Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley isn’t shy about why Bitcoin matters, especially now with Iran’s currency crisis getting worse by the day. The Iranian rial keeps sliding, hammered by inflation, sanctions, and a public that’s just done trusting the old money system. Horsley says this is exactly the kind of moment that shows why decentralized money isn’t just a tech fad it’s a lifeline.

He points out that currency collapses never happen in a flash. They’re slow-motion disasters. You get years of rising prices, strict controls on moving your own money, and the world’s doors slowly closing. That’s Iran right now. People watch their paychecks buy less every week, and the usual safe havens just aren’t there. When it gets this bad, Bitcoin stops looking like some wild bet and starts to feel like the only real financial network left.

Horsley’s big point? The real magic of Bitcoin shows up when regular money just stops working. You can’t shut it down at the border, no central bank can print it into oblivion, and it’s still there even when the banks lock you out. Sure, Bitcoin swings wildly if you’re thinking in dollars, but if your own currency keeps crashing, that risk feels pretty small compared to losing everything.

He also warns that Iran isn’t alone. When one country’s money cracks, it’s usually a sign that others are feeling the strain too especially in places weighed down by debt and shaky politics. It’s a release valve, a way out of the system for people who have nowhere else to turn.

For Horsley, the message is clear: Bitcoin isn’t just about getting rich. In a lot of the world, it’s about surviving, holding onto control, and having a choice when the money you grew up with starts to fail you.