Twitter and Facebook have the same censorship mentality. I am sure that sooner or later this censorship can be a big issue especially with people who are expressing different or opposing viewpoints away from the mainstream understanding of things. Censorship is bad, and they are doing it in the name of curtailing fake news. There can be a big problem when a certain platform has reached a hegemony status, it can be either that it can't be able to control itself or it has become a control freak either way not good for the public's interest.

One thing for sure is that sometimes technologies can be of no help when the power of nature is taking its tools. There is no way for anyone to communicate when there is no power and internet access and telecommunications are down. We are all under the mercy of nature. Humanity has made so many advancements in the past many millennia but right now we are facing many changes that can be affecting human survival...and no cryptocurrency can be of help when there is no way to ask for help. This is a big reality we have to face. I am quite lucky that Ulysses shied away from my location and landed instead in the northern part of the country. Sadly the damage is quite huge with many losing their livelihood and properties due to water inundation. 

The entry of many financial institutions into Bitcoin is always welcomed with open arms and some excitement along the way. This is seen as the biggest sign that Bitcoin is now getting into the mainstream and a seal of approval coming from the finance community. And we know that big institutions can represent a big demand which can push Bitcoin to the top. As to whether this can be a big problem later on, let's leave the future take care of that.

I agree. When a certain area is getting a big percentage of the Bitcoin mining pie this can be a potential problem later for any reason -- climactic, political or economic. The reality here is that Bitcoin miners are usually operating in locations which can cost less in doing the business so profit is the main drive more than anything. This is the big reason why here in my country Bitcoin mining is not making any inroads because power cost here is not so cheap compared to other countries in the region. Yes, hopefully, we can do mining based in Antarctica, but I am not so sure of the source of power in there, maybe ocean currents or fossil? Going back to the main topic, this is quite so expected every time Bitcoin is making a big rise. It happened in the past where the transaction fees became astronomical high and of course it can still happen in the future as the more transactions are clogging the network the more there is an intense competition. This is a big reality all of us here in Bitcoin got to experience.

We should understand that he is actually representing the view of the government over Bitcoin. I still have to see someone  in central banking that is really embracing Bitcoin fully. In some cases, the government is getting into Bitcoin all because they are viewing Bitcoin as a way to circumvent economic embargo or sanctions and not really because they are so convinced of the advantages and beauty of Bitcoin. This is all about empowerment away from the clutch and overarching influence of the government and no government will be working to make itself obsolete or irrelevant. So let's allow time and circumstances to vindicate the usefulness of bitcoin and I think that can be coming in our lifetime.

Personally, I don't see a time when gold will be phased out and it is because it has many industrial and consumer uses that Bitcoin can not do. Of course, as a medium of exchange, Bitcoin has a big advantage because there is no physical storage and I still have to see a store in my accept that accept gold like money. There will always be people that are so interested with gold and there will be those that can choose Bitcoin or maybe we should not also forget that probably that there are some that has both gold and Bitcoin under their investment portfolio. Are they not compatible? Well, that can be subject to some debate really.

As of now, it seems to me that we now over the influence of the Chinese governments as to the price movement of Bitcoin. Or it can be because for the past many months the government has not made any pronouncement relevant to it. However, I also believe that the market has been already wary of the influence which news from China on cryptocurrency. In other worlds, we are fully tired of them and we are not anymore listening though we are still recognizing the fact that many Chinese are holding vast amount of Bitcoin and their actions can still sway the market to go up or down and the fact that Bitcoin mining is still lead by China.

Bitcoin is right now considered and accepted as an investment vehicle (just like buying a land or a house and lot or maybe owning some metals like gold or silver). And because of that, it can also be a store of value meaning we are expecting it to rise in the future and those who are holding it can be benefitted a lot financially speaking. In the original vision of Satoshi, Bitcoin should primarily be a medium of exchange just like the fiat cash but we know that due to many factors including its strong volatility this one big area where Bitcoin is still have a lot of catching up to do.

At least, he got what he came for and then imprisoned for years for the crime. Now, I am just wondering if he did not utilized Bitcoin would it have been harder for Microsoft to caught the illegal act. This is a big reminder to anyone that using Bitcoin is not the best shield or a cover-up as eventually things can be seen by anyone using the blockchain. Anyway, maybe the best lesson is never to do anything bad.

I am sure that your "sad" story in connection with holding Bitcoin is also a story of the many who shook their heads after 2017. Now, I am not so sure if the same story can be repeated this year but this is something we have to watch out for though admittedly it is so hard to decide when can be the right time to let go. As always we are greedy and we can be deceived with our perception that there can be more when the whole is already retreating back to the barracks.

I have been waiting for the time that eventually PayPal will be allowing the purchase of Bitcoin (and other cryptocurrencies soon maybe). We have to understand that PayPal is recognizing the demands from their global users and yes because PayPal is one that is always looking for ways to boost its revenues and profits as well as looking at Bitcoin as something unstoppable -- they now decided that the time ahs come. A big good news, indeed!