Bitcoin is treated a stock

[deisik]

I thought at first that Bitcoin will be a currency to be used in the future. But from what I am seeing here is that it will be treated as a stock, it is even compared to gold. What do you guys think?

Presently, Bitcoin is a financial asset

The word asset means that you use it to earn profits. In this aspect, it differs from, say, a house where you happen to live. But if you rent out your house, it will be an asset too (a tangible asset, more specifically). So the difference lies not in the nature of things themselves, but rather how you are going to use them. Financial here refers to the fact that the asset doesn't have intrinsic value (i.e. direct use or inherent utility outside of finances). In this way, fiat money can used as a financial asset as well. For example, you can trade currencies earning profits from exchange rate changes and volatility. On the other hand, gold can be used as an asset too ("buy low, sell high"), but it is not a financial asset since it has a lot of applications in various industries and as jewelry

[YuginKadoya]

I thought at first that Bitcoin will be a currency to be used in the future. But from what I am seeing here is that it will be treated as a stock, it is even compared to gold. What do you guys think?

Just like other currency, commodities and stuff that can put your investment in, Bitcoin was really treated as one of the things that you can put some of your investments in, there are some profiting investment application that includes bitcoin in the lineup of commodities that you need to predict if it's value is going down or up.

[Juggy777]

I thought at first that Bitcoin will be a currency to be used in the future. But from what I am seeing here is that it will be treated as a stock, it is even compared to gold. What do you guys think?

Does no one think that it doesn't matter how Bitcoin is used or thought off? Each and every person will think differently. Each and every person will argue over it concept, do we really need to say hey you can't think of this, no you can't do this. I feel there no need for this question as it's purely to the individual mind as to how he shall see it and interpret it. It will also depend on peer pressure ans his local knowledge. Each one is free to decide how and what ways should he choose to understand or compare Bitcoin with, you can't force some one to change. However gold and btc have no comparison one is a currency other is a metal. Maybe it's compared to show one could make more money in the investment of it as a asset, however that would be wrong as both are different asset class.

[Zudalar]

I like to think about stocks being the slowest method of making money when comparing it to other things (trading).

Bitcoin has different exchanges that are open all days of the week.

[deisik]

I thought at first that Bitcoin will be a currency to be used in the future. But from what I am seeing here is that it will be treated as a stock, it is even compared to gold. What do you guys think?

Does no one think that it doesn't matter how Bitcoin is used or thought off? Each and every person will think differently. Each and every person will argue over it concept, do we really need to say hey you can't think of this, no you can't do this. I feel there [is] no need for this question as it's purely to the individual mind as to how he shall see it and interpret it. It will also depend on peer pressure ans his local knowledge. Each one is free to decide how and what ways should he choose to understand or compare Bitcoin with, you can't force some one to change. However gold and btc have no comparison one is a currency other is a metal. Maybe it's compared to show one could make more money in the investment of it as a asset, however that would be wrong as both are different asset class

"Size does matter after all"

I suspect that you err heavily. It is not the question of personal beliefs and convention, it is not the question of how people see Bitcoin or interpret it. More specifically, this question has a very practical importance since Bitcoin's ultimate fate depends on how it is used right now and how it is going to be used in the future. Indeed, we may refer it to any class or group as wee see appropriate and that likely won't change a thing. But this itself doesn't mean that Bitcoin may not actually belong to such a group or class, either in full or in part. And correctly determining its role (which is impossible without proper classification), we wouldn't be able to foresee or foretell its future

[RENATA612]

Bitcoin is truly a store of value. Later on people started to adopt bitcoin which in turn increased the acceptance rate. Further the same served as a payment portal and as an alternate currency. Due to the potential now it has gained the ability to get used as a investment. Now based on the fluctuations similar to stock market users consider it as a stock.

is not fiat money also so is there an exchange between the dollar and other currencies, it is also not much different from the bitcoin function to present this to a stock can also be as currency any more, that's for sure just now much busier in his stock

[Pursuer]

I like to think about stocks being the slowest method of making money when comparing it to other things (trading).

Bitcoin has different exchanges that are open all days of the week.

practically stock is also trading, you trade stocks the same way. you may be thinking about a different thing though.
because in stocks market you buy stocks from the market with the same way you buy anything else in trading (like trading gold, bitcoin, altcoins, Forex,...) and then sell it the same way on top to take some profit out.

in case of bitcoin I have to say it is being mostly treated like a "stock" in a sense that it is only being traded and not really used as a currency and that in the long run can not be good.

[dmamigo]

I like to think about stocks being the slowest method of making money when comparing it to other things (trading).

Bitcoin has different exchanges that are open all days of the week.

practically stock is also trading, you trade stocks the same way. you may be thinking about a different thing though.
because in stocks market you buy stocks from the market with the same way you buy anything else in trading (like trading gold, bitcoin, altcoins, Forex,...) and then sell it the same way on top to take some profit out.

in case of bitcoin I have to say it is being mostly treated like a "stock" in a sense that it is only being traded and not really used as a currency and that in the long run can not be good.

Currently it is considered as a "stock" or "commodity" which can be traded or is hold as investment, more than using as currency. Even if its used as payment processor, later it is converted into local currency. So mostly it is used for investing.

I like to think about stocks being the slowest method of making money when comparing it to other things (trading).

Bitcoin has different exchanges that are open all days of the week.

And stocks are being traded or invested on, stock/commodity is common term for both trading and investing. Yes, trading gives faster profits, but with higher risks. Whereas investing are also profitable sometimes might be slower but not always, with lower risks.

