As Bitcoin continues its surge of record valuation, mixed opinions remain about
whether this is really the next big thing or just a fluke waiting to implode.
Getting a piece of the action could be fiscal genius or disaster.
Here's why this matters.
Bitcoin has seen a 1,000% growth since the start of the year,
growth unlike anything we've ever seen before.
This may sound impressive, but the warning signs are there that the cryptocurrency
could be headed towards a massive fall.
For one thing,
traditional currency is usually backed by something external in value, like gold.
Bitcoin's value is determined by investor interest, which is much harder to predict.
And, so far, the cryptocurrency hasn't reach widespread use, nor
is it likely to in the near future.
At least for now, this makes the digital currency
more of an investment opportunity than a transactional unit.
But Bitcoin doesn't have a financial administrator, so
its value is entirely speculative and extremely volatile.
If you own a piece and the whole value tanks, the share is essentially worthless,
and all the money invested is gone.
It's hard to imagine a financial institution being sympathetic in that
situation.
JP Morgan boss, Jamie Dimon, put it bluntly in September,
calling the digital currency a fraud that would ultimately blow up.
He said, for countries like Venezuela or North Korea, or
the dark web where people can transfer money anonymously,
there might be a market for it, but it's limited.
Otherwise, he called it stupid and dangerous.
But not all fiscal experts and investors are wary.
Many hedge funds have decided to include Bitcoin in their portfolios.
CME Group, the world's largest futures exchange,
plans to launch a futures contract for Bitcoin by the end of the year.
And some realtors are even accepting Bitcoin for property.
It's possible that this is the start of a new age of digital currency.
But if Bitcoin continues its historic surge and pops,
it will likely be seen as a major, perhaps fatal, setback for cryptocurrencies.
Not only will a lot of investors be out of a lot of money, but
the idea of a sustainable digital currency might be damaged for good.