Do you have Bitcoin ink? Many Bitcoin believers do. But what are the risks? What's up with the privacy? And what happens if, one fateful day, Bitcoin crashes and goes to zero?
Cointelegraph spoke to Bitcoin (BTC) advocates understanding why a Bitcoin logo, motif, equation, or slogan has been permanently etched into your skin. They have shown enduring solidarity with the decentralized movement, expressing their support for the Bitcoin protocol and the values โโit represents.
didi taihuttu, father of the โBitcoin familyโ, he explained that he inked himself at the time when he โfully participated in Bitcoin because I thought it was a very important step in my lifeโ. A familiar face among the crypto community, Taihuttu sold all his family possessions and slept in a campsite while the Bitcoin price was in four-figure territory with the "B" etched on his arm.
Now he travels the world evangelizing Bitcoin, with his forearm on display:
"Bitcoin changed the way I think about the world and decentralize it."
Anita Posch, another globe-trotting Bitcoin evangelist, has a tattooed lightning bolt on his forearm. In it Human B bitcoin documentary film, said he would not explain that the lightning bolt symbol (a nod to the lightning net) on his wrist is related to Bitcoin, but he added "Bitcoin is my life" in follow-up comments.
TatumTurnUP (not his real name), the host of the Bitcoin show "Between Two Asics," explained that he got the BTC supply formula tattooed because "it's what shows scarcity."
"Currency scarcity is something we've been deprived of until Bitcoin, and the fact that you can write what proves there will only be a certain amount of Bitcoin is a big deal."
The tattoo on his bicep is common (but unfortunately not strictly accurate) formula for the supply of Bitcoin. He shared a warning with readers: โThe bottom of the Sigma might be the most painful thing I've ever experienced. Just a warning.
But what about OpSec?
However, isn't it risky to announce one's love for a digital currency on the skin? OpSec, or operational security, is a military term that the Internet has hijacked. Among the cryptographic community, it refers to the public sharing of identity or defining characteristics. And a Bitcoin tattoo could literally put a target on your back.
Obtaining profits at โ/21m.#bitcoin pic.twitter.com/dKrWbp8KRb
โErik Dale โก (@EuroDale) January 14, 2023
Erik Dale, whose tattoos are shown in the above tweet, founded Norway's "Northern Lightning" lecture series. Dale told Cointelegraph that he was aware of the implications. His tattoos are "Equations, no tribal logos or markers, for OpSec reasons."
"Initiates must realize what they are, but not casual observers."
Rikki, from content creators and researchers Bitcoin ExplorersHe quipped: "We're not particularly worried about bad opsec." He added another bitcoin tattoo to his collection during a raffle in Guatemala.
Bad OpSec can lead to doxing or public disclosure of people's personal data. That's why some Bitcoin advocates mask their identities online, using anonymous profiles on social media. Not so for Rikki and her partner Laura; they have their Bitcoin support in sight.
Piero Coen, co-founder of Guatemala-based Osmo Wallet, told Cointelegraph that Bitcoin is a โcounterculture movement, and get a tattoo related to it It is a way of showing our commitment to this movement.โ
โIt's like a badge of honor, showing that we are part of this group of 'pirates' who are challenging the traditional financial system and are convinced that we are going to change the world. โ
Also, for Rikki and Laura, much of their lives already permanently exists on camera. Rikki explained:
โWe are Bitcoin content creators, so we decided to give up our privacy years ago. Also, there are not only the slightly paranoid, scheming, pessimistic and terra platform prone bitcoiners, there are also us, the good looking, nice, funny, cool and sex loving bitcoiners!
Me: Should I have a lower profile?
Still Me: FREE BITCOIN TATTOO!!!!!!!! LET'S MAKE TWO AND MAKE A VLOG ABOUT IT!!!!! pic.twitter.com/HdwnAwRx4Z
โ Laura Bitcoin explorers (@Lorinaura) January 30, 2023
Laura put it even more succinctly in a recent tweet:
For Tatum, another content creator and a recognizable face in the Bitcoin space, "the value is teaching people about Bitcoin and networking through it, so there's a constant battle with opsec."
"Deep down, I'm comfortable with my own security and what I do and don't share, but 'WHY I Love Bitcoin' will always be shared."
Tatum walks around Bitcoin conferences wearing a bulletproof vest in a joking nod to operational security in the Bitcoin space.
But what if Bitcoin goes to zero?
Unlike tweets, open letters or start-ups, Bitcoin tattoos are difficult to remove. They require commitment.
So what happens if the currency hits zero, like many other failed Terra a Celsius projects? Tatum explained, well, "it sucks for me!"
โAfter I got it, I jokingly said, 'Now I really hope it doesn't go to zero or I'll look like an idiot.' But really, my tattoo is the reason I'll never get to zero. If one person finds value in Bitcoin, there will only be so many. Then they will have valueโ.
Billionaire Mike Novogratz's tattoo of the failed Terra (LUNA) token is an eternal reminder of the drunkenness and hedonism that accompany crypto bullfights. The tattoo remains on Novogratz's arm, while LUNA is worth next to nothing, and her the creator, Do Kwon, could be in jail. Fortunately, Novogratz says he learned from experience saying investing โrequires humility.โ
Dale explained that he is prepared to live with the tattoos on his wrists even if Bitcoin fails. He is committed to the end: โIf I'm wrong about this, I want to carry that reminder every day. And if not, I can't imagine a more proud badge to wear for the rest of my days."
Related: Novogratz says LUNA tattoo is a constant reminder that investing 'requires humility'
For Taihuttu, it's important to step back and focus on the big picture. Bitcoin is a long-term game:
โI think people who have dollar sign or other fiat tattoos have a better chance of getting to 0.โ
He is right; Famous rappers and celebrities including singer Kesha and actress Lena Dunham have inked themselves with dollar sign tattoos. It is unlikely that they would have been asked if the dollar would hit zero before sitting in the tattoo artist's chair.
On a sobering note, Taihuttu explained that regardless of the ongoing Bitcoin movement, the large tattoo on his forearm represents "10 amazing years of my life and my family's life since 2013, the year I started mining Bitcoin." And that is more than enough reason to get Bitcoin ink.
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