Bitcoin: the Mother of All Scams

Book excerpt: Almost everything else one reads about bitcoin is either utopian fantasy, wishful thinking, nonsense, marketing, technobabble, or false propaganda. Bitcoin is not a medium of exchange. It can't be because its price is too volatile. The transaction costs are too large and transaction time too slow for regular, small transactions. Only a tiny fraction of bitcoin transactions are used for legitimate real-world purchases and there are more illegitimate purchases than legitimate. Bitcoin is not a store of value. A store of value does not regularly drop 20% in one day. Bitcoin does not qualify as an "investment" since no underlying asset exists. Accurately described, bitcoin is an accounting system for a non-existent asset. Readers will remember that, in 17th Century Holland, the price of tulips rose to extraordinary heights and then collapsed. It was called Tulipmania and is the accepted term for economic bubbles built on assets of inherently little value. At least, back then, there was a legitimate, if insignificant, asset - a tulip bulb. It is irrelevant that a limit has been set on the maximum number of bitcoin. Each coin is worth zero and the total value remains zero no matter the maximum number. Any true utility of bitcoin for the tiny fraction of one percent of transactions representing legitimate purchases that are made using this new form of purported digital currency is far outweighed by the massive risk to the punters who speculate in this risky game. Credulous people are taking the bait and gambling away their life savings. Every day that this bubble is allowed to grow, thousands more innocent bystanders are drawn into a game where only the House - those operating the bitcoin gambling casino - wins. Many people are winning in the bitcoin casino, especially the big traders and whales who can manipulate the market. However, no one is looking after the average punter. Gambling is regulated in the US and throughout much of the world. Why aren't the gambling regulators stepping in to investigate bitcoin gambling? A good number of people may be starting to consider bitcoin as part of their retirement investments. In May 2021, a popular investor information service for the retail investor wrote an article entitled, "Is Bitcoin Safer for Retirement than Social Security". Some investors may even borrow to increase their bitcoin holdings, or use their bitcoin as collateral for loans. Many people could then lose a great deal of money, question the whole system, and ask "Why didn't anybody protect me?" This book is to try to protect the average person. Bitcoin is nothing more and nothing less than gambling. About the author Mr. Bob Seeman is an entrepreneur and technology, legal and business advisor. He is co-founder of RIWI Corp., a data analytics company listed on the Toronto Venture Exchange (TSXV: RIWI), has advised government on technology and business issues, and has been a consultant to a bitcoin technology company. He is a California attorney, electrical engineer and entrepreneur, was a Head of Strategy for Microsoft in London and a technical consultant to the European Commission. Bob previously practiced administrative law with an international law firm. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Elec. Eng.) with Honours from the University of Toronto, a Master of Business Administration from EDHEC, and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of British Columbia.