Those who have been paying attention will have noted something of a fiscal and monetary malaise - some might say crisis - stocking the world economy in recent years. These problems are no doubt in some considerable measure behind the recent interest in Bitcoin.
Indeed, Bitcoin can help solve some of those problems. Some though persist despite the virtues of Bitcoin.
Bitcoin's big advantage is in addressing the ills of fiat currency and the inevitably ensuing inflation . Inflation is a longstanding and nasty problem that clandestinely impoverishes. The majority of people have their purchasing power of their earnings and savings gutted through no fault of their own by inflation. Meanwhile, well placed, and politically connected, interests like the big banks and their favored customers receive the first issuance of the newly invented money. This allows them to prosper by using the magic money to buy at pre-inflated prices, leaving everyone else to pay the inflated prices with their devalued currency.
Bitcoin does indeed provide a much needed remedy to fiat currency induced inflation. Unlike fiat currency, the value of which is essentially decreed by government, the market establishes Bitcoin's value. It is valued by the market, like any other good, in terms of its benefits: e.g., as a reliable medium of exchange or store of value.
No doubt, it is here that Bitcoin shines. No one person or institution dictates the supply of the currency. Thus, no one can manipulate it for their own benefit as in the case of fiat currency. It is because of this that Bitcoin counteracts inflationary pressures typical of fiat currencies.
Fiat currency though isn't the only problem contributing to the present problems of the world economy. Another is fractional reserve banking. This is the practice by which banks magically multiply the amount of money in the economy.
This is done by lending out most of the value of deposits as loans, yet claiming to still have the depositor's savings available. The money can't both be in the depositor's account and in the hands of the borrower.
This bit of financial magic is defended, with some justification, as fuelling the economic machinery: it certainly increases monetary liquidity, and entrepreneurial benefits may result. There are tradeoffs to everything though and costs of fractional reserve banking can be immense.
1) The practice contributes to inflation; the money supply is after all being artificially increased. This increase of money though is not actually an increase of wealth or savings. 2) Consequently, the practice also exaggerates business cycles. Borrowers are deceived into miscalculating the true availability of resources. The phony money supply increases suppress interest rates, so that entrepreneurs borrow thinking there are more available resources for their project than there really are. The inescapable outcome is recession - or even depression. 3) Finally, not only are borrowers hurt in the long run, but depositors are put at risk. When they recognize the Ponzi scheme aspects of the situation, they want their money back. Too often though too many recognize the situation at the same time, leading to bank runs. The money, though, of course isn't really there.
To this problem, Bitcoin provides no answers. That fact is evident in the suspension of Bitcoin account withdrawals at Mt. Gox, a Tokyo-based exchange. The global leader in U.S. dollars and Bitcoin trades, Mt. Gox has been effectively acting as a fractional reserve bank. Clients create accounts and Mt. Gox has been lending against those deposits. Now, though, Bitcoin depositors are being thwarted in attempts to withdraw their funds.
Officially Mt. Gox attributed the suspension of Bitcoin redemption to what it is calling a technical malfunction. This story however seems calculated to obscure the reality that Mt. Gox has been involved in a low profile, high volume convertibility suspension for a year. Up until now, different ruses have been cited to justify its actions. All pretenses though, now, appear to be over.
What we're seeing with Mt. Gox is the first ever digital bank run. And the response has been the same as that of banks through history: bar the door! It's now looking doubtful whether those with Bitcoin accounts at Mt. Gox will get all - or possibly even any - of their money out.
A solid, market based currency is wonderful and welcomed, but not a panacea for poor investment decisions. The interest from fractional reserve banking is alluring, but willful myopia to its risks puts your savings in grave danger. Bitcoin's virtues do not include a financial redo.
Indeed, Bitcoin can help solve some of those problems. Some though persist despite the virtues of Bitcoin.
Bitcoin's big advantage is in addressing the ills of fiat currency and the inevitably ensuing inflation . Inflation is a longstanding and nasty problem that clandestinely impoverishes. The majority of people have their purchasing power of their earnings and savings gutted through no fault of their own by inflation. Meanwhile, well placed, and politically connected, interests like the big banks and their favored customers receive the first issuance of the newly invented money. This allows them to prosper by using the magic money to buy at pre-inflated prices, leaving everyone else to pay the inflated prices with their devalued currency.
Bitcoin does indeed provide a much needed remedy to fiat currency induced inflation. Unlike fiat currency, the value of which is essentially decreed by government, the market establishes Bitcoin's value. It is valued by the market, like any other good, in terms of its benefits: e.g., as a reliable medium of exchange or store of value.
No doubt, it is here that Bitcoin shines. No one person or institution dictates the supply of the currency. Thus, no one can manipulate it for their own benefit as in the case of fiat currency. It is because of this that Bitcoin counteracts inflationary pressures typical of fiat currencies.
Fiat currency though isn't the only problem contributing to the present problems of the world economy. Another is fractional reserve banking. This is the practice by which banks magically multiply the amount of money in the economy.
This is done by lending out most of the value of deposits as loans, yet claiming to still have the depositor's savings available. The money can't both be in the depositor's account and in the hands of the borrower.
This bit of financial magic is defended, with some justification, as fuelling the economic machinery: it certainly increases monetary liquidity, and entrepreneurial benefits may result. There are tradeoffs to everything though and costs of fractional reserve banking can be immense.
1) The practice contributes to inflation; the money supply is after all being artificially increased. This increase of money though is not actually an increase of wealth or savings. 2) Consequently, the practice also exaggerates business cycles. Borrowers are deceived into miscalculating the true availability of resources. The phony money supply increases suppress interest rates, so that entrepreneurs borrow thinking there are more available resources for their project than there really are. The inescapable outcome is recession - or even depression. 3) Finally, not only are borrowers hurt in the long run, but depositors are put at risk. When they recognize the Ponzi scheme aspects of the situation, they want their money back. Too often though too many recognize the situation at the same time, leading to bank runs. The money, though, of course isn't really there.
To this problem, Bitcoin provides no answers. That fact is evident in the suspension of Bitcoin account withdrawals at Mt. Gox, a Tokyo-based exchange. The global leader in U.S. dollars and Bitcoin trades, Mt. Gox has been effectively acting as a fractional reserve bank. Clients create accounts and Mt. Gox has been lending against those deposits. Now, though, Bitcoin depositors are being thwarted in attempts to withdraw their funds.
Officially Mt. Gox attributed the suspension of Bitcoin redemption to what it is calling a technical malfunction. This story however seems calculated to obscure the reality that Mt. Gox has been involved in a low profile, high volume convertibility suspension for a year. Up until now, different ruses have been cited to justify its actions. All pretenses though, now, appear to be over.
What we're seeing with Mt. Gox is the first ever digital bank run. And the response has been the same as that of banks through history: bar the door! It's now looking doubtful whether those with Bitcoin accounts at Mt. Gox will get all - or possibly even any - of their money out.
A solid, market based currency is wonderful and welcomed, but not a panacea for poor investment decisions. The interest from fractional reserve banking is alluring, but willful myopia to its risks puts your savings in grave danger. Bitcoin's virtues do not include a financial redo.
About the Author:
If you are or plan to be benefiting from the Bitcoin renaissance in global finance, you need to stay abreast of events by getting the scoop at the Bitcoin Profit Calculator blog. Wallace Eddington has been taking the blogosphere by storm with his recent work. See particularly his popular article on Bitcoin exchange trading funds .
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