Bitcoin; a tool for spending or saving.

[alastantiger]

Personally, I see Bitcoin more as a tool for saving than for spending. The fact that its value can appreciate over time makes it hard to justify spending it unless it’s really necessary. I have always been someone who prefers holding and letting the asset grow while still being able to benefit from small profits along the way. Using it for spending is fine in theory, but I think the real strength of Bitcoin shows when you treat it like a store of value, you have to look at what the asset can do for you in the long run.

[nemesis_incarnate]

I totally get where you're coming from the "HODL" mindset makes a lot of sense when you believe in Bitcoins long-term value. Treating it primarily as savings aligns with its hard-cap supply and growing adoption narrative.

That said, spending a little here and there (where accepted) can also help grow merchant adoption and show real-world utility. But Im with you most of my stack stays tucked away as a long-term store of value.

I would only use my BTCs like that if it would be incentivized.. better service options, better price because it's BTC - and so on.

[NovaCrest]

~snip~ Which would you rather do?

If my country accepted Bitcoin as a legal payment method, I would definitely use it for both daily transactions and long-term savings. Unfortunately, Bitcoin is not currently allowed as a payment option where I live, so for now I am mainly focusing on holding it as a long-term investment for the future.

Even though Bitcoin is already the number one cryptocurrency, I am still keeping an eye on other crypto opportunities that might also be suitable for long-term saving and growth. That said, Bitcoin remains the best option for me when it comes to storing value. While it is still volatile, its price movements are generally more stable compared to most alternative cryptocurrencies which tend to be far more volatile and risky.

That’s a very solid and realistic approach. Many of us are in the same boat  holding Bitcoin where it's not yet accepted as payment, but believing in its long-term future.

You’re right about Bitcoin being #1 for a reason. Its network security, decentralization, and adoption make it the hardest and most reliable crypto money we have. Watching other projects is smart (DYOR always!), but it’s wise to see Bitcoin as your savings base  the digital gold.

One day, if your country recognizes it, you’ll be ahead of the game. Until then, stacking sats and holding strong is a perfectly sound strategy.

[Rustam Meraj]

Personally, I see Bitcoin more as a tool for saving than for spending. The fact that its value can appreciate over time makes it hard to justify spending it unless it’s really necessary. I have always been someone who prefers holding and letting the asset grow while still being able to benefit from small profits along the way. Using it for spending is fine in theory, but I think the real strength of Bitcoin shows when you treat it like a store of value, you have to look at what the asset can do for you in the long run.

Normal and smart idea that you have just explained, that Bitcoin is better to be used as savings tool than spending money, is that its value continues to go up, and thus it is too expensive to use it as spending money since cost of spending it is too high, given chance that it will increase in value. This idea is based on fact that Bitcoin is store of value, such as digital gold, due to its small amount and fact that it is not controlled by any single group, which protects it against inflation. So, most useful way of using Bitcoin is to hold it long term to increase in value but sell only little at times of price increases to earn small profits, which makes it great tool of making bigger your wealth over time.

[macson]

Which would you rather do?

Both. I'm not someone who believes Bitcoin should be used solely as an investment. If possible, I would use it for transactions because that's its true purpose. Especially for international transactions, using Bitcoin is less cumbersome than using other payment methods, and the fees are also lower.

So, in my opinion, there's no reason not to use Bitcoin for transactions. Regardless of whether or not there's a loss, it's not a serious issue for me, as it's not frequent and the amounts aren't that large, especially since I've allocated a separate amount for investment, it's not that big of a deal.

[sunsilk]

I think it's the opposite, it's easier to spend something that you don't have full knowledge and trust of it. While if it's for saving, we know how valuable a thing is if we're saving it and have no plans of spending it.

Despite that Bitcoin is very volatile, one who has understood that there's an opportunity in it won't spend it recklessly. While those who are spending it, either recklessly or not, they have decided to do it.

So both works for Bitcoin and as long as it's beneficial to the owner of it, whichever is good for them then there is no debate about it anymore.

I see what you mean, and that’s a fair way to look at it.
I think the difference often comes down to intent. People who plan to save usually feel the need to understand value and risk first, while spending can happen with much less conviction, simply because the decision feels more temporary.
Volatility plays a role here too. Those who understand it tend to be more deliberate, whether they spend or save. Others might spend without much thought precisely because they don’t see it as long-term value yet.
In that sense, both behaviors can coexist, but they’re often driven by very different levels of understanding.

