Part 4/13:
The crux of the problem lies in human intervention—specifically, the takeover by a faction of developers who decided to change Bitcoin's core design. It was a gradual hijacking from 2014 to 2017, during which influential participants and organizations pivoted to limit functionality, impose restrictions, and control key upgrades.
The Shift from Digital Cash to Store of Value
Initially, Bitcoin aimed to facilitate everyday transactions. Its whitepaper strongly emphasized functions like “sending payments directly from one party to another without a financial intermediary”. This emphasis was consistent with Satoshi’s writings and early forum discussions.