Bitcoin started as digital gold, but it is now seen as infrastructure for financial tools. Yet, using it beyond holding often requires bridging to other chains, incurring what’s called the Bridge Tax. Since 2024, bridge-related exploits have caused $108 million in losses. These aren’t isolated events; they result from design choices that move security away from Bitcoin’s native consensus. Institutions face a dilemma: keep BTC idle and secure, or expose it to external risks to generate yield. The current path forces a tradeoff between utility and sovereignty. This pattern raises a clear question about better approaches. A thread 🧵 ↡ @tachi_btc