You've said it right and well. Both can coexist and depending on how we're looking at it. Those are fair points and truly depends on which works more.

We've been there when we've spend it as if it's easy to obtain it once we've decided to. But later on we'll realize that despite it can be used for spending, we like to have it and save it for as long as we can because of its increasing value.

[Mame89]

Bitcoin's acceptance amongst individuals and households is spending like wild fire, because of the various advantages it poses. Now comes the question; would you rather adopt Bitcoin as a tool for spending or saving? Yes, I'm guessing you'll say you use it for both. If your usage is going to be weighed, which side would unbalance the scale? As a tool for spending, it is flexible enough to be carried irrespective of volume and large purchases can be made, just to mention a few. As a tool for saving and a store of value. The value of the saved asset has great potential to appreciate. Which would you rather do?

I believe Bitcoin can be used for both, and that has been its mission from the start to offer alternative transactions and a means of achieving future freedom through saving or investing. Bitcoin is simpler to use for transactions and is also better for long-term assets. So the choice is yours as each country has different regulations.

I currently only use it for investment due to regulatory constraints in countries that prohibit Bitcoin as a means of transaction it can only be used for investment. In fact I currently consider Bitcoin a hedging tool and an asset that allows for long-term investment.

[JaredIbrahim]

Bitcoin's acceptance amongst individuals and households is spending like wild fire, because of the various advantages it poses. Now comes the question; would you rather adopt Bitcoin as a tool for spending or saving? Yes, I'm guessing you'll say you use it for both. If your usage is going to be weighed, which side would unbalance the scale? As a tool for spending, it is flexible enough to be carried irrespective of volume and large purchases can be made, just to mention a few. As a tool for saving and a store of value. The value of the saved asset has great potential to appreciate. Which would you rather do?

Saving will take a greater part of my Bitcoin usage because i mostly handle my Bitcoin with an investive mindset than i do to spend, if i am to spend, i have a fiat reserve from where i do my spending nevertheless, i am still open to direct bitcoin spend even tough it does look to me like a waste of money because i feel i pay more than the value of that commodity when i pay with Bitcoin, this is because due to volatility, i may make payments and leave the store and before i get home, the price of Bitcoin is already up there and the amount i transferred for the goods or services would have appreciated giving the person who received the payment some more money but if it were in my wallet i would have gotten that extra and if i had pied with fiat, the increase wouldn't affect that.

i may be sounding really weird and awkward but that is because mostly what i do with Bitcoin mostly is investing rather than purchase of items and commodities with my Bitcoin. its actually good to use bitcoin for spending because with that there's little to almost no limitation with the issues of payments wherever you are around the world provided its a city and a country where they are not against Bitcoin and actively fighting it.

Nah you're not weird, you're just thinking like a true Bitcoiner. We all feel that pain.

Spending BTC feels like selling a winning lottery ticket for a cheeseburger. It's the "cost of spending" vs. "cost of hodling" mind game. Why part with an asset that only gets harder when you can burn the fiat that only gets softer?

But here's the thing — that's the old mindset. You don't spend your base layer BTC. You spend on Lightning. It's like spending the interest, not the principal. Instant, cheap, and your main stack keeps growing. No volatility drama.

You're right about the global superpower. That's the real use-case. But you can have both: stack the sats for the future, and spend the millisats for the coffee. No need to choose.

[ancafe]

Bitcoin's acceptance amongst individuals and households is spending like wild fire, because of the various advantages it poses. Now comes the question; would you rather adopt Bitcoin as a tool for spending or saving? Yes, I'm guessing you'll say you use it for both. If your usage is going to be weighed, which side would unbalance the scale? As a tool for spending, it is flexible enough to be carried irrespective of volume and large purchases can be made, just to mention a few. As a tool for saving and a store of value. The value of the saved asset has great potential to appreciate. Which would you rather do?

Clearly, I prefer using it as an investment because in general, my country doesn't allow the use of Bitcoin as a means of transaction. If the reason for flexibility is because it's easier to use for shopping, then I would much prefer the alternative of using banking (Mobile Banking) because it also makes it easier for us not to have to carry cash every time we shop. I prefer using Bitcoin for investment because its value continues to increase and Bitcoin is a long-term store of value, much like gold.

Currently we are still limited by regulations regarding the use of Bitcoin as a legal transaction tool, so people are considering Bitcoin more as an investment. Regardless of the reasons, I see Bitcoin as a much more promising investment because in the long term, the asset's growth is much higher, and we can manage our financial freedom by preparing more thoroughly.

