Is bitcoin a currency, a stock, or both?

[sportguy98]

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!

Neither... You can only buy whole share numbers or have whole numbers for currency... Can't buy 0.01 share or have 10.28374$

[Joopii]

I see bitcoin as both, a currency and a stock, it depends on the user.
You can invest in bitcoin, just like in stocks, but still you can use bitcoin as a currency with no big risks of fluctuation, if you immediately use the bitcoins after buying them.

[SRG]

A currency suggests an accepted medium of exchange, bitcoin can be this.

However, due to its deflationary nature it is an exceptional store of value and therefore a great commodity.

You've mucked up your survey, despite your additional information in the OP, because a stock is a portion of ownership of a future income stream and so that confuses people.  However, as you've described it, both you and your parents are correct.

[Gator-hex]

Yes both,

while you can spend BTC holding on to it while in the early stages is like having a stock in a global transaction system and it's value will increase as more people start to accept it for tansactions and the market figures out it's real value.

Check out this video..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHUPPYzzZrI

[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)

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.

And what i meant is that noone really cares about which uncle from which side of your family thinks that bitcoin is a currency or not. No offence 

[Jooolz]

I think both in varying degrees.
If I had followed my instincts I would have purchased 10 bitcoins @$140 as an investment
When it reached $1200 I would have cashed in as payment towards a house in Italy I am currently buying.
But that was a couple of weeks ago when I saw the word bitcoin for the first time as I read the story about the Norwegian guy who found his Wallet information and realized he had amassed $850,000.
Since then I have read voraciously everything bitcoin and I intend to collect bitcoins as stock - because I truly believe in it as a future currency.

[odolvlobo]

I think there are some people here that don't quite know what a "stock" is. Please take a look at the definition.

A type of security that signifies ownership in a corporation and represents a claim on part of the corporation's assets and earnings.

Now, do you really think that accurately describes Bitcoin?

And while we are at it, here is the definition of a commodity:

A basic good used in commerce that is interchangeable with other commodities of the same type. Commodities are most often used as inputs in the production of other goods or services. The quality of a given commodity may differ slightly, but it is essentially uniform across producers. When they are traded on an exchange, commodities must also meet specified minimum standards, also known as a basis grade.

I dislike quoting definitions because then people start arguing over semantics and invent their own definitions and things like that, but I hope this helps.

[altcointrade]

If it can be used to directly purchase goods & services, would it not be seen as currency?

[Itun]

I don't think btc are either currency or stock.

It's just a system of total speculation.

[Paralich]

It's certainly not a currency if you ask the FED, but it also doesn't seem like a stock to me - you don't get any part of ownership of any company. Commodity is closer to reality, I think.

[Purps]

i think its like a stock since it rises quick and falls quick.

[Jooolz]

So I suppose currency
With investment potential for early adopters?

[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.

And what i meant is that noone really cares about which uncle from which side of your family thinks that bitcoin is a currency or not. No offence 

Just proving my point that everyone has a diff opinion on btc.

[jones31]

It depends on which part of the world you are.
It's just like dogs.
And I really don't wanna say how dogs are viewed in China  right now.