This is actually big for the future of cryptocurrencies. Since the technology is relatively new, it attracted to a newer audience that were more willing to invest their resource compared to the conventional investment instruments. People are starting to embrace and accept new methods in investing their money which can be the first platform towards then next generation of investors.


Learning about cryptocurrency can be difficult especially that the technology has been around for less than 15 years compared to other conventional investment options. Even financial experts are having a difficult time in accurately speculating the market trend as multiple factors affect its price.
Maybe once they are starting to earn cash, they may overcome this barrier in the near future.

Crypto-trading cannot be staple job as the source of income is relatively inconsistent compared to regular jobs. In addition, trading has made a reputation about about its risk being high compared to investing and it also requires an initial capital in order to start.
Although it fails to be categorized as a regular job, it CAN be a source of alternative income to people who have day jobs. The yield of profit may be high but the risk it carries can be a double-edged sword as well.


It has the potential to create jobs but the nature will not be focusing on investment nor trading. If there exist creation of an investment institution where you are required to be a financial expert or any relevant expertise that focuses on cryptocurrencies, then we can infer that bitcoin became the platform for this opportunity (although it requires a background on economics).

An investment and a lottery ticket are two different things which cannot be compared to each other. One can relatively predict the price of an investment depending on the gathered research and data. Unlike a lottery ticket, it heavily relies on luck alone. I believe people mostly buy lottery tickets as a part of a daily/weekly ritual just to see if the odds are on their favour. The chances of winning might be significantly low but there's still a chance of winning.


If he has the extra resource, why not purchase any lottery tickets? The chances might be low but one may never know until he/she tries it!

Ignorance of the law is not an excuse for someone to be exempted to the rules. The moderator needs to be fair and equal to all members and if theymos extended his exemption to you, then he needs to do to exempt other members who got banned from the same mistake as well.
Accept the fact that you got permabanned and from that alone, learn from your lesson and move-on. Life is short, make the most out of it by improving everyday!

Unfortunately, that is the sad state in investing nowadays since most newbie investors purchased bitcoin impulsively without researching and studying the market. They now based their decisions on famous investors (which is not entirely bad!) and follow everything that they said despite the results showing the opposite of it!It definitely is a poison to the community which further backs away potential investors.

Warren Buffet statements stem from his belief that bitcoin does not have any innate value unlike the conventional method like what he did to built his empire. Every year, an era evolves slowly and we adapt to the inevitable change! Cryptocurrencies may be the future of investing considering the success it has been through.

Let me share to you guys my most regrettable experience which made me despise gambling:

MY MOST REGRETTABLE EXPERIENCE:
We used to own a farm that contains full of chickens bred for fighting. Back when I was around 13 years old, my dad brought me and my brother to a cock-fighting arena since he has 4 fights scheduled. Before every round starts, there are two opposing sides called  A and B where each opponent fills the side. After that, people would bet on each other on which side would win. The lowest bet per round was around $10.

At first, I did not plan on betting my money since my dad gave me $10 as my birthday gift. But when I saw my older brother winning like 5 consecutive times, I got jealous and tried betting my $10 with hesitation. I prayed (hahaha the irony!) and asked God to bless me today as I am celebrating my birthday. Initially, I chose side A (since the chicken was tall and looked buffed) but my dad told me to bet on side B. Ultimately, I lost the bet and I gave my $10 to the stranger I betted with.

After my dad won 3/4 fights, we went home and I cried due to my frustration (my brother won a total of $100 from $10). I tried arguing that my dad was the one who betted on my behalf but they told me to NOT GAMBLE IF I CANNOT HANDLE THE LOSS AND WITHOUT EMBRACING THE CONSEQUENCE.

From this experience alone, I knew that gambling would never benefit me and in the long-run. It might have benefitted other people but I still believe that gambling revolves around luck. If the odds aren't on your favor, no matter what you do, you will lose and end up being frustrated!

