The parameters of the currency could be changed.

[dnmng]

Yes, your "money" could be and would be forked and you will lose everything invested in bitcoin.

This is a good article with lots of research and observation

http://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2015/12/28/should-you-invest-in-bitcoin-10-arguments-against-as-of-december-2015/#2715e4857a0b4841a9f54669

1. The parameters of the currency could be changed.

2. There could be an attack on the network.

3. Transaction volume moves off the Bitcoin blockchain into side chains or permissioned chains.

4. The system does not successfully transition from being subsidized by the block reward to being paid for by transaction fees.

5. The Chinese firewall or another Internet issue causes the global Bitcoin network to be split for a few days.

6. The lack of a central authority prevents the protocol from progressing.

7. A competing protocol could overtake it.

8. World events prompt a crackdown.

9. Government regulations in one part of the world put the whole network at risk.

10. People get burned by it as an investment.

[1715232690]

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[1715232690]

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[BTCtrader71]

The author of that article nevertheless owns bitcoin, or so the tagline says.

[Amph]

funny because those same point, or at least the majority apply to fiat as well, but no one seems to remember them, like the first one and the 2 and the 10...

i can't see how the 9 is true, a small government hinder bitcoin is not going to change anything really, they are only shooting themselves in the foot

3 is not even a realm, and the 4 maybe is the only good concern, i need to deepen this

[RodeoX]

Oh I love the Onion! 

[BillyBobZorton]

Wrong since the first point: If there is a hard fork the new blockchain automatically has the amount of coins you had in the old (original) blockchain prior the hard fork, so nothing to fear, you aren't losing any Bitcoins ever in any of those scenarios. What you need to fear is fiat and its collapsing system.

Another shitty FUD post, to the ignore list it goes.

[n2004al]

Yes, your "money" could be and would be forked and you will lose everything invested in bitcoin.

This is a good article with lots of research and observation

http://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2015/12/28/should-you-invest-in-bitcoin-10-arguments-against-as-of-december-2015/#2715e4857a0b4841a9f54669

1. The parameters of the currency could be changed.

2. There could be an attack on the network.

3. Transaction volume moves off the Bitcoin blockchain into side chains or permissioned chains.

4. The system does not successfully transition from being subsidized by the block reward to being paid for by transaction fees.

5. The Chinese firewall or another Internet issue causes the global Bitcoin network to be split for a few days.

6. The lack of a central authority prevents the protocol from progressing.

7. A competing protocol could overtake it.

8. World events prompt a crackdown.

9. Government regulations in one part of the world put the whole network at risk.

10. People get burned by it as an investment.

I am not a specialist of such kind of this things to be able to judge is can be true or not. But if bitcoin could be so fragile must have been disappeared time ago. There are to many theoretical possibilities which can happen in every moment. And every of those has its probability to happen. But even this is far away to be taken in consideration. Because if the probability that something bad happen to an event is 10 percent (mean that can/must be verified/happen 1 time every 10 happen time of the event) may occur that the event can happen even 100 times and the bad don't happen even 1 time. Then can happen 10 bad in a row. Or only 1 or 2 and be other 50 time again with the happen of the normal event.

What is the meaning of this example and its connection with the post of OP. All that listed weaknesses of bitcoin (if true) can/must be rare. If so cannot be made in consideration as a real risk. Otherwise, if it would the opposite, bitcoin already should have been only a memory. If we must have fear from the above then must be much more fear about something much more important than the bitcoin: our life. I can give here 100 reasons which will make someone to think that his life is in big danger in every place he will be. For example: in every moment can happen a big earthquake which can disappear the life on Earth; in every moment can happen a big clash with an asteroid (like has happen in the time of dinosaurs) which again can disappear the life on the Earth; in every moment and in every place can be some insane or drunk dead which can shoot and leave dead everyone. I can continue without end with this cases. All possible to happen in every moment. The same probability or examples seems to me all the points listed by OP. And so must be. But if someone think in this way then its life is ended. He will feel fear even at his WC.

[Denker]

OP why aren't you so fair and also put the other 2 parts of this 3 part series here? Hmm I guess I know why.
As I already have posted in another thread today in part there are made 10 arguments why you should invest in Bitcoin.
Read here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2015/12/11/should-you-invest-in-bitcoin-10-arguments-in-favor-as-of-december-2015/#2715e4857a0b75bc3cae540e

And in the third part the author gives an introduction to the ecosystem and how to buy some Bitcoin.
Read here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2015/12/31/want-to-own-bitcoin-heres-how-to-buy-invest-in-and-store-it/#2715e4857a0bf3d4f04781c9

All in all the outcome of these 3 parts is positive for Bitcoin and beside that the author also mentioned that she own's a bit of Bitcoin!!

[RodeoX]

I am not a specialist of such kind of this things to be able to judge is can be true or not...

We are, and this is BS.

1. The parameters of the currency could be changed.
(with the consensus permission of bitcoin users. Power to the people bro!)

2. There could be an attack on the network.
(How? People often say this, but I have NEVER seen a plausible method.)

3. Transaction volume moves off the Bitcoin blockchain into side chains or permissioned chains.
(If a user cares to use sidechains then they are free to, but not required)

4. The system does not successfully transition from being subsidized by the block reward to being paid for by transaction fees.
(huh? two halvings and so far so good!)

5. The Chinese firewall or another Internet issue causes the global Bitcoin network to be split for a few days.
(What, split in half? Nonsense. Of course a global nuclear exchange and accompanying EMP could knock out the internet and BTC. You would have much bigger problems than BTC if that happened. )

6. The lack of a central authority prevents the protocol from progressing.
(And prevents anyone from owning the system. This is bitcoins greatest strength and the basis for all the growth we have seen. Unless you prefer benie babies?)

7. A competing protocol could overtake it.
(True and possible. If a better system comes along then perhaps it will become more popular. Great!)

8. World events prompt a crackdown.
(A world crackdown? Please.  )

9. Government regulations in one part of the world put the whole network at risk.
(The risk would be for those who live under THAT government, not the network. The network requires only two users and I'm one. Can I get a second? )

10. People get burned by it as an investment.
(True and possible. Why? Because bitcoin was never intended as an investment and any investment entails risk. People get burned to the ground every day on Wall St.)

[disclaimer201]

But wait a minute, every once in a while it is discussed if further decimal places could (technically) be added, which would probably require a hardfork. Of course, this would need a consensus of the miners, but if mining gets more and more centralized, this is no longer just a theoretical question.

Adding decimal places wouldn't change the overall amount of coins, but satoshis wouldn't remain the smallest unit, so wouldn't that be a form of inflation?

[RyNinDaCleM]

Adding decimal places wouldn't change the overall amount of coins, but satoshis wouldn't remain the smallest unit, so wouldn't that be a form of inflation?

No, that would be like saying that there are 21 million $100 bills but if you take one and exchange it for 100 $1 bills is inflation.

I honestly don't see there ever being a need to add decimal places. This would require $100mm BTC because by the time there are $100mm BTC, there will be nothing priced under $1US. The thing that will change is instead of 21quadrillion Satoshi', then we have 2100 quadrillion mSats. Not really enlarging the monetary base, but adding to the divisibility like 100 pennies for a Dollar.