Bitcoin: A Solution in Search of a Problem?

I’ve always been a bit of a skeptic when it comes to Bitcoin. In my view, it solves a problem that most people didn’t realize they had—or at least, didn’t care enough about to justify the time, energy, and resources poured into fixing it.

Imagine a world where everyone hated the post office. It was clunky, outdated, and full of weird rules. So, a bunch of tech-savvy visionaries created an entirely new system for sending packages. That’s Bitcoin to banking.

Now, modern banks do have problems—no doubt. But many of today’s banking issues stem from centuries of evolution. It’s like we invented banks to fix “Problem A,” but that caused “Problem B,” so we fixed that and created “Problem C,” and so on. Bitcoin aims to leapfrog us out of this centuries-long cycle… potentially solving “Problem Z?” without truly understanding what that might trigger next.

Where are we now? After billions of dollars and years of hype, Bitcoin’s journey has been filled with innovation, loss, and resilience. Many likened Bitcoin to the early internet, claiming it would revolutionize everything. Well, the internet did shake up media and music—but it didn’t destroy them. Record labels adapted. Newspapers went digital. Change happened—but the institutions remained.

Bitcoin may not replace banks, but it is ushering in new tools like blockchain. That tech? It’s sticking around. The future of finance isn’t Bitcoin or banks. It’s a blend of both.

Fake News: Then and Now (Yes, I Was Part of the Problem)

Last week I wrote about fake news on Facebook, especially following the 2016 election and its alleged role in Donald Trump’s win. Fake news isn’t just annoying—it’s dangerous. As Mike Caulfield pointed out, it can “train people to be extremists.” And he’s not wrong.

Here’s the thing—I have to confess something. When Facebook first came out while I was at Michigan State, it wasn’t as tightly regulated. Naturally, I created a fake profile for… Fidel Castro. His interests? Grey’s Anatomy and waterboarding. Yes, I was that guy. It was hilarious at the time. Facebook eventually shut it down. Today, they’re trying to do that on a much bigger scale.

Mark Zuckerberg recently said in a Tweet, “We take misinformation seriously. We’ve made significant progress, but there’s more work to be done.” That’s great—but are people even looking for truth?

In reality, most people want confirmation, not information. They don’t share fake news because they think it’s accurate—they share it because they want it to be true. On the flip side, creators of fake news are raking in cash. High traffic = high ad revenue. Until that changes, misinformation remains a moneymaker.

Facebook’s crackdown includes better reporting tools and disclaimers. That’s progress. But changing human behavior? That’s the real challenge.

Trump: A Honeymoon for Wall Street?

Trump’s campaign had enough energy to light up Wall Street with optimism—and analysts have run with it. “Make America Great Again” became not just a slogan, but a catch-all prediction model.

Will Trump make coal great again? What about TIPS? Holiday retail sales? You name it—he’ll make it great again.

Honestly, the whole thing feels like the presidential honeymoon phase. The markets want good news, and Trump gives them a narrative to believe in. But it’s also starting to feel like the analysts are phoning it in.

“Johnson, did you finish your report on holiday retail projections?”

“Uhh… yeah. Trump will make it great again.”

“Good work, Johnson.”

The bottom line? We’re living in an age of bold promises and uncertain follow-through. Time will tell how much of this momentum turns into meaningful economic outcomes.

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