Ask Slashdot: Time To Get Into Crypto-currency? If So, Which?

Qbertino writes: With the ever-looming cyberpunk future in close proximity, I'm starting to wonder if it isn't time to get myself familiar with crypto currency as a means of trade. Bitcoin is all the hype, but the blockchain has flaws, in that it isn't as anonymous as one would hope for — you can track past transactions. Rumors of Bitcoin showing cracks are popping up and also there are quite a few alternatives out there. So I have some questions: Is getting into dealing with crypto currency worthwhile already? Is Bitcoin the way to go, or will it falter under wide use / become easily trackable once NSA and the likes adapt their systems to doing exactly that? What digital currency has the technical and mind-share potential to supersede bitcoin? Are there feasible cryptocurrencies that have the upsides of Bitcoin (such as a mathematical limit to their amount) but are fully anonymous in transactions? What do the economists and digi-currency nerds here have to contribute on that? What are your experiences with handling and holding cryptocurrency? And does Bitcoin own the market or is it still flexible enough for an technology upgrade?

Comments

Re:Missed the Boat?

[Spazmania]

How is bitcoin a failed experiment? It was a pyramid scheme. It made a bunch of money for the folks who were in early and got out before it started to collapse. Everybody else gets screwed. Pyramid schemes have been done to death. They're far past the experimental stage.

Re:Boat still hasn't left port

[jdavidb]

The above analysis is completely flawed. For a better understanding of the gold standard, see https://mises.org/money.asp