Please enlighten me

[VRExpress]

I've been wondering, is there a way to live by crypto alone and stay away from Fiat? Everyone is talking about privacy and decentralization but Fiat is breaking that boundary always, the moment you want Fiat after having some crypto your privacy is ruined.

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[mk4]

I've been wondering, is there a way to live by crypto alone and stay away from Fiat?

Unless your country accepts bitcoin/crypto on brick and mortar stores, then no. We're really not "there" yet.

Everyone is talking about privacy and decentralization but Fiat is breaking that boundary always, the moment you want Fiat after having some crypto your privacy is ruined.

You can't have total privacy, but you can increase your privacy by not using KYC exchanges. There's a reason why we heavily recommend no-KYC P2P platforms here!

https://localcryptos.com/
https://hodlhodl.com/

[Upgrade00]

Living exclusively on crypto is not possible at the moment (except maybe where Bitcoin is accepted as a level tender). There are lots of online services you can finance with crypto,l Bitcoin, and depending on your country's acceptance to cryptocurrencies, some physical stores and merchants could accept it as a medium of payment, but that's the extent of which it can go. Search around your country to know how far this extent goes and how much you can get directly with crypto.

Also crypto is a general term to describe thousands of coins. You will have to specific on the currency and how receptive the country is to it.

[Chikito]

I've been wondering, is there a way to live by crypto alone and stay away from Fiat? Everyone is talking about privacy and decentralization but Fiat is breaking that boundary always, the moment you want Fiat after having some crypto your privacy is ruined.

too difficult right now, because all instruments still need fiat to exchange with life necessities. Try to searching self, if you find that dream place, then move it there.

[BitcoinGirl.Club]

I've been wondering, is there a way to live by crypto alone and stay away from Fiat? Everyone is talking about privacy and decentralization but Fiat is breaking that boundary always, the moment you want Fiat after having some crypto your privacy is ruined.

It's possible and again not exactly very easy.
When buying, use P2P exchanges where they do not need KYC. When selling then use P2P too and instead of using cash handling apps, use person to person cash dealing. You can not just do it like that. If you build up a private network around you then this become easier. Now this private network does not mean that you will need to know the others. You can easily do it by anonymous communication.

Like I said it's possible but not exactly very easy.

[cryptoaddictchie]

I've been wondering, is there a way to live by crypto alone and stay away from Fiat? Everyone is talking about privacy and decentralization but Fiat is breaking that boundary always, the moment you want Fiat after having some crypto your privacy is ruined.

Possibly on countries that completely embraced bitcoin and blockchain tech. So far El Salvador is the leading on countries accepting cryptos. But Im not sure if all services and and stores accepting already crypto, more likely only btc. If you have some altcoins then might convert it to that and use it there. But of course other  countries are not affiliated on that so maybe you only got some few ones to used it with.

[Oluwa-btc]

Despite people knowing about Bitcoin and Crypto Currencies, they're a bit tied to fiat, as they can't do without it, this will be hard if you the country you resides have been stopped from using Crypto Currencies and Bitcoin e.g China.
But if you really want this, you can sure make a move to El Salvador the Bitcoin City in particular, as they are on of the Countries living the life you aspire for. You'll find it very difficult to see Haircut saloons, Malls, etc accepting this as Bitcoin hasn't gone widespread.

[uchegod-21]

I don't think it is easy in my country where bitcoin is not legalised but yet exchanges exist. If you make transactions with local banks and include any crypto related words in the narration, your account would be banned. So this makes businesses to turn away from Bitcoin, you cannot afford that your business account should be freezed because you want to accept bitcoin for businesses.

There is a youtuber from Canada that claimed he has lived only on bitcoin, you can see it in Pmalek thread. Have you tried to live only on Bitcoin?

[TreyARC]

For now it's not possible to live on crypto alone and even now that regulation is what the whole world is craving for I doubt it will be possible to live on crypto alone, Fiat isn't going away any time soon so find p2p platforms for your trading activities, at least your banks won't know that you are into crypto trading and investments.

[Pmalek]

But if you really want this, you can sure make a move to El Salvador the Bitcoin City in particular, as they are on of the Countries living the life you aspire for.

