Bitcoin - If you had the choice to vote - Commodity or Currency?

[Kakmakr]

Let's say we live in a perfect world, where citizens still made the decisions on political matters and you as an individual were given the choice to vote on a subject.

If the choice were given to you, would you vote for Bitcoin to be accepted as a currency or a commodity? Your governments wants to accept Bitcoin, but they do not want a multi-function and open defined technology. They only give two options on the ballot paper.

1. Define Bitcoin as a Currency

2. Define Bitcoin as a Commodity

You have to remember that the definition will determine the future and the taxes that would be applied to the technology. <VAT or Capital Gains> Where will you draw your X ?

Let's see what would happen, if people were given a choice.   < Both is not a option >

[Xester]

If I were to choose I will choose both. The reason is simple its because whatever bitcoin maybe a commodity or a currency I am earning from them. If only one existed then one of my online jobs will disappear but if bitcoin will remain as a currency and a commodity then I can keep both of my online jobs. It does not only apply to me but to all other people out there. So let us not choose but rather let us select both.

[Kakmakr]

If I were to choose I will choose both. The reason is simple its because whatever bitcoin maybe a commodity or a currency I am earning from them. If only one existed then one of my online jobs will disappear but if bitcoin will remain as a currency and a commodity then I can keep both of my online jobs. It does not only apply to me but to all other people out there. So let us not choose but rather let us select both.

Ok, let's just make this clear before this trend continues. You cannot chose both, if that option is not on the ballot paper. When you vote in your general election, your ballot paper will be void/spoiled/invalid, when you draw your cross on more than one option. So for the sake of this vote, I only added two options on purpose.

I want to see what feature/function of Bitcoin is really more important to people.

[Lintel]

It is both commodity and currency for although people said or dictionary defines it as a currency while others said it is commodity. so whatever it will be , what is important to me this is a big opportunity that is being introduced to us. We are earning from bitcoin for being a commodity or a currency.

[metenjean]

I would rather choose bitcoin as commodity rather than currency, the reason because i want a simple currency for buying daily necessities. I rather pay $1 for coffee rather than having to convert so many zeros from bitcoin for it (BTC0,0000001) and just wanna be clear, seeing that kind of currency makes me having a headache. 

Oh and the other reason is because i think bitcoin price was so high to be considered as a currency (if we compared to flat currency). So i rather to treated bitcoin as commodity like gold or platinum rather than currency.

[TomUyamot]

Please indicate in the OP that both is not allowed. I am afraid many of the posts following mine will be the same with a couple of posts before this. This is an interesting hypothetical question. I wanna know the overall poll result, too.

I chose currency by the way. Bitcoin cannot last as a commodity primarily because its value is not reflective of something that has real value in the hard world. If the value of Bitcoin is reaching by the millions in USD, sooner or later people might finally realize that its value is actually built on sand. As a currency, Bitcoin is perfect.

[audaciousbeing]

If I am to choose, I would choose currency because even though bitcoin has some characteristics of a commodity a larger percentage still tends towards currency. This is evidenced in any of the scenerios

1. One function of a currency would be as a medium of exchange which is something we all agree that bitcoin has satisfied that even though its not a legal tender, its being accepted as currency of exchange in a global market place. Exchange sites, peer to peer sites, the forum here, some utility sites that accepts as payments etc.

2. Another function of currency is being used as a store of value which bitcoin has proven to be on a large percentage( not totally) this is evidenced on how the price has increase significantly from what it is the previous year to what we have now. In all my vote is for currency.

[gharjas2517]

I'm more inclined to be a commodity. While bitcoin has some monetary attributes, it is not possible to replace the French currency in a short time relative to the strong currency bit currency, which is more appropriate to define bitcoin as a speculative commodity.

[Lucius]

I vote for currency since there is only one choice,and the reason is simple from my angle of view.I just think that BTC has a better chance for success if people use it as a currency,otherwise could only become a speculative asset of some large and rich players.The best combination is to be both,commodity and currency since BTC have great infrastructure for for both options and this is blockchain.

I also think that such choice would not be good,in fact it even makes no sense-it is very unlikely that some government would ever think about it in this way.

[Red-Apple]

a currency without a  doubt because bitcoin IS a currency and if you define it as something else it would be like calling the blue sky another color! not that it matters but definitions are sometimes helpful with the understanding and growing of the things. in this case if we define bitcoin as it really is, a currency, then it can grow much easier and faster than if we define it as something that it is not.

[avikz]

Let's say we live in a perfect world, where citizens still made the decisions on political matters and you as an individual were given the choice to vote on a subject.

If the choice were given to you, would you vote for Bitcoin to be accepted as a currency or a commodity? Your governments wants to accept Bitcoin, but they do not want a multi-function and open defined technology. They only give two options on the ballot paper.

1. Define Bitcoin as a Currency

2. Define Bitcoin as a Commodity

You have to remember that the definition will determine the future and the taxes that would be applied to the technology. <VAT or Capital Gains> Where will you draw your X ?

Let's see what would happen, if people were given a choice.  

We can only dream about such world where people were given choice to decide on political and administrative matters. But it will never become a reality. However, to answer your question, I will define bitcoin as a commodity instead of a currency system. Let me explain why,

1. Parallel currency system is not required:
Assuming the government already has an established fiat currency system so accepting bitcoin as a currency would just add another parallel currency system. It would just be an additional way to pay or receive money. So that is not a very effective way of leveraging the power of bitcoin.

2. Commodity won't restrict bitcoin to be used as a currency:
I would like to see bitcoin as an investment. This will provide few additional benefits to the current economic system. Because commodity will attract new investments from the market and due to the price fluctuations, it will provide a source of income to the speculators. Making bitcoin a commodity will certainly not restrict its usage as a currency.  People can still use it as a currency between the willing parties.

