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Cryptocurrencies don't make any sense unless they're decentralized and not controlled by governments. That's where the value is. Bitcoin has value because it ca
by snitko 9y ago
Cryptocurrencies don't make any sense unless they're decentralized and not controlled by governments. That's where the value is. Bitcoin has value because it cannot be controlled, printed (inflated) or easily confiscated. It gives financial sovereignty and freedom.
But, it's not for everyone. You obviously believe that governments need to control finances. That's fine. I think most people don't want freedom. But there's certainly SOME percentage of the population that really want and value freedom. That's why Bitcoin has and will continue to have value.
- nopinsight 9y agoDevil’s advocate: Financial freedom requires freedom from forceful confiscation. Thus, without a military backing of some sort, perhaps by the sovereign nation state the crypto’s owner resides in, cryptocurrencies will always be vulnerable to real-world regulations and bans.
- snitko 9y agoForceful confiscation is pricey if you don't know whom to confiscate it from and how. A person may not have bitcoins. Or he might have it stored securely in another country to which he doesn't have immediate access. Those who have a lot already prepared themselves accordingly. And confiscating a little from many people is really pricey.
- nopinsight 9y agoI agree that confiscation requires knowledge on who the owners are and rough amounts they own. With that knowledge, physical threats to demand exchanging cryptos for safety or freedom could be used quite efficiently depending on the laws and customs of each country. The fact that the assets may not be easily traceable make them a more lucrative target for criminals to use unlawful threats against innocent owners as well.
- wyldfire 9y agoConfiscation is, as you've identified, fruitless. Only governments without level-headed leaders will try. Global regulation remains a risk for cryptocoins. If the only remaining utility is the black/grey market, cryptocoins become much less valuable and will end up losing a lot of interest.
- hux_ 9y ago> don't make any sense unless they're decentralized Things that make sense decentralised to service freedom have a track record of becoming centralised to service convenience. Source: The Master Switch by Tim Wu.
- HarryHirsch 9y agoCryptocurrencies don't make any sense unless they're decentralized and not controlled by governments You can seat the people representing 90 % of hashing power on a stage: https://twitter.com/lopp/status/673398201307664384 https://twitter.com/lopp/status/673398201307664384 That's decentralization now?!
- tfha 9y agoThere's a meme that hashing power is equal to control, but the truth is that having a hashrate majority gives you a pretty limited set of powers, and if you abuse them you will see people flee to other cryptocurrencies or systems.