Not recommended at all. What good does it do that El Salvador uses Bitcoin as legal tender when it was and remains one of the most dangerous places to live in? You can have your arm chopped off on the street because some thugs want your golden bracelet, but at least you can buy groceries with BTC.  

Gang-related violence, homicide, extortions, kidnaps are all part of daily life in El Salvador. It's one of the places with the highest murder rates in the world, if not the highest.   

[Hyphen(-)]

I've been wondering, is there a way to live by crypto alone and stay away from Fiat? Everyone is talking about privacy and decentralization but Fiat is breaking that boundary always, the moment you want Fiat after having some crypto your privacy is ruined.

Fiat is a currency that we can exchange our cryptocurrency to without expectating any third parties, as you said Bitcoin is decentralized living with crypto alone without fiat depend on your country of living, is Bitcoin and cryptocurrency fully legalized?  If yes is Bitcoin acceptable as a means of exchange? If yes then you van do without Fiat. But it's rare to do without fiat currency because they work hand in hand with each other's.

[pakhitheboss]

I've been wondering, is there a way to live by crypto alone and stay away from Fiat? Everyone is talking about privacy and decentralization but Fiat is breaking that boundary always, the moment you want Fiat after having some crypto your privacy is ruined.

It completely depends on the country that you are living in now. In many countries Bitcoin is accepted at the local store and in El Salvador, it is considered legal tender. You still can use Bitcoin to make purchases online but the list of vendors online is not that much. It is too early to live completely on Bitcoin as you still need to pay your bills and rent in Fiat. In the future this might change as Bitcoin is still brand new.

[Franctoshi]

Moving to El Salvador might be a better option for you, if you're looking for privacy and to living a life where you do transaction in cryptocurrency , So that is the only country that you can have that kind of system of living. But Aside that, we're yet to embrace the system. Then for privacy in this digital age ,it's almost impossible to have such kind of live.

[Rikafip]

Moving to El Salvador might be a better option for you, if you're looking for privacy and to living a life where you do transaction in cryptocurrency , So that is the only country that you can have that kind of system of living. But Aside that, we're yet to embrace the system. Then for privacy in this digital age ,it's almost impossible to have such kind of live.

Have you ever checked what's the quality of life in Salvador before advising someone to move there? Sure, you can pay with Bitcoin there but that doesn't mean much if you get shot or mugged.


@OP life is hard enough without trying living using solely bitcoin  (and by that I mean no payment processors or crypto debit cards) so don't make it even harder by trying something like that. What you can do though is focus on the things that you can pay with Bitcoin and even that would be a good start as many bitcoiners are still just hodling and are not willing to spend it even when they have a chance for that.

[aysg76]

I've been wondering, is there a way to live by crypto alone and stay away from Fiat? Everyone is talking about privacy and decentralization but Fiat is breaking that boundary always, the moment you want Fiat after having some crypto your privacy is ruined.

You will need little cash to struggle for your daily necessities and buying stuff if bitcoin or other crypto is not acceptable near you which is the case at most of places this time.But if you want then bitcoin is the best option with you not any of the shitcoins in the market and it will be accepted soon near your stores with LN channels.

Not recommended at all. What good does it do that El Salvador uses Bitcoin as legal tender when it was and remains one of the most dangerous places to live in? You can have your arm chopped off on the street because some thugs want your golden bracelet, but at least you can buy groceries with BTC.  

Gang-related violence, homicide, extortions, kidnaps are all part of daily life in El Salvador. It's one of the places with the highest murder rates in the world, if not the highest.   

