Part 3/13:
Cole highlights that Bitcoin's security rests on multiple layers:
Distributed Blockchain Network: Thousands of nodes worldwide store the complete transaction history. This decentralization makes manipulation or double-spending virtually impossible because any attempt to cheat the system would be rejected by consensus.
Mining and Proof of Work: Bitcoin's consensus mechanism relies on energy-intensive mining, requiring trillions of dollars’ worth of hardware and energy—comparable to the energy consumption of entire countries like Argentina. Controlling 51% of this mining power—a prerequisite for an attack—is financially unfeasible for any individual or organization.