[Faisal2202]

I agree. Well, I can only say that it depends on the person on what that person will decide. Let's say about you as the example, you said you use it for dca and for personal use. Another example, let's say it's me as an example which I use Bitcoin for saving/investment/holding and not using it to buy or something like that. In other words, it depends on the person who owns some bitcoin wether they use it for both saving and spending or other things that it can be use for.

It is a personal choice and that's what OP was asking not sure why he/she is so concerned about it but maybe he wants to know what we are doing, either we are spending our btc to buy things or we are too possessive with it that we don't want to let it go. I am not so possessive as I do not want to let it go but I have to haha because at some point I have to sell or the price is too good for me.

Bitcoin was made as a tool for spending, a decentralized asset to be used for digital payment without the need of middlemen and it is being used for that and for saving as well.

[bounceback]

Bitcoin's acceptance amongst individuals and households is spending like wild fire, because of the various advantages it poses. Now comes the question; would you rather adopt Bitcoin as a tool for spending or saving? Yes, I'm guessing you'll say you use it for both. If your usage is going to be weighed, which side would unbalance the scale? As a tool for spending, it is flexible enough to be carried irrespective of volume and large purchases can be made, just to mention a few. As a tool for saving and a store of value. The value of the saved asset has great potential to appreciate. Which would you rather do?

Depending on the situation, my initial goal in buying Bitcoin was to use it as a long-term investment and also as savings, as long as I still had money to spend. I'm committed to not using my Bitcoin for payments or other transactions because I believe it would be a shame to use Bitcoin for non-investment or savings purposes, especially if I could have bought Bitcoin previously at a lower price than it is now. We never know if we can still buy more Bitcoin in the future if we spend the Bitcoin we currently have.

[Callido]

Both. I'm not someone who believes Bitcoin should be used solely as an investment. If possible, I would use it for transactions because that's its true purpose. Especially for international transactions, using Bitcoin is less cumbersome than using other payment methods, and the fees are also lower.

Nobody will force you to use Bitcoin in which way you don't like, people only prefer using it where they understand and where it's going to serve them best. Personally, i am interested in Bitcoin as an investment rather than what others sees it for, that doesn't limit me from using it otherwise when i want. Bitcoin for international transaction or large purchase is perfect unlike using it in mini markets locally.

[puloweh555]

Bitcoin's acceptance amongst individuals and households is spending like wild fire, because of the various advantages it poses. Now comes the question; would you rather adopt Bitcoin as a tool for spending or saving? Yes, I'm guessing you'll say you use it for both. If your usage is going to be weighed, which side would unbalance the scale? As a tool for spending, it is flexible enough to be carried irrespective of volume and large purchases can be made, just to mention a few. As a tool for saving and a store of value. The value of the saved asset has great potential to appreciate. Which would you rather do?

I like both, but in some countries Bitcoin faces regulatory challenges especially when used as a means of payment as this also conflicts with applicable laws in those countries. Bitcoin is only permitted as an investment and trading asset. So, with Bitcoin as a long term asset and as a hedge I will make the most of it.

Bitcoin is not only flexible in transactions but also faster and eliminates the need for third parties. I hope someday countries will regulate Bitcoin as an alternative payment method to fiat. For now I'm focused solely on Bitcoin as a future asset that can help us achieve financial freedom, so my current choice is Bitcoin as a means of saving or investing.

[Anthony Bill]

Both spending and saving have great potential guy, you can spend when buying Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, because is not waste of funds, while you can also save from your salary or business to prepare yourself for future to use what you have saved to invest in Bitcoin or cryptocurrencies.

[Antona]

Why not both? I mostly hodl my coins but If there is a situation where I don't want to use my credit card and the merchant accepts btc, then I'll be paying with crypto. I don't really like to restrict myself. I can become both a holder and a spender. Just because I hodl my coins doesn't mean I won't ever spend any and vice versa.

Think it like that, if nobody had spent their bitcoins in the past, we wouldn't be having this conversation today because bitcoin wouldn't have any value at all. Somebody had to pay thousands of btc for a damn pizza to start this chain reaction.

At this stage it doesn't matter at all because millions of people own btc all around the world. Some will hodl, some will spend, some will do both like me.

Bitcoin needs both: Those who save (HODL) give it long-term solidity, and those who spend demonstrate its utility and drive adoption.

Your personal strategy is perfect: hold the bulk as savings, and use a small portion for payments when it suits you. That way you support the Bitcoin economy without compromising your core position.