As per old reports and latest reports also it's the highest one with most homicides per 100k people and the situations have not improved any more or less as you can see in this charts:



These are some old charts but as per latest 2020 reports also the murder rates are highest there followed by Honduras and Venezuela

Characteristic   Murder rate per 100,000 inhabitants

El Salvador                 82.84
Honduras                 56.52
Venezuela                 56.33
US Virgin Islands         49.26
Jamaica                         47.01
Lesotho                         41.25
Belize                         37.6
Saint Vincent       36.46
Saint Kitts                  34.23
South Africa                 33.97
Trinidad and Tobago   30.88
Brazil                           29.53
Bahamas                    28.4

Source : Murder rates

The country was dominated by US dollar domination at first but bitcoin has helped it to rise from the graves but bitcoin can't protect you from these issues like gang related crimes.But the good part is your coins are stored inside your wallet and you can buy with LN to pay at any store or restaurant but it you are carrying cash and physical items that attracts more criminals towards you then it's more risky.But still if you are out of El Salvador it's not at all advised to shift there due to such reasons that can endangered your life.

[Darker45]

There were stories I read about some people who are living their lives with Bitcoin only. However, I think that is only possible because wherever they are, Bitcoin could be spent in stores; Bitcoin could actually be used as money. Where I am from, that is not possible at all. So whether I am dreaming to live that life or not is not an issue. The issue is that whether anybody could actually do it. But I am almost sure that will eventually happen.

[hugeblack]

Very difficult but not impossible, where you live will determine the level of difficulty, but in any case, cash is more private than bitcoin for everyday transactions of a personal consumption nature.
There are some similar stories that I have read on YouTube^[1][2] and some trips that individuals have taken to use Bitcoin, but they are only experiences for a day to two months and not for the rest of your life or completely dispensing with cash.

The closest thing that makes sense is to buy gift cards from sites like bitrefill^[3] and use them as an alternative to cash.


[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGQPNJaiXpA
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0IvkMKY5S8
[3] https://www.bitrefill.com › gift-cards

[alik111]

Its impossible in our country because here crypto transection isn't legal and we must use fiat currency. But hope that very soon crypto will be accepted. Even in that time you can't stay away from fiat also.

[nakamura12]

If your country legalised crypto then you may can use it to buy what you want when a store accepts crypto as one of their payment. If not then it would be hard to use your crypto to buy things in the store in your country and does not accept crypto as one of their payment then your goal of staying away from fiat won't happen at all. One more thing, crypto is not completely safe as you may have think as the safety of your crypto depends on your device security and how you keep your wallet's seed phrases or private key.

[BlackHatCoiner]

Here are the reasons why this can't happen, at least at the moment.

• Volatility. You can't realistically make a living by using a currency that does +-5% a week.
• Few accept it. There's a significant adoption done this in the last 5 years, but it's just a tiny fraction when it comes to all the available stores.
• Propaganda. (Climate change, criminal usage, pyramid scheme or bubble etc.)

[pooya87]

If your country legalised crypto then you may can use it to buy what you want when a store accepts crypto as one of their payment.

Legalization is not enough for stores to accept cryptocurrency payments. For example a lot of countries have legalized cryptocurrencies as commodities and things like that which means whenever you use them you will have to pay very high taxes which discourages anybody from accepting them.

The only way legalization would lead to adoption is to legalize them as currencies and also remove the tax like what Japan did only about bitcoin where they recognized it as a currency and bitcoin payments has 0 tax for the customer or the store. But trading bitcoin has high tax.

There is also the problem with "cryptocurrencies" (other than bitcoin) that they are very insecure and have lots of problems like lack of immutability (in simple terms: blocks can be reversed any time). Their prices are also extremely manipulated and can dump significantly any time their pumped bubble bursts. This greatly discourages their usage as currencies.

[Kelvinid]

I've been wondering, is there a way to live by crypto alone and stay away from Fiat?

Living in a country or a place where Bitcoin is legally accepted and supported by the government can be possible. But if you were in a place that hinders any crypto transactions, you'd rather keep fiat instead.

Everyone is talking about privacy and decentralization but Fiat is breaking that boundary always, the moment you want Fiat after having some crypto your privacy is ruined.

Unfortunately, crypto never guarantees you 100% privacy by now and this can lessen the few years coming. Kinda we enjoy non-KYC P2P transactions and exchanges by now but can't ignore any possibility that whether we like it or not, it will come that all exchanges will ask KYC just like how these banks are doing.

[FirmWars]

Here are the reasons why this can't happen, at least at the moment.

