Much like an investor who claims to offer 40% returns, so you give him money - and then he gives you someone elses' money to convince you of his great returns. Of course that money is from someone who also bought into the scam. This goes on until someone catches on - or the person runs with everyone's money without paying that final amount; sells off their ownership into real currency. There's a reason pyramid schemes are illegal.

Why can't a global social paradigm shift occur in a different way? It's the current structure of Bitcoin, not the other values that it does provide. If it didn't provide those other potentials then it would of had a much more difficult time taking off and getting adoption from anyone.