>>>> Please donate with love to Andreas https://antonopoulos.com/donate/

Abstract

I was busy last few days preparing for other stories, getting some work done and also working on the idea for next #RealLikeSatoshi and before I could pen it, I came across a message in reddit about how recently Andreas was mocked at by one “millionaire” and read his response and after reading it I do not know why I became very emotional. And hence I am writing this post as tribute and also to put forth why “Andreas m. Antonopoulos” is not only just one of the greatest Real life Satoshi but also the greatest real life teacher on Bitcoin & future of money that ever was.

The Tweets

It all started with the below tweet of Roger, but instead of targeting Bitcoin Core (“Bitcoin”) or his usual justifying on Bcash as real Bitcoin, he chose to take a jibe on Andreas.

And this was a reply to the earlier tweet by Andreas who like many creators or any evangelist in social space had put his response to an earlier call by others to support him on Patreon. And this is nothing new even I use Patreon in addition to my Crypto tip jar which on Ethereum.

And then was promptly responded by Andreas

Source: https://www.bitsonline.com/antonopoulos-responds-donations-goodwill/

The Reddit Post

https://amp.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/7hylea/andreas_antonopoulos_posted_this_response_to_a/?__twitter_impression=true

The reddit post is provided below:

Andreas M. Antonopoulos posted

In defense of optimism Yesterday, I woke to a flurry of activity on Twitter. A prominent member of the bitcoin community had decided to a message to me that many perceived as critical. The tweet pointed out that had I managed my money better I would be wealthy and wouldn’t need the support of patrons. It was in response to a message I posted on Twitter a week earlier, to once again dispel the impression that I am a bitcoin millionaire. It is hard for many to accept that someone who has been involved since 2012 has not amassed a great fortune in bitcoin. The truth, however, is that due to circumstances and some poor choices I made, I was not able to benefit as much from the rise of bitcoin as some others have. At the end of 2012, when I heard about bitcoin, I had been working as a freelance consultant for about a year after burning out of my previous work as a partner in a research firm. I had a modest retirement fund, a small amount of credit card debt and enough income to make ends meet. I was really in limbo, looking for the next opportunity. Bitcoin arrived into my awareness and slapped me in the face. You’ve all heard my story of tumbling down the rabbit hall, absolutely consumed by awe. What is not quite obvious is that my obsession also drove me to abandon my consulting work and put all my attention into bitcoin. I worked as hard as I have ever worked, focusing full time on this technology. During this time, I was unable to find any way of making a living through bitcoin. I traveled to speak at conferences (which didn’t even cover expenses), I consulted with startups (which couldn’t pay me), I wrote articles etc. To support my “habit”, I dipped into my savings. I cut back on my expenses as much as I could and started ravaging my savings. By mid-2013 I was forced to start liquidating my retirement funds. In my early 40’s, I was undoing a lifetime of savings, in a way most people would consider irresponsible. While doing so, I incurred penalty taxes for early withdrawal. Then, I went into credit card debt. By the end of 2013 I was “worse than broke”: going into debt at an alarming rate. Finally, in 2014 I started making a bit of income. I was so deep in debt that I continued to live paycheck to paycheck, struggling to chip away at my debt. It was going to be a long two years before I finally became debt free at the end of 2016. I won’t complain about the lost opportunity. I am extremely fortunate to be able to live debt free, doing my dream job in a field I absolutely love. Yesterday, while reading the tweet that criticized me for my poor choices, I felt sick to my stomach. It forced me to confront and relive every choice I made and all the missed opportunities. You see, the critical tweet contained a big grain of truth. I could’ve become wealthy. If only I hadn’t sold. If only I hadn’t given away hundreds of bitcoin to complete strangers. If only I had reduced my expenses more. If only I had made smarter choices. If only… Working in bitcoin is an endless struggle against cynicism, negativity, regret. Throughout the last 5 years I have always tried to maintain an optimistic and positive outlook, to focus on the long term, to think about the potential to lift billions out of poverty. But every now and then, I get dragged back into the negative. Yesterday was one of those days. I felt crushed. And then, something amazing happened. Over the next several hours, tens, dozens, then hundreds of people responded. I sat reading the responses with tears in my eyes. An outpouring of positivity washed over me. People I have never met jumped to my defense, reminding me that they started their journey after watching my videos, or reading my books. Some people attacked the original criticism and its author (which I strongly discourage). But the vast majority focused on optimism. Not only did people remind me of the importance of my work, they also encouraged each other to support me. In the last year, I have gradually received more and more of my income from Patreon. Patreon allows me to regain my financial security without switching my focus to commercial conferences, banking and investment events and chasing the next paycheck. Because of Patreon, I managed to stop selling and finally HODL. Because of Patreon I can dedicate my entire focus to the people who I have always felt like I am working for: the community of crypto-currency dreamers, visionaries and creators. I now finally get to work for you. Yesterday, you fed my soul. You reminded me why it is so important to remain optimistic, focused and determined to overcome the cynicism. It’s been a long and hard road. Sometimes I get lost. But, every time I do, you step up and help me find my way, find my focus again. You show me that I do not walk alone on this path. You are all there with me. I am part of a wonderful community and you have my back. Today, I am even more focused on my goals: educate the next 10 million users. Train the next 10,000 developers. Do it all in every medium possible. Do it in more languages. Do it with more energy, with more passion. Do it with unrelenting optimism. In the end, my engine runs on hope, it runs on optimism. And today, it’s turbocharged. Thank you

