"bitcoin ceo commits suicide"
"canadian bitcoin exchange bankrupted by hackers"
Everyone I know said that bitcoin is unsafe because it is prone to hacking. I tried to explain that only the exchanges are unsafe from hacking but bitcoin is perfectly safe from hacking, but nobody believes me. You have to know that a lot of unsophisticated "investors" are trading bitcoin. Because bitcoin is largely unregulated and free (not completely free, see money laundering laws and tax laws), YOU have to regulate whom you choose to do business with. CAVEAT EMPTOR (buyer beware).
Currently, NO EXCHANGE meets Wall Street's standards for a safe exchange (that's why Wall Street has NOT jumped in yet). Safe exchange rules;
1. company funds are separate from customer's funds. The biggest exchange in the world, that Chinese exchange, is crazy. The funds are deposited into the CEO's PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNT. It's not a matter of if that exchange will fail like Mt Gox, but when.
2. security measures against hacking are audited by an independent cyber security entity. Campbx is audited by an independent security firm. I don't know of any others that are.
3. company is insured against loss. I don't know of any that are.
4. company has financial records that are filed publicly and transparent. None. Nada. Zilch bitcoin companies are transparent.
5. no insider trading nor other unfair trading advantage exists. If you see Mt Gox's graphs, you can see evidence of price fixing. The price changes by stair steps instead of a jagged or smooth line. Also, Camp BX has "dark pools" of orders that you are not allowed to see the size of the orders. Why are YOUR order sizes seen while others' order sizes are NOT seen? If you follow the Winkdex, you can see that there's a price difference that is significantly different across different exchanges. Why are certain exchanges very slow in cashing out your money? For example, CampBx and MtGox both did not allow easy wire transfers out for many customers. Is it because the exchange is engaging in arbitrage but preventing customers from doing so? For example, Mt gox can buy cheap bitcoins on their exchange, then sell at higher prices on other exchanges because the exchange itself can wire funds but by preventing easy withdrawals, mt gox prevents others from taking advantage of this arbitrage opportunity. I am not saying that the exchanges are doing this, but if that's not the case, then how come the price is so different in different exchanges for the SAME commodity? What's up with that Chinese exchange not charging any fees? There's no free lunch, man. So, is the "fee" a hidden one? With a lack of transparency, you'll never know.
Bitcoin is NOT an investment. It is a gamble in the greatest socio-economic techno experiment known to mankind. This may save the western powers when the dollar collapses or if Bitcoin fails, then countries such as China that hoarded gold will be the next superpowers. It is a high stakes gamble cooked up by the NSA for your hearts, minds, and wallets (google SHA-256 and bitcoin). Bitcoin IS a Ponzi scheme, but so is the dollar and all other fiat currencies. The traditional fiat currencies have had a good successful decades long run. How long a run will the new crypto currencies have? It is anybody's guess. The great thing about Bitcoin is that if it succeeds, the gains are so incredible (approx 1000x your bet at $500/btc) that even with a 5% probability of success, you still have a net gain probability due to the stupendous potential reward. 1000x0.05 = 50. In other words, the odds are 50 to 1 IN your favor. Sure, you have a 95% chance of losing all your money, but the money is 50 to 1 IN your favor. There is no better gamble on earth for the gambler before or since in all of human history. I can guarantee you this. To those of you who lost money in Mtgox, remember, you have a 95% probability of losing ALL your money in Bitcoin. Have fun and roll the dice, ladies and gentlemen....
So what you're saying is that bitcoin is going to $500,000 ?