We won't be seeing this being adapted in the near future as the barrier between first and third-world countries is tremendously large, especially in aspects like technology, infrastructure, and economic standpoint. Furthermore, first world countries are already devising a way of improving their current state of life by introducing revolutionary electronic payment methods (blockchain technology, etc.) and making innovations throughout their country.
In contrast, third-world countries prioritize multiple problems including ways to resolve poverty, corruption, infrastructure developments, transportation, etc.

From this viewpoint alone, the plans of first-world countries do not match with the priorities of third-world countries. If we adapt a full-scale shift to this kind of payment (where poor people lack access to the internet; let alone food, shelter, etc.), the price manipulation may happen making the rich richer and the poor, poorer.


Digital payment can be an alternative but it will NOT replace fiat anytime soon until the economic discrepancies between first and third-world countries be resolved.

Second this. We are both using our local exchange and they provide various services in order to convert bitcoins to fiat easily. You might want to check your country if they implemented any exchange platform. Be wary of fees that might accumulate whenever you transfer your bitcoins from an exchange to a local wallet.


This is indeed the most convenient way of paying him or you can also use paypal. If your purpose is primarily for payment, then sending him cash via electronic stores might be the best idea.

It is difficult when to draw the line between favoritism and addictiveness as they have different manifestations. A person may favour someone/something over another but that does not mean that he is addicted to it. In contrast, being addicted to something/someone means you find satisfaction from that feeling and you are insatiably hunger to look for more.
Furthermore, gamblers suffer this type of problem especially when they lack the self-discipline in controlling themselves. With their thirst for this satisfaction, they will exhaust every means in order to feed it- thus addiction is born.

Diversify your investments and consider other mechanisms as well. Focusing into one investment instrument is a double-edged sword and it may depend upon your goal.
I would recommend purchasing bitcoins for long-term investment (cash them out if the prices are higher from its initial price you invested on), acquiring stocks (blue-chip companies or follow the price index), or by purchasing lands or properties. Before you buy, do extensive research and study in order to foresight your outcome.

Before you invest, consider that money as something that you are willing to lose but be responsible enough to determine when you should pull-them out.

The blockchain technology is a decentralized system wherein all transactions are reflected in a public ledger where everyone can access and see it. Furthermore, no one in the system is allowed to fake or change the transaction history as it will be corrected by other users in the blockchain. Cryptocurrency exchanges do not control bitcoin, as from the name itself, they are only a means of converting/purchasing bitcoins or other alternative coins.

Your argument that bitcoin can replace traditional financial institutions is impossible currently as the economic is divided between first and third world countries. Adapting to this kind of change can significantly damage world trade, transactions, and payment from all over the world.


The future of bitcoin is rather unknown. Regardless of the number of individuals transacting with bitcoin, if government agencies prohibit the usage, then expect it to become obsolete. Although this may be the case, I doubt that the blockchain technology would cease to exist.

What do you mean by "cryptocurrency players" or do you mean by investors? Here lies the problem with most investors at the moment: they seem to jump the hype train caused by media and they got influence into investing their money when the prices were skyrocketing.
Last December 2018, the prices reached an all-time high of $20,000 and some speculated that it might even break records reaching $1 million per coin. These newbie investors invested their money WITHOUT even doing their research and study in the market, thus losing most of their investments when the price suddenly drop.


Most investors who lost a significant portion of their investments were the ones who invested when the prices are still at high. They did not do enough study and research on the market and ONLY followed the hype train caused by media and other influencers. Unfortunately, they are also the ones who spread news about 'bitcoin's death' or 'bitcoin is dying' kind of news.

Both bitcoin and gold are different in terms of price, nature, and acquirement but they contain store of value. What makes bitcoin unique is its digitalized form without having any innate value but its price is significantly high. In contrast, gold is a precious metal and its supply is regulated and scarce. Although they may seem similar in some aspects, both cannot be compared to each other when identifying which is the better alternative.
In terms of an asset, gold may be better due to its stability in price; bitcoin is relatively better when on short/long-term investment due to its high-volatility.


