We shouldn't be discouraging people to power down. Being able to earn crypto (=Bitcoin) on Steemit is one of it's best features that could draw in millions of users

I've seen a popular trend for a while now, which is people calling for a stop to Powering Down because that would be better for STEEM. I am wondering if this is really the best approach for Steemit to grow, and would like to make a case for the opposite.

Of course everybody has their own reasons for Powering Up or Powering Down, and for some people Powering Down is frowned upon because they see it as 'selling out' to another cryptocurrency (or worse: FIAT). I think that's totally the wrong approach though, because if we do that we as a community limit ourselves only to people who only love STEEM. But what if you don't care (yet) about STEEM? What if you just want Bitcoin because that's what you heard of in the media?

The main draw for me to initially come to Steemit, was because STEEM was worth Bitcoin (!). I wanted more Bitcoin, but didn't have any more FIAT or didn't want to invest more of it, so I looked for alternatives. That's what initially drew me here: It's a place where I can blog to earn more Bitcoin. Sure, it needs converting through an exchange, but crypto is crypto!

Later on, my attitude started to change. I realized that cashing out is a short term solution, and doesn't really work on Steemit. The more Steem Power you have, the better you'll be able to benefit off of this platform. I adjusted my plans and decided that if I wanted to make some Bitcoin, I was first going to have to make some STEEM. And there and then I was converted into a real Steemian.

Nowadays, I go about it 50/50. I stock up more, but I also spend a few dollars each week to buy some random altcoin that caught my eye. I will probably keep it in such a way that my SP keeps growing and doesn't shrink.

The fact you can sell STEEM for something else is the single best feature of Steemit!

We should advertise broadly that if people want to earn Bitcoin, they can do so on Steemit through STEEM! They'll end up stocking up on SP anyway if they want to be succesful. It's a win-win.

We shouldn't be discouraging people from powering down, when this is in fact what could draw millions and millions of wannabe-investors to Steemit. People who come in for the Bitcoin/crypto they can earn, but end up keeping most of it in Steem Power because that's the only way to make Steemit work!

In my opinion, we shouldn't be STEEM maximalists, but rather see and advertise STEEM as the way to earn any crypto, because STEEM can be converted to any crypto!

Millions upon millions of people who want to buy Bitcoin because of the current hype, but don't because the hurdle is too big, could be drawn to Steemit because Steemit allows them an easy way to get into crypto. They come for the Bitcoin, but stay for the STEEM, is my thinking! It has always surprised me that on other platforms like Reddit, nobody is talking much about Steemit as a way to earn cryptocurrency. I think we should start talking about it and suggesting it there. Mike Novogratz is saying the herd is coming... well, let's direct them this way, shall we?

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