Quick Background on Andreas

Andreas M. Antonopoulos information security expert, tech-entrepreneur and author. He is a host on the Let’s Talk Bitcoin podcast and a teaching fellow for the master in science Digital Currencies at the University of Nicosia.

We all know him as an engaging public speaker, teacher and writer, who helps make complex subjects on Bitcoin & Crypto Economics easy to understand.

As an advisor, he helps startups recognize, evaluate, and navigate security and business risks. Andreas was also one of the first to use the phrase “The Internet of Money”, as early as 2013, to describe bitcoin as part of his speaking business.

For more one can read the below links which can give some more insights on how Andreas has been involved with Bitcoin & how he has not just been associated as a Bitcoin evangelist but also has founded a number of bitcoin businesses and launched several community open-source projects.

How I learnt from Andreas

For me the most important resources from Andreas are, his YouTube channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJWCJCWOxBYSi5DhCieLOLQ

And his famous book

Thanks to his vidoes and to his great book, not only me but thousands like me have learnt what is Bitcoin and when I was making my first foray into Blockchain, it was his video among other things that made me realize that the value of Blockhain is not in running in closed gardens but running as a public network and how Bitcoin was not just the internet of money but in its decentralized nature was in effect the future of Finance. Hence for me among many important people in Crypto Land Andreas is “The Teacher”.

My View

I saw many raising the fact that Andreas should have HODL his Bitcoin to see it moon today. But many fail to realize how difficult the period between 2013–2015 was for Bitcoin. The arrest of BitInstant founder in 2014, the BitLicense and then the crash that followed post MT Gox hack were some of the worst times for not only Bitcoin but also for its supporters. Many great people were either ruined or just had to wait it out years before they can come back in.

And it was because of the few who survived those hard times and persevered and help build the community and kept spreading the word of Bitcoin that we see the unstoppable force that Bitcoin is today.

And it is not very difficult to identify that Andreas was some of those who would have staked it call to learn and promote Bitcoin but then not every one is rich or trade. Some invested their money, some invest their time and some invest their intellect into promoting Bitcoin. And on the side of Andreas he did it all he could where while promoting Bitcoin like a Moses, and like an evangelist has helped us all.

Where Andreas & Roger differ

While Roger has been called as the Bitcoin Jesus and now Bitcoin Hated, in early years many would agree he has also done a lot for Bitcoin but has also suffered because of it. But both while evangelizing Bitcoin followed different narrative as to how to promote Bitcoin. While Roger bought publications, built wallets and also put his vision of Bitcoin (“Big Blocks”) and even when got relegated spent good part of last 2–3 years spreading what he thought Bitcoin should be. Andreas on the other hand chose to highlight what Bitcoin already is. He rather chose to educate others as to how Bitcoin works, what is it economic significance and as a fellow member of the community while putting his views did not sound some one who was pushing his agenda but rather some one who gave you an unbiased look at Bitcoin is right now and let us choose how we go on from there.

Final Thoughts

These were my earlier thoughts that I wrote in one of my groups putting it here and they show my raw emotions and final thoughts about this subject.

Noobs like me owe it to Andreas to get the first understanding of Bitcoin and if we can not come out for a teacher then for whom you should come…. All teachers are not Warren buffet or Roger Ver, they promote and educate and that is what Andreas does. Some of the parts I can so much relate to my life.First I disliked Roger now I damn care about him…. Better let me dedicate my time and effort to promote Bitcoin …. People like Roger let them cook their 💩💩💩 pot…. Let me #LiveLikeBitcoin

P.S. — I guess many like me now are flooding Andreas with their support and love for the work he has done for so long promoting Bitcoin.