Roger Ver Claims US Intelligence Undermined Bitcoin's Original Vision

According to Odaily, early Bitcoin investor Roger Ver, also known as 'Bitcoin Jesus,' has expressed concerns that collaborative actions by U.S. intelligence agencies and institutional participants have undermined the initial hope for Bitcoin as an alternative to fiat currency. In a recent interview, Ver alleged that these agencies deliberately sabotaged Bitcoin's potential as a widespread peer-to-peer (P2P) payment method. He claimed that they manipulated online forums like bitcointalk.org and the Bitcoin subreddit r/bitcoin through censorship and propaganda, steering them away from their decentralized origins. Ver highlighted that moderators linked to U.S. intelligence agencies attempted to suppress discussions about expanding Bitcoin's global usage, instead pushing it towards becoming a speculative asset. According to Ver, this was a coordinated effort aimed at controlling and limiting Bitcoin's potential to disrupt the traditional financial system. He argued that Bitcoin does not represent economic freedom, especially when held on centralized exchanges (CEX), which offer less privacy than traditional banks. When questioned about whether he believes Bitcoin was created by U.S. intelligence agencies, Ver stated that while Bitcoin may not have been initially designed this way, it has been 'hijacked' by these agencies and turned into a 'financial trap.' He cited El Salvador as an example, noting that despite widespread enthusiasm for Bitcoin, it is primarily used through custodial accounts. This allows the government to monitor every transaction and freeze accounts at will. 'This is the opposite of economic freedom. It is government control over the economy,' Ver remarked.