The movement of ripped pants, as a deliberate fashion trend, surged in the 1970s, primarily driven by the punk movement.

Although worn and torn pants existed before out of necessity (poverty or heavy work), it was in this era that the "tear" became a symbol of rebellion and a political act.

Here is a brief timeline of this evolution:

1. 1970s: The Punk Rebellion

The initial landmark of "destroyed" fashion happened in London and New York.

  • Context: Young punks began ripping their own clothes as a form of protest against consumerism and the conservatism of society.

  • Icons: Designer Vivienne Westwood and bands like Sex Pistols and Ramones were largely responsible for turning ripped jeans into a "uniform" of the counterculture. Wearing something ripped was a way of saying you didn't care about the elite's rules.

2. 1980s: The Arrival to the Mainstream

In the 80s, the style stopped being just something "marginal" and started to be adopted by major Rock and Pop stars.

  • Madonna and hard rock bands (like Guns N' Roses) popularized the look.

  • It was in this decade that luxury brands and jeans manufacturers began selling pre-torn and stone washed jeans, turning protest into a fashion product.

The Analogy of Ripped Jeans and Bitcoin:

1. The Organic Emergence and Rebellion:

* Ripped Jeans: Young people start ripping their jeans as a form of expression, rebellion against the norm, and search for individuality. It is a "bottom-up" movement driven by youth culture.

The market insight in the Digital revolution

* Bitcoin: Bitcoin emerges as a decentralized alternative to the traditional financial system. Driven by ideals of monetary freedom, privacy, and resistance to censorship, it represents a "rebellion" against the control of central banks and governments. It is a "bottom-up" movement driven by a community.

2. The Market Perception:

* Ripped Jeans: The fashion industry notices the trend. Sees that there is demand and a strong cultural movement around ripped jeans.

* Bitcoin: Governments and financial institutions, initially skeptical or even hostile, begin to recognize the growth and resilience of Bitcoin. They see that the demand for cryptocurrencies is not fleeting and that there is real value and a solid user base.

3. Co-optation and Repackaging:

* Ripped Jeans: Major fashion brands start producing jeans that are already factory ripped, at high prices. What was once an act of DIY (Do It Yourself) rebellion becomes a manufactured consumer product, sold and monetized by the system that young people tried to challenge. They say: "You want ripped jeans? We make them, rip them, and sell them to you."

* Bitcoin/Crypto: Governments and financial institutions, instead of simply fighting against, begin to adopt in ways that allow them to maintain control. This may include:

* Heavy Regulation: Imposing rules that hinder small crypto businesses or favor already established large players.

* Creation of CBDCs (Central Bank Digital Currencies): Where the government creates its own version of digital currency, which is centralized and controlled, offering digital "convenience" but without the decentralization and privacy of original cryptocurrencies. The message is: "You want digital currencies? We create them, control them, and offer them to you."

* Institutional Investment and Traditional Financial Products: Large banks and investment funds begin to offer products based on Bitcoin (ETFs, futures), integrating it into the traditional financial system. This legitimizes Bitcoin, but also subjects it to the rules and manipulations of the traditional market. They say: "You want Bitcoin? We buy it for you, control the flows and the price through large trades, and offer it as a financial product."

How the Government Does This (Concrete Examples and Evidence):

* Regulation: In the US, the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) plays a crucial role in regulating crypto assets, classifying many as securities and requiring strict compliance. This stifles innovation for small projects and centralizes power in players who can bear compliance costs.

* Creation of Own Digital Currencies (CBDCs): Countries like China have already launched the Digital Yuan (e-CNY), and many others (including Brazil with DREX and the US exploring the Digital Dollar) are developing their own central bank digital currencies. These are centralized, programmable, and give governments unprecedented control over citizens' money. This is the "we make digital and control."

* Market Influence through News and Policies: Statements from FED members or other government authorities about inflation, interest rates, or crypto regulation can move the market drastically. The fear of inflation or rising interest rates, for example, directly impacts the price of Bitcoin, demonstrating the indirect (and sometimes direct) influence of the government.

* Legitimacy and Institutional Adoption: When large banks like JP Morgan or Goldman Sachs begin to offer custody services or investment products in Bitcoin, the asset becomes more acceptable to the "mainstream", but also more susceptible to the dynamics of the traditional financial market and the influence of these players.

In summary:

The analogy is powerful because it demonstrates how a grassroots movement, initially conceived to be alternative and challenging, can be absorbed and reformatted by the dominant system. In the case of ripped jeans, fashion industrialized rebellion. In the case of Bitcoin, governments and financial institutions seek to "industrialize" the digital revolution, maintaining control over digital financial tools, just as they control fiat money.

Don't fall for this trap, the popular market needs to adhere, find another cryptocurrency that can be exchanged and without so much volatility.

It has already absorbed, knows what you 🫵 want and now controls you by giving you ripped jeans, better ETFs.

Take this and leave your opinion.

#Jager let's start a new revolution against the system.