[PreciousLiberty]

Hah! All the Bitcoin haters come out of the woodwork as usual.

This is exactly as significant for Bitcoin as a bank robbery is for the dollar. Bitcoins are just as “real” as US dollars (both mostly exist as bits in a computer memory). The main differences are Bitcoins can’t be manipulated like dollars, they’re much less inflationary, and they’re independent of any particular government. They can also be sent anywhere at low cost. Those are good things.

Precious metals have their place too, the strengths of the two complement each other.

[cincinnati65]

But who is going to enforce the "theft" of a virtual currency, not backed or regulated by any government? Is it a felony or a misdemeanor?

One of the major problems with Bitcoin is its value is simply the perception of its value. If "people" think each Bitcoin is worth millions, then BTC are worth millions. If "people" think each Bitcoin is worth $0.25, then it's worth a quarter.

You talk about inflation and government manipulation? The prices on the exchanges have ranged from $135 to $1200 per BTC within the past six months, and I'm supposed to feel secure about that?