A pyramid scheme implies there's future payments to be expected if one were to aggressively recruit people into the scheme. A Ponzi scheme implies there's a cen

A pyramid scheme implies there's future payments to be expected if one were to aggressively recruit people into the scheme. A Ponzi scheme implies there's a central orchestrator extracting value out of the scheme and keeping it functioning just well enough to maximize personal profits before it all crumbles down. There's no such central authority with Bitcoin and there aren't further expectations of payment either- value fluctuates but you're always going to have the same amount of coin unless you personally do anything about it. If Bitcoin is a pyramid scheme, then every penny stock is also a pyramid scheme. I do wish these kind of posts that appeal to the lowest common denominator were less prevalent on Hacker News, as they're particularly found whenever there are big price swings so it's nakedly obvious what they're truly about.