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Netherlands must ban cryptocurrencies immediately: CPB head

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41–50 of 211 posts

Re: Netherlands must ban cryptocurrencies immediately: CPB head

#41
It makes a lot of sense for a country that has significant portions of its territory below sea level. But, I wonder. For years I was absolutely baffled by how the world decided to ignore crypto environmental footprint. Then, out of the blue, a few months ago, it looks like EVERYBODY is talking about it. Then, the G-7 wants to impose the beginning of a global tax regime upon the developed nations (that's what it is basically). Doesn't it smell funny?

Re: Netherlands must ban cryptocurrencies immediately: CPB head

#42
post #3
post #2

Nobel laureate Robert Shiller calls bitcoin a 'contagious narrative' Anyone else find articles like these hard to take seriously?

> Nobel laureate... Maybe we should start taking reputable people like this more seriously.

Another buerocrat?

Re: Netherlands must ban cryptocurrencies immediately: CPB head

#43
post #5

I was happily surprised to see someone proposing this, assuming it was about PoW when reading the headline... but unfortunately it's just someone trying to time the market on our behalf?! Like, should we also ban stock trading when we expect the next pandemic or .com bubble?

I think their argument is that cryptocurrencies not just (PoW) but (PoS) too are just a meme with no social benefit (unlike the stock market), yet people put large amounts of money on them and it will end in tears.

Perhaps they still remember the Tulip Mania that started there

Re: Netherlands must ban cryptocurrencies immediately: CPB head

#44
post #31
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Personally, I don't know anyone that believes that.. I mostly see it as an adjunct - like credit cards. Another option..

What the heck does that mean? Credit cards in the US are a dollar based instrument, and they extend credit to consumers and simplify payments for merchants and consumers both. Crypto isn’t credit. Or much of a payment means at present. So what specifically do you mean by “other option”? This seems like a dodge. The common meme is that crypto will be valuable because it will be the money of the future and appreciate a…

It means an easy way to pay for goods and transfer value. I had good luck doing both with crypto in the past. And being old enough to remember when the only options for 'moving' money were wire transfer and western union - I appreciate the speed and low cost.

If you really are that bothered by it - think of it as a 'collective barter' system. You can pick which systems you want to support (if any) and collectively a 'value' is placed on the 'points'. As I recall, there were a few good sized barter collectives in the US, big enough the govt. started taxing barter 'income'? (it was years ago though, so my memory could be off)

As for 'a dodge' - you're the one quoting the least nuanced views, and throwing aspersions. Maybe stop getting financial advice off you-tube ?

Re: Netherlands must ban cryptocurrencies immediately: CPB head

#45

Bans are totally justified. They will achieve two major outcomes: 1. Tank the price, thus freeing up energy and advanced manufactured goods (which are in shortages right now) for proper productive use. 2. Significantly lessen the instances of Ransomware, since companies will have no legal mechanism to actually pay. Whether the coins continue to exist informally and are traded in some kind of primitive barter system i…

As long as ransomware is possible, it will continue. Criminals will come with a way to be paid, and some of those ways would involve some level of physical violence and organized armed intermediates.

Re: Netherlands must ban cryptocurrencies immediately: CPB head

#46
post #25
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Personally, I don't know anyone that believes that.. I mostly see it as an adjunct - like credit cards. Another option..

I find it hard to believe that you spend time on HN and possibly other crypto-focused websites, but have never seen this sentiment?

I've seen it...I just don't personally know anyone that subscribes to it.

Just like I don't know anyone that plans to retire off lotto winnings? Most of the people I know, might dream a bit about 'hitting it big' - but none are expecting cash/fiat to go away.

Re: Netherlands must ban cryptocurrencies immediately: CPB head

#47

It makes a lot of sense for a country that has significant portions of its territory below sea level. But, I wonder. For years I was absolutely baffled by how the world decided to ignore crypto environmental footprint. Then, out of the blue, a few months ago, it looks like EVERYBODY is talking about it. Then, the G-7 wants to impose the beginning of a global tax regime upon the developed nations (that's what it is ba…

He cites: "citing fraud, criminal use, and financial instability" - not environmentalism.

Also, that argument only applies to PoW coins, not PoS coins.

Re: Netherlands must ban cryptocurrencies immediately: CPB head

#48
post #6

There's plenty of valid criticisms against crypto, I feel like they've picked some of the weakest ones. > cryptocurrencies are used because people think they will one day replace traditional money Maybe a tiny minority, sounds like a strawman. > a contagious story in which people believe because other people believe in it Isn't fiat the same? Money only has value because people believe it has value / will have value…

The argument used in the article is "citing fraud, criminal use, and financial instability"

Re: Netherlands must ban cryptocurrencies immediately: CPB head

#49
post #46
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find it hard to believe that you spend time on HN and possibly other crypto-focused websites, but have never seen this sentiment?

I've seen it...I just don't personally know anyone that subscribes to it. Just like I don't know anyone that plans to retire off lotto winnings? Most of the people I know, might dream a bit about 'hitting it big' - but none are expecting cash/fiat to go away.

I should probably mention, no one I know is taking out second mortgages, risking their homes, or anything else like that.

Re: Netherlands must ban cryptocurrencies immediately: CPB head

#50
post #31
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Personally, I don't know anyone that believes that.. I mostly see it as an adjunct - like credit cards. Another option..

What the heck does that mean? Credit cards in the US are a dollar based instrument, and they extend credit to consumers and simplify payments for merchants and consumers both. Crypto isn’t credit. Or much of a payment means at present. So what specifically do you mean by “other option”? This seems like a dodge. The common meme is that crypto will be valuable because it will be the money of the future and appreciate a…

Yeah so within the US it wouldn't really matter. On a global scale it would be nice to have a form of money that is not dependent on the whims of politicians.
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