> Given the choice between two kinds of arbitrary, intrinsically valueless currency, I'll take the one whose supply we have far more control over. * Who is thi

> Given the choice between two kinds of arbitrary, intrinsically valueless currency, I'll take the one whose supply we have far more control over. * Who is this "we" you are referring to? You seem to be implying that the people have some control over the currency when the reality is that the Federal Reserve and in fact all centralized currencies are incredibly corrupt and machined and manipulated for very powerful people. When interest rates are manipulated or certain banks get access to loans and getting money and bailouts through these central banks, that's so obviously not for the people. Gold can't be manipulated in this way, but paper can. That's why the government loves its paper. It can pay for wars and anything it wants through inflation instead of raising taxes. But the end result of wealth getting sucked out of peoples' hands is the same. * For the record, everything is intrinsically and inherently valueless. You can't use a microscope to examine any type of object and find a tiny particle called "value". All value people place on everything in an economy is subjective in nature, whether its gold or paper or corn or milk or iron or wood. Your argument here for gold being valueless doesn't make a point because that's inherent in anything and everything. * That being said, gold has successfully been used as a currency throughout the planet's history. It was accepted worldwide with no barriers to its ability to trade throughout countries. * The argument that people make against gold being suitable as a currency because of its lack of stability compared to paper is unbelievably laughable. What type of event is more likely: gold somehow losing its application in all kinds of industries/mass quantities of gold being suddenly discovered that alters its fundamental market value (events never before seen in human history) or somehow corrupt politicians and powerful people that manage these paper currencies manipulating the currency for their own benefit? * That being said, regarding this larger argument about Bitcoin, these coins lack any practical value as far as I can see outside of perhaps anonymity. I say perhaps because Bitcoin isn't actually an anonymous currency, but all transactions can ultimately be traced in some fashion. So it remains to be seen if this will work as a currency long-term.