• Volatility. You can't realistically make a living by using a currency that does +-5% a week.
• Few accept it. There's a significant adoption done this in the last 5 years, but it's just a tiny fraction when it comes to all the available stores.
• Propaganda. (Climate change, criminal usage, pyramid scheme or bubble etc.)

The volatility part is why we have stable coins around, if my crypto is going Fiat I always swap to USDT before exchanging to Fiat, I only leave a none stable coin as it is if I have no plan of selling for Fiat any time soon.. I don't have a problem living on crypto alone but where are those accepting crypto as means of payment?.

[BlackHatCoiner]

The volatility part is why we have stable coins around

But, stable coins aren't decentralized and censorship-resistant. For example, USDT is owned by Tether; they decide what's the money supply and I'm subjected to their decisions. If they don't approve my transactions they might as well censor them, reverse them, remove them etc. It's even worse than the current monetary system that we're trying to redefine.

[Rengga Jati]

I've been wondering, is there a way to live by crypto alone and stay away from Fiat?

First of all, there is a very basic question to answer:
Is crypto legal as a currency and used as very common oayment method in your country? are there many merchants that accept crypto especially for daily life?
If the answer is No , it means that ylthe answer of your question is also No
We love crypto, but we still cannot stay away from fiat, because we live in a country, under complicated and centralization regulations. 
Just use crypto wisely

[nakamura12]

The only way legalization would lead to adoption is to legalize them as currencies and also remove the tax like what Japan did only about bitcoin where they recognized it as a currency and bitcoin payments has 0 tax for the customer or the store. But trading bitcoin has high tax.

Indeed, a country that adopt Bitcoin would soon legalize Bitcoin and those who own or use cryptocurrency won't need to pay tax. I also wouldn't like it when I have to pay tax when I use crypto like Bitcoin. The question that we should ask is, if ever the government of a country would legalize cryptocurrency as they will know that cryptocurrency is very insecure and problem like lack of immutability as have you have said after they study crypto.

[Rockstarguy]

You cant totally abandon fiat for cryptocurrency, fiat is still the traditional currency even in countries that have accepted bitcoin as currency. You still need fiat to buy little things which will be small to get with cryptocurrency. You may be in need to buy something of 1 - 3$ and I think that is too small for you to start paying with cryptocurrency.

[FatFork]

I've been wondering, is there a way to live by crypto alone and stay away from Fiat?

Depending on your country of residence, you may be able to use a services that allow you to pay bills and invoices with cryptocurrency, such as the one that I use here where I live. I understand that transactions are still done in local fiat currency behind the scenes, but I don't mind that. I don't have to deal with fiat if I don't want to. If you need to make small-value transactions and payments in physical stores, you can use crypto debit cards.

[suzanne5223]

I've been wondering, is there a way to live by crypto alone and stay away from Fiat? Everyone is talking about privacy and decentralization but Fiat is breaking that boundary always, the moment you want Fiat after having some crypto your privacy is ruined.

It is totally early to consider or have the thought of living by crypto alone without the use of fiat currency. Besides, Satoshi Nakamoto created Bitcoin to serve as an alternative payment system, and the last time I checked if you want to use cryptocurrency as day to day payment you will need to go through KYC unless you want to make use of p2p and there's a limit to the product and services you can get through p2p.

[Yamifoud]

I've been wondering, is there a way to live by crypto alone and stay away from Fiat? Everyone is talking about privacy and decentralization but Fiat is breaking that boundary always, the moment you want Fiat after having some crypto your privacy is ruined.

It is totally early to consider or have the thought of living by crypto alone without the use of fiat currency. Besides, Satoshi Nakamoto created Bitcoin to serve as an alternative payment system, and the last time I checked if you want to use cryptocurrency as day to day payment you will need to go through KYC unless you want to make use of p2p and there's a limit to the product and services you can get through p2p.

I was still in the hopes that crypto will consider a legal tender worldwide and keep that message from Satoshi had realized. It has been noticed that many want to live with the use of crypto alone, and are thinking that this will save and keep their privacy. However, the situation had changed already, P2P transactions, major exchanges are now asking for KYC, it looks like from time to time crypto had lost its privacy and just be like fiat and these exchanges turn into banks that we need to submit our personal information.