3. Extreme price fluctuation is not good for economy:
Yes, you heard that right. Extreme fluctuation can only be helpful if the price goes up and never goes down. But Bitcoin's price can go down to any extent within a very short period of time. So look at the below scenario,

Today's Bitcoin price: $1000
I accepted payment of 1 bitcoin in my store for a goods that costs $1000.

Tomorrow's bitcoin price: $800
I will make direct loss of $200 within a day. Similarly I would make profit of $200 if the price goes up to $1200.

This kind of extreme fluctuations is good for speculators but not good for the sellers of goods and services. It can bring good returns as well as great losses. We don't yet have organized hedge funds who can provide risk covers and not everyone is expert in it.

Even though bitcoin was initially started as a currency but we have deviated from that path long back. It has become an excellent but risky investment choice. So making it a commodity will pave the way for new possibilities.

[Kakmakr]

Please indicate in the OP that both is not allowed. I am afraid many of the posts following mine will be the same with a couple of posts before this. This is an interesting hypothetical question. I wanna know the overall poll result, too.

I chose currency by the way. Bitcoin cannot last as a commodity primarily because its value is not reflective of something that has real value in the hard world. If the value of Bitcoin is reaching by the millions in USD, sooner or later people might finally realize that its value is actually built on sand. As a currency, Bitcoin is perfect.

Ok, I edited my original post to add that BOTH is not an option. Although the majority of the people would want to vote for that, because Bitcoin is multi-functional. The whole point of the Poll is to determined what people would vote for, IF they only had these two options.

Currently most governments force their decision onto their citizens and most of them define Bitcoin as a commodity. I think the reason behind that is to protect their local reserve currency.  

[VitKoyn]

Of course I will vote for currency because at the first place, it was designed to work as a currency or a medium of payment. Although it has some characteristics of being a commodity (like gold), it should work the way satoshi nakamoto designed it, even it is not functioning as a currency right now. But the thing is, even we do vote for currency nor commodity, it will still function as both. And there will be a never ending debate about this because people and other governments have different look on what Bitcoin really is.

[Arwinkim]

Let's say we live in a perfect world, where citizens still made the decisions on political matters and you as an individual were given the choice to vote on a subject.

If the choice were given to you, would you vote for Bitcoin to be accepted as a currency or a commodity? Your governments wants to accept Bitcoin, but they do not want a multi-function and open defined technology. They only give two options on the ballot paper.

1. Define Bitcoin as a Currency

2. Define Bitcoin as a Commodity

You have to remember that the definition will determine the future and the taxes that would be applied to the technology. <VAT or Capital Gains> Where will you draw your X ?

Let's see what would happen, if people were given a choice.   < Both is not a option >

This is a very interesting question. If I were give the option, I would be voting Bitcoin as Currency. Simply, because it is a revolutionary currency that is open to maximise in largest adoption. Furthermore, our government should consider that it is time to think that our fiat is now a traditional payment tool.  We should begin adopting blockchain technology for our fiat.

[bob123]

Let's say we live in a perfect world, where citizens still made the decisions on political matters and you as an individual were given the choice to vote on a subject.

Actually, there are countries where citizens have the ability to vote on (nearly) every political decision (e.g. swiss).

I, for my part, would always define bitcoin as a currency. Simply because:
(1) satoshi invented BTC as a digital currency, not an object to buy.
(2) Bitcoins value (not price) is defined by the usage. And the usage (as a currency) is to transfer wealth in a secure manner within seconds and with low fees.

Governments probably don't want to accept bitcoin as a currency because this would be the first step (realizing BTC is a currency) towards a global currency BTC.

In the long-term the political decision (whether currency or commodity) won't have a noteworty influence on BTC's adoption-/usage- rate.

[jerowacik]

The truth is, a case can be made for either designation, but the official answer depends largely upon geographical location and political influence. Like any form of money, Bitcoin may be readily exchanged for goods and services. It’s accepted around the globe as viable mode of payment.

[Nellayar]

Let's say we live in a perfect world, where citizens still made the decisions on political matters and you as an individual were given the choice to vote on a subject.

If the choice were given to you, would you vote for Bitcoin to be accepted as a currency or a commodity? Your governments wants to accept Bitcoin, but they do not want a multi-function and open defined technology. They only give two options on the ballot paper.

1. Define Bitcoin as a Currency

2. Define Bitcoin as a Commodity

You have to remember that the definition will determine the future and the taxes that would be applied to the technology. <VAT or Capital Gains> Where will you draw your X ?

Let's see what would happen, if people were given a choice.   < Both is not a option >

Hm. This a HOT  (Higher Order Thinking Skills) question and I think I can't choose between the two of it. But as what you've asked, I try to defend my opinion. If I will pick the particular usage of bitcoin, I really want it as both because for me, bitcoin is flexible. It can use as our currency and at the same time, it can be used to fill up our commodities.
But then, you are asking to choose only one and I think bitcoin serves as currency. Bitcoin existed to have a peer to peer connection using blockchain technology, hence it can only use as a medium of exchange.

[Kprawn]

I will stay with Satoshi's original intent for Bitcoin and that is for Bitcoin to be a P2P Cash payment alternative for the Fiat

system. It must be the perfect alternative for global payments over all other payment systems. Transactions must be cheap

and fast and also easily accessible.  Lately, more and more people are hoarding Bitcoin and using it as a store of value and

investment token. 

[bartolo]

Undoubtedly I would define bitcoin as a currency. This is what bitcoin is supposed to be and what will be once the majority of people start using it in daily life.

[kalstarzz]

I see these two choices that can not be determined one of them for me.
because this option will make me lose the main function of bitcoin I use.