13 March 2022
A lot has been written and spoken about Bitcoin. If you are interested in Bitcoin at all, you have probably read or heard something about it, so this article will focus on its astrological makeup. Astrology looks at the inherent nature with which a person, organization, entity, or event is born – and then what forces act on it and how it may evolve over time. In this case our subject is Bitcoin itself.
We take Bitcoin’s birth as being 31 October 2008, in New York City at 2:10 pm. This is based on the time and place stamp of the initial email that apocryphal Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto sent, containing his White Paper which introduced his new cryptocurrency to the world.
Bitcoin’s chart is striking in several ways. What jumps out immediately is the Kal-Sarpa yoga formed as Rahu the head of the mystical serpent leads all planets in Bitcoin’s zodiac and devours them all through retrograde motion until it eats its own tail Ketu. No planets are left outside of this half of the zodiac. Any time this arrangement occurs in a chart we must look to the root of karmic law. Our own actions with respect to the lunar nodes speaks to direct reward and punishment from the cosmic source; either we align on the side of “good” and “right” or we pay the price.
Rahu in the 1st house of Capricorn speaks to a need to exert one’s own individuality in the material realm, of a need to be self-reliant and carve out its own destiny. South node Ketu in Cancer in the 7th house of relationship on the other hand speaks to having to get over an acquisitive and selfish bent and learn to also nurture others. Relying too much on the old system isn’t the way forward. Taking this in the context of Bitcoin, we see a new monetary system trying to replace an old one, an old one where money has become used pathologically to accumulate wealth to the detriment of a more far-reaching usefulness and concreteness in society – which is Bitcoin’s professed mission, aptly manifesting through its Ascendant Capricorn. Ketu in Cancer can be an unreliable (or at least unusual) nurturer; its ruler, the Moon, in deeply challenging Scorpio in the 11th sign makes possible a sometimes bumpy and uncomfortable ride, and potentially unexpectedly rewarding outcomes. The Moon also finds itself falling actually in the 10th house, turbo-charged by a Mars just past the midheaven, and bent on making a known and lasting impact. Saturn, the ruler of Capricorn and Bitcoin’s chart as a whole, finds itself with a not-too-dissimilar backdrop, in the depths of the 8th house in Leo, where it sticks itself firmly in hidden matters, focused (one might daresay obsessed) with making a regal presence of itself.
With Kal-Sarpa yoga, anything can happen. Unlike other arrangements, there is no counterbalancing planetary force(s) to give relief from this ultra-karmic hold of the nodes. The nodes are the karmic axis, which show us the deepest lessons we have been given to learn. There is thus much for Bitcoin to accomplish in its life, no distractions if those lessons are to be learned.
Besides the social mission Bitcoin espouses to right the wrongs of the current financial paradigm, there is the more individual human tendency toward self-preservation that plays in the hearts of probably every Bitcoin enthusiast – ie how to make more money. These two seemingly opposite tendencies – self-preservation versus altruistic mutual aid – can exist together, but they don’t have to. And if history is any indicator, they might not, even if Bitcoin ends up becoming the “new gold standard.” Bitcoin’s chart shows forces in both directions.
The possibility for a positive outcome all around does exist, however. Venus, significator of material wealth and comfort, and the chart’s yogakaraka (ruler of the benefic 5th and powerful 10th houses) falls in the 11th, a recipe for windfalls. Mercury and the Sun combine in the fortunate 9th house, conditions that can bode for clear communication (Mercury) on grounded matters (Mercury in Virgo) and a sense of justice for those whom embrace Bitcoin (Sun in Libra). Libra (the scales) is a sign of justice, while Jupiter in Sagittarius reinforces Bitcoin’s sense of righteousness. Sagittarius and Jupiter are the 12th house however, which tells us that we must remain vigilant and not simply expect that all automatically will go well without our due attention; Jupiter in the 12th could spell carelessness and material loss.
Next, a few words about some aspects in the chart: Saturn in the 8th in Leo loosely aspecting the Sun (10-degree orb) could can be a cause for some backfiring – too much pride in itself can lead to misfortune. The active Mars also aspecting the 1st house and its occupants (Rahu in particular) from the 10th house means going ahead and consequences be damned, for better or worse. Jupiter closely aspecting Saturn could ameliorate Saturn’s dark side – or it could use its own carelessness to redouble the potential for loss!
The bottom line on Bitcoin: it’s a wildcard. Know when to get in and when to get out. To do that, know your own chart – the planetary dispositions in the natal and annual horoscope, the timing of the planetary cycles, and the heavenly transits. And watch Bitcoin’s own inner planetary cycle along with the heavenly transits. As with all of my summary readings on these pages, please understand that what is here is a partial snapshot; more can be said. If you are curious, feel free to contact me.