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Re:Cryptonomicon: Among the Bitcoin maximalists by horsawlarway on Friday February 25, 2022 @03:51PM (#30472214)
The primary use is now speculation - full stop.
Re:Cryptonomicon: Among the Bitcoin maximalists by ephbit on Friday February 25, 2022 @04:41PM (#30472697)
The distinction between store of value and speculation is rather fuzzy IMO.

Is putting money into gold for savings (because an actual savings bank account currently not only loses money in real but even in nominal terms) speculation as well?

Re:Cryptonomicon: Among the Bitcoin maximalists by invaliduser on Friday February 25, 2022 @05:20PM (#30473056)
Speculation: "investment in stocks, property, etc. in the hope of gain but with the risk of loss." Buying bitcoins seems to match the definition.

You can buy gold as an inflationary hedge, but I don't think people would do that with bitcoin.

Re:Cryptonomicon: Among the Bitcoin maximalists by frankbreetz on Friday February 25, 2022 @06:39PM (#30473751)
How does a bank account lose money in nominal terms? You get paid interest
Re:Cryptonomicon: Among the Bitcoin maximalists by calumetregion on Friday February 25, 2022 @11:00PM (#30475132)
Have you heard of negative interest rates? This is so real that it is real.

Also real: the wild "insanity" that is the picture painted by the writer of this Harper's piece is also exactly the same "insanity" that is present in, well, everything that involves the US dollar.

Money is so tenuous worldwide at this stage that entire central bank policy is designed so that you won't want to keep it anyway. You must spend! We really are jacked directly into the machine. It's pretty wild if you compare it to just a blip ago, historically.

Re:Cryptonomicon: Among the Bitcoin maximalists by kragen on Friday February 25, 2022 @06:48PM (#30473829)
It depends on where you live. In some countries it's common for monthly fees to exceed the interest you get paid. My corporate bank account ended up in the hands of a colleciton agency that way!