[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

Like carbon credits, it is pieces of paper -- and now "virtual" paper -- which indeed is all held aloft by perception, and perception alone.

And as with all things digital, when a crypto file is digitally lost, it is lost. That some banks are offering this ETF stuff within the constraints of "not guaranteed," it can go "poof."

Real assets are real, tangible and with a documentation trail clear and above board. Anyone going to lose confidence in their home (most people's major asset)? Real estate and other real assets are real. Vanguard is correct on this.

Will Rogers quipped decades ago, "double your money. Fold it up and put it back in your pocket." The first rule is to NOT lose money. Almost every casino customer says some version of "I was ahead, before...." House rules.

[nitzy]

And as with all things digital, when a crypto file is digitally lost, it is lost.

How is that different than gold? If you lose a gold bar, are you somehow able to regenerate it?