The full archival nodes of Ethereum and Solana are much larger than that but Bitcoin needs the complete transaction history for it to work and those coins don't.
With a modest amount of coding one could make it so that nodes would just download a UTXO set committed to by miners... it would almost just be a weekend project coding wise... of course, this would just blindly trust them for the integrity of the history but that's what those other blockchains do. The distinction between them and bitcoin is that for Bitcoin the security and decentralization means something, for many other projects it's just a costume to hide asset issuance from regulatory authority. BSV obviously doesn't care but it doesn't seem like it has any substantial technical contributors or at least not any that aren't just undermining it through malicious compliance.
I honestly believed that and the last straw was after reading the sentence from the Hight Court of England and Wales, I was convinced I was wrong. I wanned all this year to come back and write that I was wrong but just forgot. Today, I sold all my BSV and decided to come along and write what I should have written last year.
It is important for me to remain honest, although it is not always possible.
I'd be interested in knowing more about your story with BSV and Wright-- how you fell for it, how your thinking changed, etc. While certainly some of us would never have fallen for Wright, there are different things we might fall for. No one is immune to being fooled and I think there are still lessons to be learned. Unfortunately, most people that become disenchanted just disappear completely which limits how much can be learned from them.
Thank you for asking about my experience—it’s not easy to revisit, but I hope sharing it can offer insights for others. Here’s my story:
Why I BelievedLike many, I was drawn to Craig Wright’s bold claim of being Satoshi Nakamoto. At the time, his technical explanations (“Satoshi’s Vision,” the promise of unbounded scalability) seemed credible, especially when framed as “restoring Bitcoin’s original protocol.” The BSV community amplified this narrative, emphasizing ideals like “truth” and “integrity,” which resonated with my frustration at BTC’s scaling debates and perceived compromises.
Wright’s confidence and the support from certain influencers (like Calvin Ayre) added legitimacy. When he threatened legal action against critics, I misinterpreted it as conviction rather than intimidation. The community’s echo chamber dismissed skeptics as “misinformed” or “attacking the truth,” which kept doubts at bay.
Cracks in the FacadeOver time, inconsistencies emerged:
- Technical Promises vs. Reality: BSV’s touted “millions of transactions per second” never materialized. Projects built on BSV struggled with instability, and adoption remained niche.
- Wright’s Behavior: His aggressive lawsuits, plagiarism scandals (copied research papers), and refusal to sign Satoshi’s early coins felt increasingly manipulative.
- Community Cultism: Dissent was labeled “FUD.” Healthy debate was stifled, which made me question the lack of honesty.
The Turning Point: The High Court RulingThe UK High Court’s 2024 ruling was the final blow. The judge highlighted Wright’s blatant forgeries and perjury (falsified documents, fabricated emails). Seeing a court dismantle his credibility methodically—not just critics on Twitter—shattered my remaining trust. It wasn’t just about lying; it was the scale of deception.
Lessons Learned1.
Verify, Don’t Trust: Authority figures (even self-proclaimed ones) demand scrutiny. Claims require proof, not just rhetoric.
2.
Beware Tribal Echo Chambers: Communities that silence critics are red flags. Truth thrives in open discourse.
3.
Ethics Matter: A project’s leader reflects its values. Wright’s vindictiveness and dishonesty poisoned BSV’s potential.
4.
Humility Over Hubris: Admitting you’re wrong is painful but necessary. No one is immune to manipulation.
Leaving BSV was tough—it meant confronting sunk costs and misplaced faith. But it taught me to prioritize evidence over emotion and seek diverse perspectives. If anything, this experience reinforced the importance of skepticism and resilience in crypto’s Wild West.
I hope this helps others avoid similar pitfalls.
