Why Pierre Rochard Thinks Bitcoin is the Only Bitcoin You’ll Ever Need!

by

On March 11, 2025, Washington, D.C. was buzzing with Bitcoin enthusiasts, all gathered like moths to a flame, thanks to the Bitcoin Policy Institute. It was a veritable Bitcoin bonanza! 🎉

Michael Saylor, the self-proclaimed Bitcoin bard, delivered a rousing speech about Bitcoin’s rightful place in America. Naturally, this sparked a lively debate on X (formerly Twitter, because who doesn’t love a good rebranding?). The question on everyone’s lips? Is there a need for “a better Bitcoin”? Enter stage left: Pierre Rochard from Riot Platforms, ready to rain on that parade.

The whole kerfuffle began when Jason Calacanis, a podcaster and angel investor (not the kind with wings, mind you), chimed in on Saylor’s speech. Saylor had suggested that the U.S. must dominate cyberspace to maintain its superpower status. He waxed poetic about Bitcoin and America’s need to hoard it like a dragon with gold. 🐉

Saylor’s relentless pumping of bitcoin, and his high-risk accumulation techniques, are damaging the bitcoin ecosystem and brand.

Too much centralization, too much hyperbole and too many conflicts.

He’s actually setting up the perfect opportunity for someone to launch “a…

— @jason (@Jason) March 11, 2025

Calacanis, not one to shy away from a good Twitter spat, reposted a video, claiming Saylor was ruining Bitcoin’s reputation with his constant cheerleading and risky maneuvers. He lamented, “Too much centralization, too much hyperbole, and too many conflicts.” In his mind, Saylor was practically rolling out the red carpet for “a better Bitcoin.”

Launching a better Bitcoin is as improbable as launching a better wheel. You cannot invent digital scarcity twice.

— Matteo Pellegrini ⚡️ (@matteopelleg) March 11, 2025

Of course, the Bitcoin maximalists were not having any of it. They rallied like knights defending a castle, insisting that creating “a better Bitcoin” was as likely as finding a unicorn in your backyard. Matty Ice from Consensus Pro chimed in, explaining that you can’t just whip up a new Bitcoin with a sprinkle of fairy dust. Ownership doesn’t equal centralization, folks!

Enter Pierre Rochard

Then came Pierre Rochard, the Riot Platforms Research VP, ready to drop some knowledge bombs. He argued that decentralization is baked into Bitcoin’s DNA. The distribution of nodes around the globe is far more important than how many coins one person hoards. He reminded everyone that even the most influential Bitcoin cheerleader is still subject to the same rules as the rest of us mere mortals.

According to Rochard, Saylor’s antics are less impactful on Bitcoin’s value than the predictable issuance schedule and the community of decentralized node operators. No matter how much Saylor pumps, the Bitcoin train keeps chugging along, unaffected by the whims of any one individual. It’s like trying to stop a freight train with a feather. 🚂

Rochard didn’t outright declare that a “better Bitcoin” is impossible, but he did suggest it’s about as likely as finding a needle in a haystack. Creating a “better Bitcoin” would mean challenging Bitcoin’s unique historical role and its dominance in liquidity and security. Good luck with that!

In his grand finale, Rochard reiterated that independent verification and decentralization are the lifeblood of Bitcoin. “The protocol’s core properties — secure, permissionless, and verifiable by anyone — ensure that Bitcoin’s fundamental promise is not compromised.”

Consensus rules are enforced by every Full Node in the world. If they changed the rules of their nodes, they simply couldn’t interact with the Bitcoin Network

— Darkwing (@DarkwingCrypto) March 12, 2025

Rochard’s well-reasoned rebuttal effectively ended the debate. Interestingly, Calacanis didn’t bother to respond. Perhaps he was busy counting his Bitcoin or contemplating the meaning of life.

What did Rochard say in his speech?

Pierre Rochard also took the stage at the D.C. event, delivering a speech that aimed to convince everyone that Bitcoin is the new gold. His remarks added fuel to the fire of the ongoing debate about Bitcoin’s merits.

Gold is Beautiful, Bitcoin is Smart

Thank you @btcpolicyorg for the invitation to speak! It was a great event.

— Pierre Rochard (@BitcoinPierre) March 12, 2025

Rochard built his case around the lingering doubt about whether Fort Knox’s gold is even still there. He pointed out that the last audit was 50 years ago and was about as thorough as a toddler’s inspection of their room. He estimates that Fort Knox holds a staggering $425 billion worth of gold and hopes that DOGE will conduct a proper audit involving all sorts of fancy procedures. Because who doesn’t love a good assay? 🧪

He continued, even if all the gold in Fort Knox is real, we still can’t know how much of the world’s total supply is stashed there. Who knows, maybe there’s gold on Mars! But with Bitcoin, the purity is verifiable by anyone with an internet connection. The audit of Bitcoin is a walk in the park compared to the labyrinthine process of verifying gold. Plus, storing Bitcoin is cheaper and easier than trying to keep gold safe from pirates.

In summary, Rochard’s remarks echoed the sentiments of Saylor and other Bitcoin advocates, all pushing for a more aggressive BTC acquisition strategy. Saylor even mentioned that by 2035, 99% of the total BTC supply will be mined, and the U.S. must solidify its leadership in Bitcoin by then. Because nothing says “leadership” like hoarding digital coins!

Read More

2025-03-13 20:37