What type of system would it take for you to regard it as a threat to Bitcoin?

[zetaray]

An open source Google coin with a Google exchange supported by credit card companies will be a serious thread to bitcoin. Bitcoin will not be destroyed but less preferred as a currency medium of trade. Common users will find this Google coin more user friendly and better accepted.

[shogdite]

A system that is easy-to-use, self explanatory, media friendly and doesn't involve any geek jargon.

One problem I see with bitcoin is that it can (to some people at least) be over-complicated.

[Snail2]

NXT could be a serious challenger for BTC in a few years.

[Q7]

The system is not my concern because whatever comes up maybe with faster transaction time will not do much to really dislodge bitcoin from its number spot. I believe we have seen a fair share of altcoins trying to do the same but failed. But what I'm really bothered about is the branding and marketing. What if they could have it the new coin become tied up with their product. Offer incentive to use the coin. Use some form of method to ensure price stability and better protection as a store of a value.

[pedrog]

An open source Google coin with a Google exchange supported by credit card companies will be a serious thread to bitcoin. Bitcoin will not be destroyed but less preferred as a currency medium of trade. Common users will find this Google coin more user friendly and better accepted.

That's a good point, but I don't think Google could pull this off, regulation, compliance, that coin would get destroyed in a second, and they don't need to make a new coin, they use, contribute and finance a lot of open-source projects, they can simply build on top of bitcoin.

[ToshiOcean]

...do you think the powers that be will ever come up with something that has you questioning BTC's viability?

The "viability" of the Bitcoin concept is now beyond question - given the upcoming presence of IBM, Intel and others.TPTB will most certainly come up with a completely regulated, transparent, traceable, taxable, crypto economy that will give you - maybe - $200 for your Bitcoin once they've created their own version.

Bitcoin will not go back to $1000 usd. That ship has sailed. Cheers to the early birds. We are now, officially, in business-as-usual.