If you are looking for a good store of value, look for something that is stable in price and centralized/regulated. Compared to bitcoin, being a decentralized entity makes it price volatile and unpredictable making it not a good candidate for a store of value in the future. I would also argue that purchasing properties may be better compared to bitcoin in this aspect.

Implementing a "cash-less" society can be potentially destructive to economies of third-world countries, especially to countries who do not have access to technological innovations and developments. Suddenly shifting to this kind of change can potentially be destructive and will further hinder the marginalized sectors from having access to such resulting to a counter-productive move.


The problem is they are implementing this kind of change in India, where poverty level is at 22% of its population (around 294 million people)[1]. This move will only benefit the average-upperclass sectors and will further burden the lower-class income due to having limited access to such. Like what you mentioned, this will only work on countries on the global level.

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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_India

Thank you for the time in posting this valuable information!
Cheers!

That is also the message that I got when I attempted to change the avatar to the new one posted. Hope it gets fixed soon!

As the nature of gambling, everything revolves around luck. In order to be successful in life, one must posses the skill, intelligence, hard-work, and luck throughout the adventure. People who became successful due to gambling are also the ones who posses the said traits and it is only a matter of perspective on how one views their success. Regardless, everything has an exception and that may be the individuals who won the lottery or by even a one time all-in bet in gambling.


Like any other hobby, they can be addictive when it gets out-of-control and if the person lacks the discipline. What makes gambling addicting is the result and satisfaction of earning large amounts of money relative to your money risked. Unlike conventional jobs, you get paid daily, weekly, or monthly but in gambling, you can achieve those in one night.

I do agree. It is impossible currently for the world to shift the fiat system to a digitalized transactions due to economic discrepancies present among first world and third-world countries. In addition, the difference in technological advancements, infrastructures, and economic condition is greatly overwhelming that third-world countries are in the burden of providing their own resources in accessing bitcoin. Not to mention, they have different priorities compared to first world countries (first-world problems meme).

Although a digitalized form of payment may seem impossible, we may see this inevitable change in the future once all countries are capable of utilizing such.


It is indeed an achievement and another milestone reached in terms of its reputation. Maybe in the near future, we might see a collaboration by Apple which may affect the price of bitcoins in the future.

Difficult to conclude that bitcoin's price would be the highest this year 2019 as it continues to experience this bearish slump. Although the price has decreased by 80% from its peak of $20,000, news have been circulating the launching of Bakkt platform, which would introduce the first physically exchange platform where people would receive contracts.
This would enable stock market investors to purchase investments and attract new investors due to having a well-known platform. In addition, Starbucks has collaborated with the platform (which has potential of allowing bitcoin as an alternative payment or an exchange at their stores- 15,000 customers daily!).

Problems like these, you may want to address it to your family, relatives, and close friends so you could ask them for assistance and support. Breaking any habit requires extreme patience, motivation, and determination as it involves your mental capacity to decide what is right for your current situation. If you are supporting your family, think of them as your strength to overcome this addiction. Think the future of your children and your relationship with your loved ones as it they are affected by the looks of it.
If you are supporting only yourself, think about your own future 2-3 years from now if you do not break your addiction. There is always that potential danger that you may be bankrupt or even cause mental stress that would eventually lead to suicide.


Any kind of addiction is very difficult to stop especially if it becomes part of your daily routine. It is advisable that OP might want to seek help from his loved ones and he also needs time to think about his current situation.
Everything is on the mind- exercise your free will to think and to decide what is best for you.
In addition, try to substitute your addiction to something recreational like: going to the movies, taking a walk outside, going to church, or even by just watching television. As much as possible, he needs to keep himself busy and distracted and it will only be possible by asking for help.