The Unique Value of Bitcoin Code: Consensus Creation and Adaptive Rise

Ten years ago, when I was working at a large tech company, I learned that a well-known telecommunications equipment manufacturer set a daily goal for programmers to write 7 lines of code. After calculations, I found that each line of code was worth about 100 dollars. However, when I later delved into Bitcoin code, I realized that its value far exceeded the results of traditional internet programming. This huge difference prompted me to decisively turn to the field of Bitcoin development.

Nowadays, the value of each line of Bitcoin code has reached an astonishing 20 million dollars. This huge gap has sparked my deep exploration into the reasons behind it, ultimately concluding that the high value of Bitcoin code stems from its inherent "consensus creation ability" and "growth vitality", which is fundamentally what distinguishes it from traditional internet code.

The value of code can be divided into two categories: "capability type" and "function type". The reason why Bitcoin code is so expensive is that it belongs to "capability type" code, which has the ability to create a global decentralized Consensus and adaptive rise.

Every line of code in Bitcoin is not just a simple functional implementation, but carries a decentralized mechanical consensus, a set of self-executing rules, thereby creating a brand new digital capability. This capability allows Bitcoin to condense an originally intangible human consensus into the network through the Proof of Work (PoW) mechanism, integrating the universally recognized resource of "energy" and the ultimate value of "time" into the network, incentivizing different miners to compete with digital assets, completing the integration of human consensus value, and forming the most powerful decentralized global consensus network in history. This not only creates enormous commercial value but also lays a solid foundation for carrying greater value in the future.

Bitcoin's code also has "growth vitality", which is the ability to adaptively rise. Through the longest chain consensus mechanism, miners continuously compete for computing power, constantly raising the consensus barrier. The system automatically adjusts the difficulty every 2016 blocks to balance computing power and block generation speed. In addition, the game of interests among various stakeholders, including miners, nodes, protocol and application developers, users, and investors, forms a continuously iterating network. This endows Bitcoin with the characteristics of self-maintenance and adaptive growth, enabling it to maintain robustness in different environments, much like a living organism.

In contrast, traditional internet code is mostly "functional" products, aimed at achieving specific functionalities or meeting specific needs. Taking online shopping systems as an example, the code of e-commerce platforms is primarily used to help users select products, check out, and make payments. This type of code can be quickly modified according to business needs and is easy to replicate, resulting in relatively low irreplaceability and long-term value.

Another typical example is database management systems. Although database products are widely used, their core functions are data storage and retrieval, which can be replaced by more efficient implementations. Therefore, their code value is diluted due to a lack of uniqueness.

In summary, the high value of Bitcoin code stems from its inherent "consensus creation ability" and "growth vitality", as well as its unique and irreplicable properties. This is a vibrant code that not only addresses the decentralized consensus issue but also establishes a unique value system through its growth characteristics and complex ecosystem. The Bitcoin network has grown from zero to a network valued at 1.5 trillion dollars in just 15 years, and this growth rate fully reflects the value of "ability-based" code. In contrast, traditional internet code, while it may excel in specific functions, finds it difficult to reach the value heights of Bitcoin due to its substitutability and functionality.

When launching or evaluating a technology project, we should ask ourselves: "Is this adding a feature, or is it creating a new capability?" This question may help us better understand and assess the long-term value and potential of the project.