[GeorgeJohn]

I've been wondering, is there a way to live by crypto alone and stay away from Fiat? Everyone is talking about privacy and decentralization but Fiat is breaking that boundary always, the moment you want Fiat after having some crypto your privacy is ruined.

if you can notice, bitcoin is decentralized currency and the world is not operating by decentralized currency instead centralized currency, so since bitcoin is decentralized and not every supermarket or any other business branch can accept bitcoin as exchange of goods, i vividly believe that fiat which is centralized currency is on higher position than bitcoin which is decentralized..so in summary you can't live without fiat currency and bitcoin can't stand alone in the absent of fiat currency.

[Oceat]

I've been wondering, is there a way to live by crypto alone and stay away from Fiat? Everyone is talking about privacy and decentralization but Fiat is breaking that boundary always, the moment you want Fiat after having some crypto your privacy is ruined.

It is totally early to consider or have the thought of living by crypto alone without the use of fiat currency. Besides, Satoshi Nakamoto created Bitcoin to serve as an alternative payment system, and the last time I checked if you want to use cryptocurrency as day to day payment you will need to go through KYC unless you want to make use of p2p and there's a limit to the product and services you can get through p2p.

I was still in the hopes that crypto will consider a legal tender worldwide and keep that message from Satoshi had realized. It has been noticed that many want to live with the use of crypto alone, and are thinking that this will save and keep their privacy. However, the situation had changed already, P2P transactions, major exchanges are now asking for KYC, it looks like from time to time crypto had lost its privacy and just be like fiat and these exchanges turn into banks that we need to submit our personal information.

Well, we can't expect regulations would change even if we voice it out as long as you live in a country where there is a government you can't change that fact. But when we are using Bitcoin it's different though and what do you expect is just different if you use a P2P transaction than crypto to fiat which would require an exchange or some third party before you get to trade each other.

[suzanne5223]

I've been wondering, is there a way to live by crypto alone and stay away from Fiat? Everyone is talking about privacy and decentralization but Fiat is breaking that boundary always, the moment you want Fiat after having some crypto your privacy is ruined.

It is totally early to consider or have the thought of living by crypto alone without the use of fiat currency. Besides, Satoshi Nakamoto created Bitcoin to serve as an alternative payment system, and the last time I checked if you want to use cryptocurrency as day to day payment you will need to go through KYC unless you want to make use of p2p and there's a limit to the product and services you can get through p2p.

I was still in the hopes that crypto will consider a legal tender worldwide [snip]

We both know it is not possible for crypto to be considered legal tender worldwide because all the countries in the world have different political rules, policies, and regulations. If not we won't have seen the Ukraine invasion.

It has been noticed that many want to live with the use of crypto alone,

Understand that those many that want to live with the use of Crypto alone are enthusiasts cause about 3.9% of the world population are the crypto users and this is last year's stats.

and are thinking that this will save and keep their privacy.

Crypto is not privacy from the beginning as you think and getting privacy in crypto requires more effort or making use of a privacy coin.

However, the situation had changed already, P2P transactions, major exchanges are now asking for KYC, it looks like from time to time crypto had lost its privacy and just be like fiat and these exchanges turn into banks that we need to submit our personal information.

Thats the price to pay if we want crypto to be mainstream.

[cryptoperkele]

I've been wondering, is there a way to live by crypto alone and stay away from Fiat? Everyone is talking about privacy and decentralization but Fiat is breaking that boundary always, the moment you want Fiat after having some crypto your privacy is ruined.

Maybe you could live with it if you lived in somewhere where government doesn't care about taxes or what you make and how you invest. If you think privacy is bad with fiat money, how an earth is pseudonymity with open ledgers any better? At some point if ANYONE knows one of your addresses they can track you like in no where else.

[Masplanc]

Don't be faster than your shadow am sure where you are you can't use bitcoin to get everything you want. This shouldn't be a problem to you ,what you need to do with bitcoin is invest in bitcoin that's the most important thing.

[Mpamaegbu]

~snipped~

Gang-related violence, homicide, extortions, kidnaps are all part of daily life in El Salvador. It's one of the places with the highest murder rates in the world, if not the highest.    

