Block Bitcoin Product Lead Says Bitcoin Must Work as Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash

Speaking on stage at Bitcoin 2026, Block’s Bitcoin product lead Miles Suter said Bitcoin needs real-world spending utility, not just corporate or investor balance-sheet adoption.

BTC

Summary

Miles Suter, Bitcoin product lead at Block, said during an on-stage appearance at Bitcoin 2026 that Bitcoin’s long-term value depends on functioning as peer-to-peer electronic cash. He argued that if Bitcoin remains primarily an asset held on balance sheets rather than used in transactions, it risks losing the defining quality that makes it transformational. The remarks highlight a long-running debate in the crypto industry over Bitcoin’s role as a payments network versus a store-of-value asset.

Terms & Concepts
  • Peer-to-peer electronic cash: A payment model that lets users send money directly to one another without relying on traditional financial intermediaries such as banks.
  • Bitcoin: A decentralized digital currency that operates on a blockchain (shared digital ledger) and is designed to enable direct value transfer between users.
  • Balance sheets: Corporate or institutional financial statements that record assets, liabilities, and equity, including holdings such as Bitcoin.