Bitcoin is tied to the physical world the same way every other currency is tied to the physical world. Right now you can transfer abstract value you have acquired without a 1-2% fee through bitcoin, which is much easier than doing it via a bank. For example a poker player needing to get 1 million dollars to Monaco to play a tournament would have to pay 1% (10,000$) and wait god knows how long if he went through the banks, with bitcoin that process is much smoother.