The difference is this: * "Plain old banks" might have more power over money creation (i.e. unlike Bitcoin, money creation technically has no fixed limit). But

The difference is this: * "Plain old banks" might have more power over money creation (i.e. unlike Bitcoin, money creation technically has no fixed limit). But they are severely restricted (by regulations and restrictions) from using that power in a too bad way. * Bitcoin miners have less power over this, but can wield it without restriction as without their power hungry ASIC rigs, Bitcoin will stop working for all practical intents and purposes.