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Topic: Bitcoin's dependence on state backed currencies is its undoing (Read 806 times)

sr. member
Activity: 336
Merit: 250
It's no small irony that a community so disparaging of existing currencies (particularly the USD) have made an idol of something which absolutely depends on them. From miners selling their coins to cover costs, to the ridiculous conceit  which sees people buy Bitcoins with dollars and then pay for goods via BitPay to a merchant who is then paid in dollars.

Bitcoin has an identity crisis; it's the post fiat currency which is entirely dependent on fiat currency. It seems people are beginning to realise that their digital magic beans aren't going to usher in the brave new world they had hoped for.

Thinking realistically, I'm not sure what you expect.

This is one of many "chicken-and-egg" problems that BTC faces, and we've seen progress with respect to virtually all of them.  Other chicken-and-egg problems included the very first documented transaction (i.e. two pizzas for 10,000 BTC). merchant adoption prior to a solid user base, etc.  The chicken-and-egg problem you're describing is how to establish consensus of value of a distributed currency, and for that we need something to compare its value to (e.g. fiat currency).

You state, "It seems people are beginning to realize that their digital magic beans aren't going to usher in the blah blah blah."  I would say, "It seems some people haven't seriously considered the logistics of building a market around a new type of currency."

I think that if humanity had the wisdom to figure out how to build an economy for a decentralized currency without pegging it to fiat, we would have the wisdom to construct a functioning economy in the total absence of money, and we wouldn't need BTC.  The general idea behind BTC is to create a currency that essentially forces people to be fair and play nice.  Or, phrased another way, the idea is create a currency that prevents corruption and manipulation and/or makes such attempts transparent.


Not doing so well on the preventing corruption front is it.

I disagree.  The corrupt will always explore the boundaries of principle to find any holes in the fence, but if there are fewer holes then the corrupt have no choice but to play by the rules.

For example, I don't see anyone inflating BTC all willy-nilly.  Do you?


Yup

https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/CVE-2010-5139
sr. member
Activity: 316
Merit: 250


haha I like you

....and this is NOT a bitcoin chart; EUR scamcoin lost 30% against CHF scamcoin. All scamcoins will approach inner value sooner or later.

At this rate tourists will be paying 100 euros for three ice creams.
sr. member
Activity: 350
Merit: 250
Honest 80s business!
Interestingly they just seemed to have achieved parity! This makes it easier for people to transfer their EUR to a Swiss bank account when they're evading taxes  Tongue
legendary
Activity: 1372
Merit: 1014


haha I like you

....and this is NOT a bitcoin chart; EUR scamcoin lost 30% against CHF scamcoin. All scamcoins will approach inner value sooner or later.
full member
Activity: 420
Merit: 117
It's no small irony that a community so disparaging of existing currencies (particularly the USD) have made an idol of something which absolutely depends on them. From miners selling their coins to cover costs, to the ridiculous conceit  which sees people buy Bitcoins with dollars and then pay for goods via BitPay to a merchant who is then paid in dollars.

Bitcoin has an identity crisis; it's the post fiat currency which is entirely dependent on fiat currency. It seems people are beginning to realise that their digital magic beans aren't going to usher in the brave new world they had hoped for.

Give it time my friend. Give it time. All will be well in years to come.
sr. member
Activity: 350
Merit: 250
Honest 80s business!
Just like we went down now, we may rise to the moon within a very small time frame. A very sharp movement, just like the Swiss Franc did now... It's very interesting to see stuff like that happen in the FIAT world, as well... That's new to me Cheesy
legendary
Activity: 1834
Merit: 1020
It's no small irony that a community so disparaging of existing currencies (particularly the USD) have made an idol of something which absolutely depends on them. From miners selling their coins to cover costs, to the ridiculous conceit  which sees people buy Bitcoins with dollars and then pay for goods via BitPay to a merchant who is then paid in dollars.

Bitcoin has an identity crisis; it's the post fiat currency which is entirely dependent on fiat currency. It seems people are beginning to realise that their digital magic beans aren't going to usher in the brave new world they had hoped for.

Thinking realistically, I'm not sure what you expect.

This is one of many "chicken-and-egg" problems that BTC faces, and we've seen progress with respect to virtually all of them.  Other chicken-and-egg problems included the very first documented transaction (i.e. two pizzas for 10,000 BTC). merchant adoption prior to a solid user base, etc.  The chicken-and-egg problem you're describing is how to establish consensus of value of a distributed currency, and for that we need something to compare its value to (e.g. fiat currency).

You state, "It seems people are beginning to realize that their digital magic beans aren't going to usher in the blah blah blah."  I would say, "It seems some people haven't seriously considered the logistics of building a market around a new type of currency."

I think that if humanity had the wisdom to figure out how to build an economy for a decentralized currency without pegging it to fiat, we would have the wisdom to construct a functioning economy in the total absence of money, and we wouldn't need BTC.  The general idea behind BTC is to create a currency that essentially forces people to be fair and play nice.  Or, phrased another way, the idea is create a currency that prevents corruption and manipulation and/or makes such attempts transparent.


