The main point I was trying to make is that Bitcoin opened up the transfers of money to operators other than banks. Of course this is both useful and scary :-)

The main point I was trying to make is that Bitcoin opened up the transfers of money to operators other than banks. Of course this is both useful and scary :-). For my friend, she has to hope that the service she uses isn't going to turn into another MTGOX. Regulation of financial services == good. Monopolies on financial services == bad. ;-) I'm not privy to her financial transactions, but I believe she holds some BTC for online purchases and transferring money between her and her husband. Clearly the bulk of her money is converted to a fiat currency because that is the most useful at the moment (though I'm willing to bet dollars to doughnuts that the fiat currency she most often chooses is not that of her home country).