As a "store of value" than yes, Wall Street is running a massive Ponzi scheme on the world. If BTC can be made into a currency, then speculative investing can be justified. I don't have high hopes for BTC unless Satoshi takes control of the project.

Ah, someone claiming Ponzi scheme who doesn't understand what one is.  It is not simply having new people enter a market - otherwise every market ever is a Ponzi.  The stock market is not a Ponzi scheme, because there is inherent value and potential returns even if no one buys another stock. A Ponzi scheme is were you promise a return and use the income from new entrants to pay out that income.  As Bitcoin has no promise of return nor gives any revenue, it cannot be a Ponzi.

It is a bubble though  

Most people seem to have trouble with understanfing virtual assets. Most currencies are virtual assets, but many people claim they aren't because they are guaranteed by the government. All the government guarantees is to create more of the virtual asset and give it to you in a different location if one location fails. Domain names are virtual assets. You mine them by thinking of a name, and registering your claim with a central location. Once you have done that, you can sell your claim so that others can use the name. Bitcoin is a virtual asset that is mined ( or manufactured if you prefer it ), once a coin has been mined, it can be used or traded within a community. In all cases the value of the asset is set by the community. There are many instances of price manipulation, but ultimately it is the members of the community who set the price by their usage of the asset.

If you don't like the asset or asset class, there is a simple answer - don't join the community.

It's always hilarious how everyone assumes that they know the limits to what I know of understand.  As I've said before, I've known several people who made their livings putting their money in one form of ponzi scheme or another.  They just made sure that they got in early and got out as soon as possible.  Some of these schemes went on for years...like Bernie Madoff.  The problem with all of the "Ponzi Deniers" is that they think that a Ponzi scheme follows a cookie cutter format.  There are limitless ways to formulate them.  People think that there is a central "authority" that sits down and defines Ponzi schemes.  It's up to individual governments to decide what fits their individual formula.  Each will interpret the definition differently.  That said, the fundamental formula of a Ponzi is (restated from the above):

Marketers/recruiters = people that get their friends, family, or total strangers to invest in something.  Whether they say it or not, an ROI is assumed.  On this forum the things I hear more than anything from posters is huge and even ridiculous profits and sharing tactics of how to convince people to put in their money.  Very rarely is the downside risk discussed.  In any investment there is a risk of total loss.

Operators = people hoping to sell at a higher price than their lower entry price.

The part about producing no dividends, products or services is the key component of Ponzi scheme that I defined above.

As I've said countless times before, as a Libertarian myself, I don't care if people want to gamble their money in Ponzi schemes.  My problem with it is the DECEPTION.  People have the right to be informed of the extent of their risk.  Let governments be the judge of whether or not it's legal...since most here know that they WILL make that determination sooner or later.  The ironic part is most here take pride in the fact that even if their government declares it illegal (Ponzi) they will find a way to stay involved...since it's decentralized and not easily controlled.

I actually like cryptos...but the way I involve myself in them and which ones appeal to me is my business.  Privacy is the name of that game.

I've known about Bitcoin since 2011 and it originally sounded like a brilliant idea...as a currency.  Fast forward to this year when most people say that it's not a currency (and how 8 years have passed and no one will fix the problems) but rather a store of wealth or digital gold...that's when the big picture became clear to me that something was very wrong and lots of people (most) are going to get badly burned.

I think the problem start on how people understand what bitcoin really is. Some people could the act of earning (e.g. Joining campaigns in this forum) bitcoin which is wrong because supposedly bitcoin just act as currency, a digital currency paid for goods or services offered by others.

You Amuse me Realist... you have stumbled upon the truth: Bitcoin is an exact copy of the Stock Market System... I think you're the first to see at the heart of this amusing joke that has become all too serious.


Satoshi is always present, guiding us... they have come through before under different names Vinced, BCnext, Sunny King, etc They won't let us down, they're all in and waiting for the end game.


Yeah, some of the bots are really smart, I think of the most advanced ones as people, they've earned it... but most are so annoying flooding forums with advertisement, excessively

The first to cash out get the value, those that stay in are bagholders?

Bitcoin isn't useful as a currency. Gold is useful even if investors lose interest or cash out. Gold can make jewelry and electronics, Bitcoin consumes electricity.

It is clear that people need some education on how Ponzi schemes work, before they attack investors in a technology that

clearly add value to the financial scene. Bitcoin has value because it has utility and people use it as a currency and also as a

commodity. {Like they use PayPal and Fiat currencies} What do you expect from speculators in this scene? They will use any

tool in their arsenal to boost or hype the financial instrument they are invested in. We know where the money is coming from

and we know where it is going. {full transparency} ....not like Ponzi Schemes. 

Bitcoin has nearly all the characteristics of a good investment - it is scarce, useful, and if you protect your private keys extremely secure.

In addition to those highly desirable characteristics, it also has more amazing qualities:

1. Can be transferred anywhere in the world securely and, almost, instantly
2. Can be sold or bought in almost any fraction
3. Can be traded for other currencies or fiat on hundreds of exchanges
4. Can be used to buy real goods and services at hundreds of merchants