Bitcoin real-world use

CEO of Poder Wealth Advisors and host of the Financial Powerhouse Podcast, Anna N’Jie-Konte is a globally recognized financial planner who specializes in helping women achieve financial independence. In partnership with CoinShares, she debunks four common myths about Bitcoin. First one: Bitcoin has no real-world application.

Since its 2009 launch as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system, Bitcoin has evolved far beyond early adoption by technologists. It is now used globally for tangible economic purposes, from lowering remittance costs to increasing financial inclusion. El Salvador’s adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021 exemplifies national-level integration, but meaningful adoption does not require full legal tender status. Institutional participation has grown sharply, with the SEC approving Bitcoin exchange-traded products in early 2024 and large asset managers now holding tens of billions in U.S.-based spot Bitcoin ETFs.

In developing markets, Bitcoin facilitates cheaper, faster cross-border payments, seen in Nigeria and the Philippines, and offers a hedge against local currency instability, as in Turkey’s rapid adoption during hyperinflation. These use cases illustrate that Bitcoin is not just a speculative concept but a maturing asset class with regulated investment channels and real-world financial utility.

In this chapter, Anna N’Jie-Konte challenges the myth that Bitcoin lacks real-world utility. She explores how Bitcoin is actively used in both developed and emerging markets to solve financial inefficiencies and support broader economic participation.

Key Takeaways

• Institutional growth: spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen rising inflows, with professional investors holding over $27 billion as of early 2025.
  Growth reflects both fund flows and rising BTC prices

• Use in developing markets: Bitcoin facilitates affordable remittances and is used to hedge against inflation (e.g., in Turkey and Nigeria).

• Human rights utility: the Oslo Freedom Forum highlighted Bitcoin’s role in supporting activists and promoting financial freedom in authoritarian regimes.

• Mature Infrastructure: Increasing adoption and institutional interest mark a significant evolution beyond its origins as a fringe asset.