"In order for currencies to be 'exchangeable' they have to be backed by something," is the remarkably ironic initial comment from none other than debaser-of-the-entirely-fiat-dollar Alan Greenspan when asked about the "bubble in bitcoin," by Bloomberg TV's Trish Regan. Unable to "identify the intrinsic" backing of Bitcoin (or see bubbles in equity, credit, real estate, or greater fools) Greenspan is, apparently, capable of identifying Bitcoin "as a bubble," because "there is no fundamental means of "repaying' it by any means that is universally accepted." The farcical double-speak continues as the Maestro does a great job of making Bitcoin (which Ron Paul earlier noted could be the "destroyer of the dollar") look even better than the readily-printed fiat we meddle with every day.
Greenspan explains...
"when we were on the gold standard, [currencies] had intrinisc value which made people willing to exchange their goods and services with no question."
"Alternatively, when we went into "currencies", it was the "backing" of the issuer of the currencies... whose "great credit-standing meant his checks could circulate as money.""
So either its backed by real physical metal with intrinsic value - or the promise of someone...(increasingly politicians of course) with good credit (or a big army)?
"I do not understand where the backing of Bitcoin is coming from. There is no fundamental means of "repaying' it by any means that is universally accepted."
Like fiat currencies (just ask the Venezuelans)...
"Individuals with very high net worth and great reputations could create their own currency... because people would be willing to exchange their checks with each other at par."
So coming soon the BuffettCoin or MuskCoin (oh wait reputation), or the GatesCoin?
But, Greenspan sums it all up...
"I haven't been able to identfy the intrinsic value of Bitcoin - maybe someone else can...
but if you ask me if this is a bubble in bitcoin... yeah it's a bubble.
Which ironically (perfectly circular) is exactly what Bernanke said about gold [9]...
- BERNANKE SAYS `NOBODY REALLY UNDERSTANDS GOLD PRICES'
So - after that - go buy his book!?
And some more color from Ron Paul on Bitcoin as "destroyer of the US Dollar":
Via Mike Krieger's Liberty Blitzkrieg blog [10],
While we believe it is the Federal Reserve that is systematically destroying the US dollar, Bitcoin could merely be the preferred conduit through which fed up citizens decide to express their displeasure with the incredibly corrupt corporatist-facist state being shoved down our throats by a handful of insane and greedy oligarchs. [11] Interesting comments nonetheless. From CNN Money:
Imagine a world in which you can buy anything in secret. No banks. No fees. No worries inflation will make today’s money worth less tomorrow.
The digital currency Bitcoin promises all these things. And while it’s far from achieving any of them — its value is unstable and it’s rarely used — some have high hopes.
“There will be alternatives to the dollar, and this might be one of them,” said former U.S. congressman Ron Paul. If people start using bitcoins en masse, “it’ll go down in history as the destroyer of the dollar,” Paul added.
It’s unlikely that Bitcoin would replace the dollar or other government-controlled currencies. But it could serve as a kind of universal alternative currency that is accepted everywhere around the globe. Concerned about the dollar’s inflation? Just move your cash to bitcoins and use them to pay your bills instead. Tired of hefty credit card fees? Bitcoin allows transactions that bypass banks.
“That’s the holy grail for people who believe in freer markets and currency,” said Adam Gurri, a libertarian economics writer in New York.
There are no middlemen charging fees to move money between users. You can transfer bitcoins — even infinitesimally small fractions of one — directly to others’ digital wallets.
But don’t expect governments and banks to let Bitcoin take over so easily. Financial institutions will lose business if people stop using their payment systems, and central banks like the U.S. Federal Reserve would lose their ability to help slow and speed up economic activity. Paul expects banks to lobby and authorities to crack down.
“Governments absolutely demand a monopoly on money and credit. They’re not going to give it up easily,” Paul warned. “They will come down hard.”
Interesting times…
Full article here [12].