Appreciate you taking the time to share these thoughts, especially as I don't have any biz experience from the dot com bubble times, so it's interesting to get

Appreciate you taking the time to share these thoughts, especially as I don't have any biz experience from the dot com bubble times, so it's interesting to get that perspective. I see cryptocurrencies as an offshoot of people misunderstanding what a blockchain can/can't do, and those seeking to profit from this misunderstanding. I see the blockchain as a new way to structure data, e.g. a new type of database. It can be used to create a ledger/method of exchange within a financial system, but to me the underlying technology is not financial in nature, it's just a new way to structure and store data. The way the blockchain is implemented in Bitcoin is ideal for a decentralized financial system, but to me it is much less efficient than a system relying on a trusted 3rd party for accounting/balancing ledgers. This is the fundamental tradeoff - efficiency/trust. Among myself/my friends, I don't see anyone desperate for an alternative to the mainstream system, I actually see good progress in fintech companies such as Venmo/TransferWise/Monzo etc. that are getting bought up by the bigger banks/payments providers. But if I was trying to move more money across stricter borders, I could see the desire for new financial products/systems (legality aside). I'll check back in with you in a year to see what's up ;)