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Goldman Sachs Report Explores Use of Bitcoin as Currency

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Re: Goldman Sachs Report Explores Use of Bitcoin as Currency

#2
More than a little disturbing. They talk about helping developing economies, but what you can bet this means is that they'll be screwing over those people some way or another.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldman_Sachs#2007%E2%80%93200...

http://fortune.com/2016/04/11/goldman-sachs-doj-settlement/

This is the end game of cryptocurrencies; not worldwide financial liberation but the same massive financial institutions further cementing their power. Kind of funny that they are looking at Bitcoin at a point where it's more valuable but is more poorly suited to be a currency than ever before. Says a lot.

Re: Goldman Sachs Report Explores Use of Bitcoin as Currency

#5
As an investment vehicle? Probably.

As a currency?

With that kind of volatility, it would be difficult. If I were to sell my used car today in, say, BTC, it would be tough to determine at what price I want to let it go.

This is not to mention what how the buyer would haggle (e.g. "I think BTC will go up next week, so how about BTC XXX for your 2013 Hinda Civic?").

Re: Goldman Sachs Report Explores Use of Bitcoin as Currency

#7
If you think bitcoin would make a good currency, ask yourself what happens if you have any debts, lease or mortgage denominated in bitcoin.

At least hyperinflation wipes out debts, in hyperdeflation some people become millionaires and others owe millions based on whether you had positive or negative money at the start.

Re: Goldman Sachs Report Explores Use of Bitcoin as Currency

#8
The article makes the point that Bitcoin could be viable in many countries where people already use foreign currencies because they don't trust their domestic currency.

That's one of the few arguments for cryptocurrency that I find convincing, but I think it's a stronger argument for cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin. The Bitcoin transaction fees are so high right now that it doesn't make sense to use it for small purchases, which really limits its usefulness for people in poor countries.

For example, right now the average Bitcoin transaction fee is more than $20, and the average annual income in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the countries mentioned in the article, is about $400 per year.

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