Bitcoin’s Pioneering Road Trip: How a 2011 Journey Proved Crypto’s Real-World Viability
In 2011, an early Bitcoin enthusiast named Plato embarked on a groundbreaking cross-continental journey to demonstrate Bitcoin’s potential as a functional currency. This article explores how his experiment paved the way for cryptocurrency adoption and why it remains relevant today.
First Bitcoin Road Trip Proved Viability of Cryptocurrency in 2011
Fourteen years ago, an early Bitcoin adopter named Plato embarked on a road trip across North America with a unique challenge: to make it from the East Coast to the West Coast without spending any dollars, only using Bitcoin. Plato, who first discovered Bitcoin in 2010 and even mined coins when they were worth less than $1, successfully demonstrated that Bitcoin could function as money, even in its early stages.
Scan, Pay, Done: How SpacePay Turns Crypto into Coffee Money
Most baristas react with a confused stare when customers attempt to pay for coffee with Bitcoin. This common scenario highlights the current gap between cryptocurrency ownership and real-world usage. Despite years of promises about crypto changing the payment landscape, the majority of consumers continue to rely on traditional credit cards for everyday purchases. SpacePay is tackling this disconnect with a payment platform that might actually work in the real world. With a low 0.5% transaction fee, connections to over 325 crypto wallets, and instant conversion to cash for merchants, they’re gaining recognition across the payment industry. They’ve already pulled in $1 million during their presale.
Bitcoin Whale Addresses Record Over $3.6 Billion Inflow as Bulls Bid Recovery
Bitcoin (BTC) has shown signs of a long-term upward momentum in the past 48 hours. The crypto markets surged following similar macro sentiments after President Trump announced a 90-day pause on tariffs. This led to a jump in whale holdings and other positive movements keen to boost bull sentiments. According to CryptoQuant data, Bitcoin accumulation addresses recorded the largest daily inflow since February 2022. After the pause on sweeping tariffs, whales purchased 48,575 BTC igniting fresh optimism. On Feb 1 2022, accumulation addresses picked up 95,000 BTC when the price hit $38,400. Both transactions were worth around $3.6 billion, a striking coincidence made with soaring institutional demand. Whale inflows help shape the wider market’s direction.
Swedish Lawmaker Urges Government to Establish Bitcoin Reserve
Swedish Member of Parliament Rickard Nordin has formally questioned the government about whether it will allow the central bank to add Bitcoin (BTC) to the country’s foreign currency reserves. In an official written inquiry submitted to Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson, Nordin referenced international momentum and a growing global debate on the role of digital assets in national financial strategy. He pointed to the US, where several states and federal officials have floated the idea of holding Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset akin to gold, especially in the face of escalating geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Nordin highlighted that Bitcoin’s monetary properties are comparable to gold and it is already being used in many parts of the world as a payment method.
Stocks Rebound, Bitcoin Flirts with $84k
On Friday, April 11, U.S. stock markets showed resilience, recovering from earlier losses driven by escalating trade tensions and inflation worries. Despite early week volatility, consumer sentiment dropping, and 10-year Treasury yields rising, U.S. stocks climbed. The S&P 500 gained 1.81%, the Nasdaq Composite finished up 2.0%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped over 1.5%. Bitcoin (BTC) briefly traded above $84,000 before settling at $83,796. Concerns lingered over the U.S.-China trade dispute, with China raising tariffs on U.S. goods.