In the end, the freedom lies in having a choice. It's your money—you decide when to save it and when to spend it. That's true sovereignty.

[Asuspawer09]

I would say that Bitcoin is not really applicable to spending most of the time just because of the volatile market price in the market, fiat is more of the best tool when it comes to spending since it has a kinda steady price, You can still use Bitcoin but it has a lot of process like transactions speed, volatile price, wallets etc.

Personally I think Bitcoin is the best for saving or investment because historically it just increases its price overtime and its structure having a limited supply of 21million Bitcoin so supply and demand surely is going to price Bitcoin, as it's get popular today we can expect for the market price to increase overtime, and we already get to the point where Bitcoin is already recognized by the government and government even started to market cryptocurrency reserve marking cryptocurrency popular, so for sure it is the best for saving and investment.

[bubilas]

Bitcoin's acceptance amongst individuals and households is spending like wild fire, because of the various advantages it poses. Now comes the question; would you rather adopt Bitcoin as a tool for spending or saving? Yes, I'm guessing you'll say you use it for both. If your usage is going to be weighed, which side would unbalance the scale? As a tool for spending, it is flexible enough to be carried irrespective of volume and large purchases can be made, just to mention a few. As a tool for saving and a store of value. The value of the saved asset has great potential to appreciate. Which would you rather do?

Bitcoin has been very volatile lately, making the question of whether to hold funds in it a controversial one. I've been very busy these past few weeks and haven't been constantly monitoring the Bitcoin price through analysis. But after receiving subscription fees, I check back a week later and see a significant deviation from the initial Bitcoin equivalent.
Therefore, if someone wants to hold funds in Bitcoin for safekeeping, they won't be able to. Because the price is constantly changing, Bitcoin is more suitable for investment than savings.

[Antona]

Bitcoin's acceptance amongst individuals and households is spending like wild fire, because of the various advantages it poses. Now comes the question; would you rather adopt Bitcoin as a tool for spending or saving? Yes, I'm guessing you'll say you use it for both. If your usage is going to be weighed, which side would unbalance the scale? As a tool for spending, it is flexible enough to be carried irrespective of volume and large purchases can be made, just to mention a few. As a tool for saving and a store of value. The value of the saved asset has great potential to appreciate. Which would you rather do?

Bitcoin has been very volatile lately, making the question of whether to hold funds in it a controversial one. I've been very busy these past few weeks and haven't been constantly monitoring the Bitcoin price through analysis. But after receiving subscription fees, I check back a week later and see a significant deviation from the initial Bitcoin equivalent.
Therefore, if someone wants to hold funds in Bitcoin for safekeeping, they won't be able to. Because the price is constantly changing, Bitcoin is more suitable for investment than savings.

Totally get the frustration. That's the trade-off right now you can't have an asset that goes 10x and also expect it to be stable like a bank balance. For now its best use for "savings" is a multi-year horizon not a week to week one.

[Out of mind]

Bitcoin's acceptance amongst individuals and households is spending like wild fire, because of the various advantages it poses. Now comes the question; would you rather adopt Bitcoin as a tool for spending or saving? Yes, I'm guessing you'll say you use it for both. If your usage is going to be weighed, which side would unbalance the scale? As a tool for spending, it is flexible enough to be carried irrespective of volume and large purchases can be made, just to mention a few. As a tool for saving and a store of value. The value of the saved asset has great potential to appreciate. Which would you rather do?

I will definitely use Bitcoin as a savings tool because it will give me a good financial freedom for the future. But Bitcoin is not only used for saving but also for spending, both are very important. We know that saving and investing Bitcoin is not enough, but it has to be spent. We only invest in Bitcoin to meet our needs and earn profits from it and spend them. If it is quantified and weighed, then of course it will be more on the spending side because people invest in Bitcoin and get them to buy a good house, car and big business. In that case, it can be said that saving Bitcoin and spending it in the future will definitely be spent, so it will be more on the spending side. But we must wait for our value savings. If we invest in Bitcoin, then of course it should be kept for a long time, but the value will be found. To get more value, it is definitely important to keep our savings tool.

[vanesha]

Right now, the focus is on saving. In my country, using Bitcoin for shopping is prohibited and can result in legal consequences. Because of that, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies can only be used as investment tools. If they are used for purchases, it would mean facing the law, and no one dares to do that. All merchants in my country only accept QRIS with the national currency; crypto is truly not used for shopping here at all.