A decade ago, I was a journalist, paying for grad school in England by selling p2p bitcoin This was one of the first articles I wrote for a mainstream outlet that was about bitcoin--or rather, it was about the Silk Road and how lessons there (it DECREASED violence in the drug trade) might apply to other illicit markets Silk Road is such an important part of Bitcoin's early history. We wouldn't be here today without it, not even close This is why I'm so passionate about #FreeRoss He's a hero Welcome home Ross!

As I leave Colombia I'm reflecting back What a wild & inspiring few days... On Monday I sent out the 'Welcome Docs' to the brand new @My First Bitcoin Advisory Board and asked which dates everyone would be free in the next weeks for a call Turns out all three--@Jeff Booth, Mike Peterson & @Jeremy Almond--would be attending the Medellín Bitcoin Cinference. I made some last minute arraignments and joined them so we could all meet in person The meeting was insightful & inspiring. We have an opportunity to reimagine what's possible. We have a chance to avoid repeating all the same mistakes that brought the fiat world to it's current state And it starts with introductory bitcoin education It must have transparent funding sources that will align the incentives so that students learn how to think and NOT what to think. It must be decentralized This is already what we have been building toward for 3+ years, but we are now entering a time when it will become ever more crucial. Bitcoin education must be independent. It must be impartial. It must be community-led I left that meeting inspired, but two days later, I leave Colombia even more inspired I met various Colombians who have these values and are already teaching the #BitcoinDiploma to their own communities, and met even more who are planning to begin A better world isn't just coming, the foundations are already being laid