The last bitcoin will be mined in 2140 or so, we won't live to see it happen and the world will be so different then I doubt we will even have a monetary system at all. At least not something that resembles anything we have now. Bitcoin will be long gone before that time, a currency's timespan is no longer than 40-50 years if you look at history. No reason to think it will be any different this time.
It may well be so as you picture it, but actually that was not my point... Some people here (and there) draw bright prospects for Bitcoin when and if it becomes a legal tender or a means of exchange. So I was trying to give some cogent reasons why this is not going to happen at all (as opposed to "just not any time soon")...
True. and the fact that the banks and every other "expert" in financial publications is trying to convince people that Bitcoin is "bad" risk and "you will never see your money again". Or that bitcoin is only used by criminals ( like an article in the financial times that hinted on that which I find poor taste.). The same arguments can be implemented when discussing the use of physical monetary systems. up to 90% of the US bills have cocaine and/or other drugs on them.
It can also be argued that because the banks and their efficiant lobby system is creating such a fuss about crypto currencies is that they are feeling threatened by it. Why? because they can't control or skim of some of the daily earnings. SO there is no money in it for the banks(or they just need to buy bitcoins and start trading like everybody else
). Now IF a bank came up with the idea of crypto currency and worked it out it would be heralded in the media as the "new holy grail" of doing business etc.
So if the governments accept bitcoin as a "legal currency" there will be a huge set of restrictions and the whole tshebeng will under the supervision and control of the banks or bank related institutions. That way they can take their part of the daily trade in bitcoin and other crypto currencies.
If the governments don't accept it well it can go different ways. If a government, say the US, finds or fabricates "evidence" that some terrorist douchbags are using bitcoins or other currencies they could confiscate every single bitcoin from its citizens. It can and it will see the amendments to the constitution and even that isn't necessary. Just blame it on the NSA or CIA or FBI and when public opinion is running against the ruling elite just fire the top dog of those institutions, use the media to smear it out and focus on the "new CIA, NSA, FBI or whatever organisation
It may be far fetched for some but Ive been around a while and seen a lot of this backstabbing, double standards, back alley trading, and manipulative behavior that it wouldn't surprise me when it happens.