Read_921 - Arkade, Crypto, and Only The Strong Surviving

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Dec 16, 2025

Explore the provocative thesis that only the strong survive in crypto as the endgame looms. Dive into whether Bitcoin can fulfill everything crypto promised, with insights on the launch of ARKADE for programmability. The discussion covers stablecoins, integration with Lightning, and the pitfalls of new layer one tokens. Learn how decentralized systems can achieve centralized benefits, and discover Bitcoin's potential to become the global monetary standard while prioritizing privacy and utility.

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INSIGHT

Crypto's Endgame On Bitcoin

Only the Strong Survive correctly predicted crypto's collapse and relevance shrinkage.
Farrington argues Bitcoin will absorb useful crypto capabilities rather than vice versa.

INSIGHT

Arcade Brings Programmability To Bitcoin

Arcade launched on Bitcoin mainnet and makes Bitcoin programmable beyond Lightning.
Farrington and others claim Arcade is production-ready and not vaporware.

ADVICE

Stop Spinning Up New Layer Ones

Stop creating new L1s and issuing tokens that duplicate Bitcoin's role.
Use Bitcoin as the base layer and build Layer 2s like Arcade instead.

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"The broad point is that only the strong survive was correct. We are entering the endgame of crypto having any reason to exist.

My thesis as to why it exists at all is a combination of a novel vector for gambling and an affinity scam.

Bitcoin is extremely difficult to even begin to understand, and even though what it fundamentally 'fixes' is money printing, its novelty ironically lends itself to confusing the uninitiated and impatient with meaningless appeals to 'blockchain technology' that manifest as attempts to print money."

~ Allen Farrington

In this episode I read Allen Farrington’s follow‑up to “Only the Strong Survive” and then ask a blunt question: if Bitcoin can now do everything crypto promised, does the rest of the casino have any reason to exist? Is ARKADE, Lightning, and e‑cash the real endgame for programmability and global banking on Bitcoin?

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