and the hash rate is soaring, despite mining bans in some regions of the world. It was already the most secure network in the world after 10 years of operation and has already reached 400 exahash/second. You are probably smiling at that moment due to this hash rate level.
There are plenty of good reasons why Bitcoin is spreading. Though, the probably most wonderful thing is that not only is the Bitcoin network itself thriving, but with it a network of brilliant people around the world who all stand for the same values. Values that our civilization is gradually losing due to the debt-money system and the oppressive hamster wheel.
Bitcoin is receiving more and more attention from all walks of life. These pioneers are recognizing the need for free money and with a blazing flame of passion are aiming to spread their knowledge, insights, and the real reasons why Bitcoin was born, which eventually had to happen.
To some extent, the enthusiasm of many of these pioneers is so strong that it is interpreted by their colleagues and large parts of the other ~99 %, who have not yet recognized Bitcoin, as a toxic, even cult-like group of nutcases and weirdos. This is likely another reason why numerous people are distancing themselves from Bitcoin.
The next few years will arguably be the most formative for our civilization in a long time. So much is happening. So much upheaval and change at a speed that is presumably to be frightening for many. But at the same time, Bitcoin gives me and a lot of others a sense of peace and calm. Even if the previous narratives that Bitcoin and its early pioneers have had to endure shall certainly not be the last, it is worth standing up for something so brilliant and pivotal every day.
There is a brightly shining orange light on the horizon, and it intensifies with each passing day. By the time you read these words, this light will certainly have reached and changed the world in every nook and cranny for innumerable blocks. After all, remember: The past is in our heads, the future is in our hands.
Bitcoin - Despised Freedom
This 1/1 original drawing – over 170 hours of pure craftsmanship – captures the essence of a dramatic socio-cultural reality in the early years of the Bitcoin era:
At its center stands a Christ-like figure, surrounded by tormentors who mock him with banners reading “Toxic”, “Money for Criminals”, “Waste of Energy”, and “Speculation”.
Angels hover above, proclaiming the message “Bitcoin, Despised Freedom”. The upper frame defiantly declares: “We Did Not Trust The State – Did Not Listen To The Media”. Every fold in the robes, every muscle fiber, every ornamental arch is rendered with extreme attention to detail and realistic shading – so precise that you can lose yourself for hours, continually discovering new nuances.
The figures tell a timeless story – inspired by the bronze relief of the main portal of the Duomo di Milano: The central Christ figure, during the Flagellation as depicted in the famous bronze reliefs of Milan Cathedral (particularly the central main entrance by Ludovico Pogliaghi, which illustrates scenes from the life of Jesus and biblical paths of suffering in highly detailed bronze reliefs), is despised by the people for proclaiming and living the truth – not through any fault of his own, but through the manipulation of the authorities.
In much the same way, Bitcoiners today are branded by mainstream propaganda: as “environmental pigs” destroying the planet; as a worthless construct “with no intrinsic value”; as “energy hogs” wasting electricity; as scapegoats for economic crises, wars, and inflation.
The authorities – central banks, media, states – sow doubt to preserve their power. Yet just as Christ’s message still lives on in the consciousness of many people, Bitcoin exists as a symbol of true freedom in the minds of an ever-growing number: decentralized, unmanipulable, a triumph of reason over lies.
In a modified form deeply infused with the Bitcoin ethos, this drawing adopts the dramatic composition and suffering motifs of the Milanese bronze relief – and transforms them into a modern manifesto.
Turn your home into a statement: Bitcoin was hated – and still wins.
Experience a masterpiece of precision: Every single line in this 1/1 original drawing was meticulously shaped with delicate pencils over more than 170 hours of pure craftsmanship, creating breathtaking depth and vividness.
• Immerse yourself in extreme detail: From the finest hatching in the robes to hidden symbols and engravings – this drawing reveals new layers with every glance, captivating your imagination.
• Admire the masterful play of shadows: Through nuanced techniques, a realistic 3D effect emerges that makes the figures and gothic ornaments literally leap off the paper – a visual feast for art lovers.
• Feel the technical brilliance: Using a palette of pencils in varying hardness grades, along with precise tools such as mechanical leads and an electric eraser, every element is executed with obsessive care, delivering museum-grade quality.
• Make it your treasure: This unique piece is more than just art – it is a powerful statement. Let yourself be enchanted by the perfection of its handcrafted execution and bring a fragment of revolutionary history into your home.
• Temptingly exclusive: Imagine how this intricately detailed drawing elevates your space – a guaranteed conversation starter that leaves every guest in awe with its delicate craftsmanship and dramatic shadow play.
• Artwork size: 29.7 x 42 cm / 11.6 x 16.5".
• Includes certificate of authenticity made from genuine, handmade Hahnemuehle paper.
• Material: Fine Folia © drawing cardboard, 290 GSM.
• Awarded with a pair of Hahnemuehle holograms bearing a unique serial number: one hologram on the back of the drawing with a cover for protection, and an identical hologram on an accompanying Hahnemuehle certificate.
• The title, signature, serial number hologram, and block time are located on the back of the drawing.
• Secured and protected with special Hahnemuehle fixative spray to prevent yellowing from UV radiation and preserve the graphite.