Oh, really? Just like @Oluwa-btc, I thought Bitcoin lovers would consider El Salvador as a Bitcoin eldorado. Well, I think I can safely change my mind now too 🤔

Back to the OP, I strongly believe the idea of jettisoning fiat completely for Bitcoin will not be feasible until there's a mechanism for evaluating Bitcoin value in terms of fiat. Until Bitcoin stops getting paired with fiat to ascertain what it's worth, it won't be possible to do. No one can completely live off it.

[firmino10]

fiat been the currency issued by the government will be controversial in relation to crytocurrency that is a decentralize market. and the government wants control over everything even our privacy. and fiat will warrant government to have access to that. crytocurrency is an investment, a long term investment. so is encourage that one also have other sources of income. since it is not yet accepted in some countries.

[GeorgeJohn]

Don't be faster than your shadow am sure where you are you can't use bitcoin to get everything you want. This shouldn't be a problem to you ,what you need to do with bitcoin is invest in bitcoin that's the most important thing.

Bitcoin is not only for investment but majorly people do more of investment with cryptocurrency especially bitcoin than using it for transaction exchange, what the function of bitcoin is applicable to the function fiat currency, if i should ask you, does fist use for only investment or buying and selling? If is not only for investment bitcoin is not use for investment, i think their ratios is some how applicable

[CryptoATM]

I wish its possible but at this point in time it's impossible to live on crypto alone without needing Fiat again, maybe in future when crypto has fully turned into a means of payment in every corner of the earth and stores, businesses, markets are all willing to accept coins and tokens.

[CryptoHeadlineNews]

I've been wondering, is there a way to live by crypto alone and stay away from Fiat?

This can only be possible when you are living in a country where Bitcoin is fully legalised where you can buy even a cup of coffee with the smallest Satoshi. Because apart from that, it's not possible

[Bamjos]

How interesting this sounds, but a lot need to be put in place before this could be achieved, in short, we are not there yet–no–not at this time could we live solely on cryptocurrency. Many Government body in the world haven't even accepted (legalise) cryptocurrency to be used as a medium of exchange in their countries–with this, how easy would it be to live solely on it?

Until cryptocurrency is legalised in our various countries and generally accepted in all the places where our daily needs reside (manufacturers, retailers and most importantly wholesalers), it will be most impossible to live solely on cryptocurrencies.

[kawetsriyanto]

I've been wondering, is there a way to live by crypto alone and stay away from Fiat? 

So far, it is difficult. Except your country legalize crypto as a currency and there are many merchants that accept crypto as payment and most people around you are familiar with and using crypto. If none of these, it will be very difficult to realize it.

Everyone is talking about privacy and decentralization but Fiat is breaking that boundary always, the moment you want Fiat after having some crypto your privacy is ruined.

exactly, but we also know that decentralization and centralization also have their positive and negative sides. And most people who are against crypto is because they stay for centralization that is considered to have more security and there is a guarantee from the government and also responsible parties, different with crypto that doesn't have it.

[Freeveto]

I've been wondering, is there a way to live by crypto alone and stay away from Fiat?

Maybe in the future not now fiat is still the current rulling moneytory system in place.

Everyone is talking about privacy and decentralization but Fiat is breaking that boundary always, the moment you want Fiat after having some crypto your privacy is ruined.

Then you should stay away from using any centralized exchanges and make use decentralized exchange to secure your data.

[onecall123]

Is it possible to use crypto without fiat? Definitely not. It is impossible to live on Bitcoin or any other altcoin without fiat currency. The advantages of digital assets over fiat currencies include transaction security and high levels of transparency, but our current system is broken and old-fashioned, so it is very difficult to change. While most of us talk about privacy and decentralization, the fact is that you can't totally get rid of centralization.

[Pterosaur]

Find a way to become a professional crypto trader then your survival can be on crypto alone, still you will get to the point where Fiat is a necessity, there are billions of businesses and stores out there that doesn't care about the existence of crypto, they will always give you a NO as answer when you ask if you can pay using crypto, maybe very soon or some day but right now Crypto isn't there yet.