[Xester]

I like to think about stocks being the slowest method of making money when comparing it to other things (trading).

Bitcoin has different exchanges that are open all days of the week.

practically stock is also trading, you trade stocks the same way. you may be thinking about a different thing though.
because in stocks market you buy stocks from the market with the same way you buy anything else in trading (like trading gold, bitcoin, altcoins, Forex,...) and then sell it the same way on top to take some profit out.

in case of bitcoin I have to say it is being mostly treated like a "stock" in a sense that it is only being traded and not really used as a currency and that in the long run can not be good.

Bitcoin is both a stock and a currency. It is a stock since it can be traded and many are holding it to gain profit. But it is also a currency since you can also use it to buy things online, eat in some restaurant using bitcoins, drink coffee in starbucks, ride on a taxi, go to school with bitcoins and many more. Though there are only selected business or institution that accepts bitcoin but the fact that there are people accepting bitcoin in exchange for goods and services it is already a good example that bitcoin is a currency.

[xuan87]

It's depend on the people, bitcoin was created as a currency, however because of the high demand, bitcoin has become an investment, and as investment bitcoin value rising is so fast, so most of the people used bitcoin as an investment because it is very profitable and had a huge potential to become really expensive in the future

[Sundark]

Why do we need even classify bitcoin and compare it to something already existing? Even top professional economist can't agree upon what bitcoin really is.
Last time I checked bitcoin was considered both currency and commodity in the US. Why don't we came up with new completely new definition?
Stop comparing bitcoin to gold, other precious metals or stocks, bitcoin is a new invention and should be treated as such.

[Catmony]

I thought at first that Bitcoin will be a currency to be used in the future. But from what I am seeing here is that it will be treated as a stock, it is even compared to gold. What do you guys think?

Bitcoin is both currency and stocks like gold. Bitcoin is a perfect payment solution while as if you can store bitcoin for long term you will earn very good amount of profit because with increasing demand and decreasing supply of bitcoin, price will rise constantly.

[somedream]

Definitely an asset. Until it's accepted in more places, NOT ONLINE, i.e retail stores, it won't be see as much else.

Also it's still decently hard to get BTC in most countries. I.e you have to go through quite a bit of effort and cost sometimes (i.e fees to send a wire transfer to some exchange)

[BrewMaster]

Definitely an asset. Until it's accepted in more places, NOT ONLINE, i.e retail stores, it won't be see as much else.

Also it's still decently hard to get BTC in most countries. I.e you have to go through quite a bit of effort and cost sometimes (i.e fees to send a wire transfer to some exchange)

you can always easily use other methods. you don't have to necessarily use an exchange service to get bitcoin.
for example i just sold some coins to someone in my country completely peer to peer and the other party used his bank (debit) card to transfer the money to my account with zero fees. and his price was just 1-2% below the market.

[Vaccinus]

I thought at first that Bitcoin will be a currency to be used in the future. But from what I am seeing here is that it will be treated as a stock, it is even compared to gold. What do you guys think?

well gold isn't a stock, it's a commodities, and in the usa bitcoin is treated as a property not as a stock, where do you live? to be treated as a currency you need first to develop an huge acceptance from all the merchants, and you need that employers use bitcoin instead of fiat to pay their employees, but to do this, the government need to eliminate its currency

[Jeremycoin]

Well, in my country (Indonesia) it is indeed treated as a stock. The government doesn't assume it as a currency, because according to our law that the only currency that can be used in our country is IDR (Indonesian Rupiah). But even tho the government treats it like that, I still treat my Bitcoin as a currency and I use it as the way I use the national currency.

[Theb]

It is common sense Bitcoin as a currency can be treated as a stock even all fiat currencies is treated like a stock which they have FOREX (Foreign Exchange). If you mean a stock which has price differences from ups and downs then everything that has demand can be treated as one simple as that. Bitcoin is no different than fiat currency, the only difference that I see is that Bitcoin is more volatile than Fiat.

[Kprawn]

Well, in my country (Indonesia) it is indeed treated as a stock. The government doesn't assume it as a currency, because according to our law that the only currency that can be used in our country is IDR (Indonesian Rupiah). But even tho the government treats it like that, I still treat my Bitcoin as a currency and I use it as the way I use the national currency.

How do they TAX Bitcoin in your country? Do you pay VAT on every Bitcoin purchase you make or do you pay extra import duties for the purchase

if it was done in another country? We pay a type of capital gains on the "profit" you made, when you sell it... and you have to declare all your

income when you go past a specific amount. 

[FiiNALiZE]

Bitcoin isn't a stock. It is an asset and if the ETF things gets approved then the wallstreet guys will try to make it a stock. In my opinion, Bitcoin can't be called a stock because the wallstreet people will try to put a different ticker symbol on Bitcoin instead of BTC, so that isn't BTC anymore -it's a whole new thing.
It's kind of like how some people did that XBT from BTC, it just doesn't look the same. Bitcoin is just code.

[Wind_FURY]

Bitcoin have zero inflation, its supply is limited just like gold or more than that so over time with increasing demand price of bitcoin will have steady rise so it is treated as trading assets just like gold. But it is more convenient than gold to send from one place to another as a form of payment so it can act like currency also.

Gold is still used as a form of payment, actually the fiat are backed by gold.

Technically no, you are wrong. Bitcoin still has some inflation as long as there are Bitcoin left to mined. I do not know the exact figures are on how much the annual "inflation" is but the discussion has been done in the forum before.