• NoiseColor @lemmy.world
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    4 hours ago

    I think most people don’t understand cryptocurrencies. On one side it’s all hyperbolic about being your own bank and financial freedom and new tech, on the other side it’s hyperbolic about how there is no underlying value, it’s all going to 0, scams, drugs, terrorism, money laundering,…

    But the fact is that crypto does have an underlying value. It’s gambling. Gambling is a huge industry.

    • leoj@piefed.zip
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      2 hours ago

      Also drugs.

      I always said as long as crypto can be used to buy drugs, it will have value.

      When everything we know in the world is gone and we’re using rocks to make spears again, people will still want drugs, the value is eternal.

      • underisk@lemmy.ml
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        2 hours ago

        I mean it’s also really really good at money laundering and other financial securities scams that are otherwise illegal in real currency. IDK why OP is being so dismissive of that.

        As long as the gov refuses to regulate it, it’s going to be useful for crimes. On the off chance we ever get a government willing to actually do anything but war crimes and graft, regulating it would destroy a lot of its utility and value.

    • ZoteTheMighty@lemmy.zip
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      4 hours ago

      As opposed to the USD, which is backed by nothing, and therefore has no underlying value, but is not gambling for some reason?

      • arandomthought@sh.itjust.works
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        4 hours ago

        The USD is backed by a state who demands their taxes be paid in their currency, ensuring there will always be demand for said currency.

        • underisk@lemmy.ml
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          2 hours ago

          This is also why people who complain about how “our tax dollars” are spent are missing the point. Their tax dollars don’t fund the government or any of its activities. Taxes are just an inflationary control measure; money is created when the government spends it.