It would take an internet apocalypse to stop Bitcoin
Imagine a world where Internet connections collapse one after another. In this chaos, a study by the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance shows that Bitcoin would stand firm even if 72% of submarine cables were to break. How is this possible?
In brief
- Bitcoin would withstand a failure of 72% of submarine cables, proving exceptional resilience to internet disruptions.
- Thanks to its decentralization, 64% of Bitcoin nodes are invisible and protected, limiting the impact of targeted attacks or massive failures.
- Cable failures neither affect the stability nor the price of bitcoin, with a near-zero correlation, strengthening its credibility.
72% of submarine cables down? No reason to worry about Bitcoin
Researchers Wenbin Wu and Alexander Neumueller analyzed 68 historical submarine cable outage events. Their conclusion is clear: 72% to 92% of these infrastructures would need to fail to significantly disrupt the Bitcoin network. A threshold well beyond usual catastrophic scenarios.
This resilience is explained by the network’s decentralization. Unlike traditional banking systems, Bitcoin doesn’t depend on a central point. Indeed, each network node acts as an independent guardian, able to maintain transactions even during major disruptions.
An architecture that reassures investors seeking stability and the data speaks for itself. 87% of past outages had an impact of less than 5% on Bitcoin nodes. Further proof that the crypto queen is designed to withstand digital storms.
Why internet outages do not affect the price of bitcoin
Contrary to expectations, submarine cable outages have almost no impact on BTC’s price. The researchers calculated a correlation coefficient of -0.02, proving there is no link between these events and bitcoin fluctuations. An independence explained by the decentralized nature of the blockchain.
Moreover, compensation mechanisms built into the network automatically redirect transactions to operational nodes. Thus, even in the event of a major disruption, the market remains stable. A feature that reassures and strengthens bitcoin’s credibility as a safe haven asset.
However, despite its robustness, Bitcoin is not completely immune. Indeed, targeted attacks on “chokepoints” (submarine cable concentration points) could theoretically threaten the network. Researchers estimate a critical failure threshold of 0.05 to 0.20 would be enough to cause localized disruptions.
Bitcoin proves once again that it is much more than just a crypto: it is an infrastructure designed to withstand the worst crises. With 72% of submarine cables needing to fail to impact it, BTC positions itself as a must-have asset for investors seeking stability.
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The world is evolving and adaptation is the best weapon to survive in this undulating universe. Originally a crypto community manager, I am interested in anything that is directly or indirectly related to blockchain and its derivatives. To share my experience and promote a field that I am passionate about, nothing is better than writing informative and relaxed articles.
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.