Just to be clear though, there is not a whole lot of places you can transact from Bitcoin to goods and services. Those that do accept it, pin it to the usd… so Bitcoin is only used as an exchange of value for USD. That is still zero sum. $1 in $1 out

You are correct mining is at least surface level not zero sum. If you apply the assumption that the energy, computing equipment and time were worth less than the resulting btc. But given the fact it has no intrinsic value… is only valuable in exchanging between fiats… I don’t think those assumptions hold.