Is Tucker Carlson Right? Examining the Connection Between Airline Delays and Bitcoin Prices

The Curious Case of Airline Delays and Bitcoin

In a recent episode of Tucker Carlson Tonight, the host proposed a theory that airline delays in the U.S. and Canada were somehow linked to a surge in Bitcoin prices. You know, just your average Tuesday in the world of cable news! Carlson suggested that the computer outage that grounded thousands of flights could have been the result of a ransomware attack, leading to a government Bitcoin buying spree. Is it just me, or is this beginning to sound like a plot in a quirky film starring Nicolas Cage?

Tucker’s Evidence: A Coincidence or Conspiracy?

During his segment on January 17, Carlson pointed out that the price of Bitcoin rose over 20% following the travel chaos. He argued, “Almost all ransoms are paid in Bitcoin. So if the U.S. government was in the market buying Bitcoin to pay a ransom, it would naturally cause a price surge!” But let’s pause for a moment. Coincidence? Or just a really weird correlation? The Internet is filled with naive connections like those, from full moons to lost socks.

Crypto Community Responds: Not So Fast, Tucker!

While Carlson’s fans may have lapped up the drama, crypto enthusiasts were less than impressed. Nick Almond, the founder of FactoryDAO, dismissed the theory, dubbing it “maximum tin foil”—that’s a bold claim. Adam Back, the CEO of Blockstream, joined the disdain parade, stating with sarcasm, “is that a coincidence? Yes, it is a coincidence. Lols.” It’s always fun to see the crypto community unleash their inner Sherlock when faced with conspiracy theories!

Rebutting the Ransom Theory

Critics on social media fired off several arguments against Tucker’s theory. For starters, the U.S. government already has a stash of confiscated Bitcoin, and if it wanted to buy more, it would probably do so behind closed doors—think of it as the government’s not-so-secret Bitcoin stash! Moreover, Bitcoin is traceable, which makes it less ideal for clandestine ransom payments. Why not just use Monero, a privacy-focused cryptocurrency? Seems like a no-brainer, right?

The Real Culprit: A Database Error?

Let’s not forget that this chaotic day in air travel was caused by a “damaged database file” in the FAA’s Notice to Air Mission system, according to the agency. So, despite all the conspiracy theories fluttering around, it seems our friend, the database, was simply having a bad day. Sometimes, it’s not a grand conspiracy; it’s just things that fail at the most inconvenient times!

In conclusion, as entertaining as it is to dive into Tucker Carlson’s theories, perhaps we should keep our feet on the ground—and not just because of the grounded flights!