Is bitcoin a currency, a stock, or both?

[nahtnam]

Hey!

BTW YOU CAN BUY AS LITTLE OF A STOCK, AND AS MUCH AS A STOCK. IT CAN BE A COMMODITY OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT IS A (RELIABLE) INVESTMENT

I have been showing bitcoins to people lately and each person has a different view:

Me: Currency

My parents: Stock

My aunt and uncle (1): Both

My cousin (from family 1, 1): $$$

My other cousin (from family 1, 2): Currency

My aunt (2): Dont care

My uncle (2): Both

So what do you think it is?

EDIT: Commodities like Gold are assumed under stock!

[imamanandyou]

So what do you think it is?

What about comodity (like Gold for example)

[nahtnam]

What about comodity (like Gold for example)

Ummmm, lets assume it under Stock for now...

[coindice]

It's use is as a currency, but you could consider it a commodity. Though to the average person, commodity may even be something difficult to explain it as as the average person just tends to think of stocks whenever the word investing comes up.

[nahtnam]

It's use is as a currency, but you could consider it a commodity. Though to the average person, commodity may even be something difficult to explain it as as the average person just tends to think of stocks whenever the word investing comes up.

I post in the OP that commodities lie under stocks. I also think that stocks are traded much more than gold.

[imamanandyou]

Stock is not good explanation because you cant buy less than 1 stock, this could make people think they need to buy 1 BTC minimum

[coindice]

It's hard to put Bitcoin under any one word, since we are in new territory. The average person though may just associate it with stocks in the mean time. Typically when I discuss investing with someone who doesn't do it, they automatically assume stocks.

[nahtnam]

Stock is not good explanation because you cant buy less than 1 stock, this could make people think they need to buy 1 BTC minimum

Updated OP.

[nahtnam]

It's hard to put Bitcoin under any one word, since we are in new territory. The average person though may just associate it with stocks in the mean time. Typically when I discuss investing with someone who doesn't do it, they automatically assume stocks.

Thats my point. No one knows what category bitcoin is under, it can be a whole new category, but what do YOU classify it as, and why?

[raspcoin]

It is not a traditional currency, that is for sure. I would not call it a stock either, though.

[coindice]

It's hard to put Bitcoin under any one word, since we are in new territory. The average person though may just associate it with stocks in the mean time. Typically when I discuss investing with someone who doesn't do it, they automatically assume stocks.

Thats my point. No one knows what category bitcoin is under, it can be a whole new category, but what do YOU classify it as, and why?

On a basic level I would consider it a currency as I can transfer it to someone else in exchange for goods and services. On the other hand, in my portfolio, I have it as a speculative high risk investment.

[nahtnam]

It's hard to put Bitcoin under any one word, since we are in new territory. The average person though may just associate it with stocks in the mean time. Typically when I discuss investing with someone who doesn't do it, they automatically assume stocks.

Thats my point. No one knows what category bitcoin is under, it can be a whole new category, but what do YOU classify it as, and why?

On a basic level I would consider it a currency as I can transfer it to someone else in exchange for goods and services. On the other hand, in my portfolio, I have it as a speculative high risk investment.

Soo both?

[coindice]

It's hard to put Bitcoin under any one word, since we are in new territory. The average person though may just associate it with stocks in the mean time. Typically when I discuss investing with someone who doesn't do it, they automatically assume stocks.

Thats my point. No one knows what category bitcoin is under, it can be a whole new category, but what do YOU classify it as, and why?

On a basic level I would consider it a currency as I can transfer it to someone else in exchange for goods and services. On the other hand, in my portfolio, I have it as a speculative high risk investment.

Soo both?

I don't feel right calling it a stock. A speculative investment I would consider it, just as I can put risk as an investment into many things that are not stocks. Holding bitcoin doesn't make me a shareholder of anything controlled by a board.

[odolvlobo]

Bitcoin is a payment system (that has its own currency).

It is not a stock -- a stock is a share of a company, something that produces revenue.

A commodity is not a stock, either. I suppose you could consider bitcoin as a commodity, but that would be splitting hairs. A commodity is typically a resource or at least something tangible.

[YourPalToots]

It's a lot things. A currency, a commodity and a technology. I also believe that this movement provides hope and a means for people to get out from under their governments monetary policy and belong to a more open and free global exchange of 'money'

[torrentheaven]

I would say Bitcoin is decentralized easily transferable commodity

[nahtnam]

I understand that commodities and stocks are different but for simplistic sakes stocks represent anything that is an investment.

[PenAndPaper]

What about your neighbors? Ask them please so i can decide. Also make it clear who is saying what.
I mean neighbor from across the street (1)
Neighbor from next door (1)
Neighbor from next door (2)

[nahtnam]

It's a lot things. A currency, a commodity and a technology. I also believe that this movement provides hope and a means for people to get out from under their governments monetary policy and belong to a more open and free global exchange of 'money'

So I guess we can create a whole section just for coins.

[nahtnam]

What about your neighbors? Ask them please so i can decide. Also make it clear who is saying what.
I mean neighbor from across the street (1)
Neighbor from next door (1)
Neighbor from next door (2)

What I meant was that (1) means from one side of the family (2) means the other side. Then (1, 1) means one kid from the famiy.