Just my thoughts:
7/13/2007 Blackberry stock was @ $230.52 and today is @ $10.56
3/3/2000 Sony stock was @ $149.71 and today is @ $17.24
12/29/2006 Citi stock was @ $557 and today is @ $48.68
Point being, regardless of the investment vehicle, they ALL inherently have risk built in to the equation.
Bitcoin, and bitcoins, were presented as a PROJECT and EXPERIMENT, and the hype of the media and the anticipation of capital gains from the average Joe sent the phenomenon to amazing heights within the past twelve months. However, regardless of the percentage of loss in terms of dollars and cents, the technology as a protocol and blockchain are simply revolutionary and packed with potential. At this point, that is an undeniable fact.
I can send $1 million dollars from NYC to Dubai on a Sunday at 3:33am - without anyones permission - for pennies.
Fact.
And until that opportunity (phenomenon) evaporates, Bitcoin will in mind at least, be the most significant development in Fin/Tech in my lifetime.
In addition, it's absolutely sickening that the poorest populations of the world who rely on remittances are pickled into outrageous fees of 10%, 20% or 30% of the total funds sent. People in African countries are paying for products and services with cell phone minutes and large sacks of peanuts. If I could fund the project I would turn "Africa Bitcoin" in to a one-stop-shop for the people of Africa and to better serve the multi-billion dollar market.
THINK. GLOBAL.
Owning "bitcoins" is not about you making a return on your investment to pay for your new 55" LED-TV or family vacation.
Bitcoin is about changing the way the world comprehends "money".
There needs to be, and will be, advances in security, software, hardware, as well as other merchant and public-facing products and services that will enable the masses to understand first, then, participate in the Bitcoin economy.
Obviously, no one should have invested more than they can afford to lose. That would be simply irresponsible and foolish.
Would you put your life savings in the stock market or FOREX? Hopefully, the answer is no.
I personally believe it will take a few years to iron out all of the kinks within the virtual/digital/crypto currency world. It would've been extremely naive to suggest Bitcoin would "take over the world" without adversity. That being said, Bitcoin has proven EXTREMELY resilient in the past and I expect it to bounce back once again.
If the U.S. Government can seize $100,000,000+ from the Silk Road drama, countless thefts from unprotected Bitcoin Wallets and Exchanges, the governments of Thailand and Russia (and surely more to follow), can make Bitcoin illegal within their countries, it can work through the Senate and NY - DOFS hearings, and now the original Bitcoin Exchange appears to the naked eye to be corrupt, or at least bankrupt, then I'd say Bitcoin has a pretty good shot at sticking around for 2015.
I personally wouldn't bet the farm on Bitcoin.
However, I surely wouldn't bet the farm against the global Bitcoin army of genius hackers and savvy investors either.
At the end of the day, the world will be a better place if people have the ability, the option, to control their assets. The human beings in Zimbabwe, Argentina, Cyprus, and China are quietly calling out for a healthy and safe solution to the corruption and legacy fiat-currency that is nothing short of crippling to them as a people, and as a nation.
Is Bitcoin the ultimate solution?
Only time will tell.
However, while the greedy and negative, mostly uneducated masses had tunnel vision, here are a few things going on behind the scenes.
Remember the sale of BitcoinWallet(.com) for $250,000...? LoL. Just wait until you see what they have in store.
I'm sure you've heard of LocalBitcoins(.com). They have been very strategically (and very quietly) growing their digital portfolio for the future. Some of their domain assets have been hand-registrations ($8.67) while others have been high-end premium acquisitions within the domain aftermarket. In sum, there have been hundreds of sales within this industry and has surpassed the $500,000 marker.
Examples of assets acquired by LocalBitcoins(.com):
BitcoinHedgeFund(.com), BitcoinInvestmentFund(.com), LitecoinWallet(.com), XBTforex(.com), BitcoinPassport(.com), BitcoinVC(.com), BitcoinGiftCards(.com), BitcoinMarketing(.com), BitcoinMarket(.com), and many more.
Have you heard of LIVE newly developed websites:
CoinSeed(.com), BitcoinAds(.com), BuyBitcoins(.com), BitconATM(.com), HaveLockInvestments(.com), BtcJam(.com), or SecretBitcoinProject(.com)...?
More random notes:
BitcoinAttorneys(.com) 301-redirects to RippleHedgeFund(.com).
Another west coast Law Firm owns DenverBitcoinATM(.com) and PhoenixBitcoinATM(.com).
BitcoinPoker(.com) and BitcoinExpert(.com) among many others are owned by Seals With Clubs.
Just recently, MtGox(.com) in a very interesting move considering the issues, acquired GOX(.com) for an undisclosed sum that I can guarantee you was five-figures, more than likely, six-figures.
SecondMarket to open a Bitcoin Currency Exchange in the USA...?
The Winklevoss Twins open WinkDex.com.
Lou Kerner launches his "Disruptive (Bitcoin) Technology Conference Calls".
The rumor mill suggests that BitcoinStore(.com) is growing and we now have the first publicly-traded Bitcoin company; BitcoinShop (TUCND).
Then of course there is the currencyevolution(.com)/assets/ portfolio which is growing daily.
I predicted you would see more than 250 ATM sales within the calendar year of 2014 and we've already passed that marker before March 1st.
Now, a bit more interesting perhaps, the USPTO(.gov) - TESS Federal Trademark Database.
You don't think Bitcoin is growing, even through the adversity...?
When I first scanned this database there were 4 applications. Today, there are 32 applications.
Did you know that TIGER DIRECT has the application for "BITCOIN MINING"...?
I could go on and on and on about the potential of Bitcoin with applications all around the planet Earth with an educated and research-based spin. However, my goal today was NOT to influence anyone to invest in Bitcoin, but rather a friendly "heads up" to those with an existing interest in the space. Knowledge is Power.
So, while the Huffington Post just publishes another article "This could be the end of the line for Bitcoin", I respectfully disagree. While we could see price fall below $300 in the future, that does not equate to a flatline, death. Until then, until ZERO across the boards, the educated translation is "growing pains", at least in my opinion. But who the hell am I...?
Twitter @NeverLoseVision
Enjoy.