Not doing so well on the preventing corruption front is it.

I disagree.  The corrupt will always explore the boundaries of principle to find any holes in the fence, but if there are fewer holes then the corrupt have no choice but to play by the rules.

For example, I don't see anyone inflating BTC all willy-nilly.  Do you?
legendary
Activity: 2576
Merit: 1087
This is transition, it will take years and all the while speculation will grind thus market up and down like a horror show (imho)
sr. member
Activity: 336
Merit: 250
It's no small irony that a community so disparaging of existing currencies (particularly the USD) have made an idol of something which absolutely depends on them. From miners selling their coins to cover costs, to the ridiculous conceit  which sees people buy Bitcoins with dollars and then pay for goods via BitPay to a merchant who is then paid in dollars.

Bitcoin has an identity crisis; it's the post fiat currency which is entirely dependent on fiat currency. It seems people are beginning to realise that their digital magic beans aren't going to usher in the brave new world they had hoped for.

Thinking realistically, I'm not sure what you expect.

This is one of many "chicken-and-egg" problems that BTC faces, and we've seen progress with respect to virtually all of them.  Other chicken-and-egg problems included the very first documented transaction (i.e. two pizzas for 10,000 BTC). merchant adoption prior to a solid user base, etc.  The chicken-and-egg problem you're describing is how to establish consensus of value of a distributed currency, and for that we need something to compare its value to (e.g. fiat currency).

You state, "It seems people are beginning to realize that their digital magic beans aren't going to usher in the blah blah blah."  I would say, "It seems some people haven't seriously considered the logistics of building a market around a new type of currency."

I think that if humanity had the wisdom to figure out how to build an economy for a decentralized currency without pegging it to fiat, we would have the wisdom to construct a functioning economy in the total absence of money, and we wouldn't need BTC.  The general idea behind BTC is to create a currency that essentially forces people to be fair and play nice.  Or, phrased another way, the idea is create a currency that prevents corruption and manipulation and/or makes such attempts transparent.


Not doing so well on the preventing corruption front is it.
legendary
Activity: 1834
Merit: 1020
It's no small irony that a community so disparaging of existing currencies (particularly the USD) have made an idol of something which absolutely depends on them. From miners selling their coins to cover costs, to the ridiculous conceit  which sees people buy Bitcoins with dollars and then pay for goods via BitPay to a merchant who is then paid in dollars.

Bitcoin has an identity crisis; it's the post fiat currency which is entirely dependent on fiat currency. It seems people are beginning to realise that their digital magic beans aren't going to usher in the brave new world they had hoped for.

Thinking realistically, I'm not sure what you expect.

This is one of many "chicken-and-egg" problems that BTC faces, and we've seen progress with respect to virtually all of them.  Other chicken-and-egg problems included the very first documented transaction (i.e. two pizzas for 10,000 BTC). merchant adoption prior to a solid user base, etc.  The chicken-and-egg problem you're describing is how to establish consensus of value of a distributed currency, and for that we need something to compare its value to (e.g. fiat currency).

You state, "It seems people are beginning to realize that their digital magic beans aren't going to usher in the blah blah blah."  I would say, "It seems some people haven't seriously considered the logistics of building a market around a new type of currency."

I think that if humanity had the wisdom to figure out how to build an economy for a decentralized currency without pegging it to fiat, we would have the wisdom to construct a functioning economy in the total absence of money, and we wouldn't need BTC.  The general idea behind BTC is to create a currency that essentially forces people to be fair and play nice.  Or, phrased another way, the idea is create a currency that prevents corruption and manipulation and/or makes such attempts transparent.
member
Activity: 106
Merit: 10
hero member
Activity: 728
Merit: 500
member
Activity: 106
Merit: 10
I poop into the toilet since I am 2 years old. Most of the time it works just fine, why should I stop doing it now?

Old habits die hard, my friend

Would it be indelicate of me to inquire as to what happens when it does not work fine?

in the forums it might be reffered to as a "flash dump"
sr. member
Activity: 336
Merit: 250
I poop into the toilet since I am 2 years old. Most of the time it works just fine, why should I stop doing it now?

Old habits die hard, my friend

Would it be indelicate of me to inquire as to what happens when it does not work fine?
legendary
Activity: 980
Merit: 1004
At least with bitcoin we know the inflation schedule. With fiat currencies we don't know how many trillions more they will print and give to their cronies.
member
Activity: 106
Merit: 10
I poop into the toilet since I am 2 years old. Most of the time it works just fine, why should I stop doing it now?

Old habits die hard, my friend
sr. member
Activity: 336
Merit: 250
It's no small irony that a community so disparaging of existing currencies (particularly the USD) have made an idol of something which absolutely depends on them. From miners selling their coins to cover costs, to the ridiculous conceit  which sees people buy Bitcoins with dollars and then pay for goods via BitPay to a merchant who is then paid in dollars.

Bitcoin has an identity crisis; it's the post fiat currency which is entirely dependent on fiat currency. It seems people are beginning to realise that their digital magic beans aren't going to usher in the brave new world they had hoped for.
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