That's a large part of my view on it. Even if no one "believes" in it, and the value essentially freefalls, BTC or something like it is still useful as a short

That's a large part of my view on it. Even if no one "believes" in it, and the value essentially freefalls, BTC or something like it is still useful as a short term settlement device in lieu of taking suitcases of cash over a border or similar. You buy the token, send it to someone, they cash it out. People on each side (maybe the same person!) take a cut.