Right, it isn't the number that has value, it's what the number represents. The number of dollars in my bank account represents (in a roundabout way) debt the U

Right, it isn't the number that has value, it's what the number represents. The number of dollars in my bank account represents (in a roundabout way) debt the US government owes me. What does BTC represent? Most generously one could say it represents debts owed by the community, but since each member of the community can choose whether or not to honor that or to what extent it doesn't have any stability.