The future is Bitcoin

South Park, an animated television series that frequently tackles current events with a comedic twist, depicted Bitcoin as a mainstream payment method in the not-too-distant future.

South Park depicted one of the show’s protagonists, Stan Marsh, paying for a stay in a cheap motel using Bitcoin roughly 40 years ago when the pandemic was jokingly about to end for good. This is a future where nearly every brand name includes the words plus or Maxx. The fictional Super 12 Motel Plus only accepts Bitcoin and another cryptocurrency.

Though references to cryptocurrency and blockchain are now fairly common in mainstream media, this was not always the case. 

Bitcoin overtakes Paypal

As early as 2026 or as late as 2060, the Bitcoin network may match the dollar value transferred on Mastercard’s network. Regarding dollar volume, the Bitcoin network already processes more volume than Paypal. The most prominent decentralized cryptocurrency network in the world in terms of the market cap could overtake Mastercard as early as 2026. Three factors could propel the Bitcoin network to the level of the two credit card behemoths in terms of total volume processed. These are the total number of transactions, the average amount of Bitcoin sent per transaction, and the Bitcoin price increase.

The total number of transactions is the most variable-dependent factor. Suppose Bitcoin increased its value transferred per transaction by 260 percent today. In that case, it would be processing an equivalent volume to Mastercard daily. The trend may change in the future. However, in the current book, a price increase to $245,000 would bring Bitcoin on par with Mastercard. According to some analysts, this price action is more likely than an increase in volume.

Block data concludes that the Bitcoin price is unlikely to rise to the level required to match Mastercard. Using the current growth rate in 2021 as a guideline, it could happen as early as 2026.