The author of “The Black Swan,” Nassim Nicholas Taleb, has claimed that Jordan Peterson, a famed Canadian psychologist and author, is under the control of the “Bitcoin Cartel.”
Peterson recently expressed his support for the flagship cryptocurrency. In a retweet associated with the end of cash withdrawals in major Australian banks that led to the issuance of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), he said that Bitcoin fixed the problem of programmable CBDC.
Taleb No Longer Likes Bitcoin
Taleb claims that Peterson has been promoting Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as a part of a conspiracy orchestrated by the so-called Bitcoin cartel, a powerful group of investors who are manipulating the price of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
Taleb further claims that Peterson is being used as a tool by this group to promote their agenda.
To wit,
“I did not feel compelled to jump in & explain that Peterson talking about finance is slightly less sophisticated than a committee of antivaxx Canadian truckers lecturing on quantum field theory. But I need to warn the young victims that Peterson is owned by the Bitcoin cartel.”
As a psychologist and an author, Peterson can have valuable insights into human behavior and decision-making.
However, Peterson’s enthusiasm for Bitcoin is questionable since there is a credibility gap between his statement and his deep understanding of the markets, according to Taleb.
Not A Realistic View
Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s stance on Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is somewhat mixed. He has been critical of Bitcoin’s volatility and lack of regulation in the past, calling it a “failed currency experiment.”
However, he has also acknowledged the potential of Bitcoin as a decentralized currency, stating that “Bitcoin is the beginning of something great: a currency without a government, something necessary and imperative.”
Nassim Nicholas Taleb is a well-known author but he has also been known to make provocative statements and use inflammatory language. This has led to criticism from some members of the public and other professionals in various fields.
In a separate statement, he harshly criticized the Lex Fridman podcast and declined an invitation to appear as a guest.
This led to Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano and co-founder of Ethereum, responding angrily to Taleb’s comments and labeling him as an “arrogant piece of human garbage.”
Talk About Bitcoin Cartel
The crypto community is diverse and opinions on Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies vary widely. Bitcoin has been a topic of discussion for years, with some people calling it a revolution and others calling it a form of manipulation.
While there may not be a formal cartel controlling Bitcoin, there are certainly large players in the market who have a significant impact on prices like whales.
Whales are individuals or organizations that hold large amounts of Bitcoin and can use their holdings to influence prices. If a whale decides to sell a large amount of Bitcoin, it can cause the price to drop, while buying can cause the price to rise.
Another factor that can influence Bitcoin prices is the behavior of miners. Bitcoin miners use powerful computers to solve complex mathematical problems, and they are rewarded with new Bitcoins for their efforts.
However, the cost of mining can be high, and miners may decide to sell their Bitcoins to cover their expenses. This can put downward pressure on prices.
Taleb’s “attack” against Peterson has sparked controversy in the crypto community. Not everyone agrees with Taleb’s assessment.
Many Bitcoin supporters argue that the decentralized nature of the largest cryptocurrency makes it impossible for any one group to control it. They point out that Bitcoin is based on a public ledger called the blockchain, which is maintained by a network of users around the world.
Transactions are verified by these users, not by a central authority, which makes it difficult for anyone to manipulate the system.