Really enjoyed this perspective. Framing Bitcoin as the convergence of decades of economic and cryptographic ideas and judging altcoins by what they trade off—adds a lot of clarity. The long term historical lens feels refreshing in a space that’s usually dominated by short-term hype.

This is why I have a problem with so many altcoin projects:

> Many of these projects promise faster transactions, cheaper fees, better privacy, or easier scaling. And on the surface, that can sound very attractive, especially to users who feel slowed down by Bitcoin. But Aaron cautions that it is worth looking past the headline features and asking what is being traded away to make those improvements possible.

> When altcoins optimize for speed or cost, they often sacrifice decentralization or long-term economic incentives. Some rely on small validator sets. Others depend on foundations or companies that quietly reintroduce trust. These trade-offs shape the future of crypto competition far more than marketing narratives or short-term price action.