> Except I need an exhange to get the coins and turn the coins into usable currency Not any more than you need a bank to convert your left-over € from your Eur

> Except I need an exhange to get the coins and turn the coins into usable currency Not any more than you need a bank to convert your left-over € from your Europe holiday into US$. You wouldn't need a bank, you could try to look for another person who is about to leave for Europe to trade, just as you can try to look for a person that is willing to trade your BitCoin against whatever else you desire or another crypto (say on localbitcoins.com). Yes, there are marketplaces that bring these traders together, just as there are institutions that specialize in those exchange in larger amounts (for a fee). You also wouldn't need to exchange your gold into US$ with a bank, but some offer this as a service and its easier to find a buyer yourself.