In defense of Bitcoin skeptics I'll just point out to the true believers that these 100% returns and $200/BTC exchange rates could be taken away in an instant. That's how Bitcoin rolls.
That is true. However I am impressed with how far Bitcoin has come, both in terms of price and also in acceptance as a currency. If you had explained Bitcoin to me in 2007 or 2008, and that it would have a monetary base equivalent to $2.3 billion in 2013, I would have thought that was crazy. But here we are. Disclosure: I have no financial position in Bitcoin, so it doesn't matter to me if Bitcoin goes to $1 or $1,000. I just wish it was easily shortable, and there was an options market with small spreads.
Sure just like any pennystock's return. The point is to keep taking profits and so far, any crash has been a great buy in opportunity. Until the US gov declares it illegal, I assume that crash will have a more lasting effect...
Classic bubble (parabolic raise) crash today, with quick recovery, what a fun ride! Went over 230, then crashed 50 bucks and later recovered 35 bucks currently just above 205. No other reason except the parabolic raise. Now it is where it was 2 days ago... For record keeping, the history of the crash on an hourly chart:
I noticed something interesting on the bitcoinaverage.com web site. One of the exchanges they derive their average from is localbitcoins.com which isn't really an exchange like you'd think of. Localbitcoins is a sort of matchmaking site to facilitate face-to-face exchanges of USD and BTC. The prices quoted there are quite high, right around MtGox's quotes. Having never used localbitcoins before, I wonder how many transactions really go off at those quotes or how much haggling is involved.
After seeing that bidu is now accepting them and for the sake of wanting some skin in the game.....Put an ad in my local craigslist last week to buy $5k worth of btc at market price meeting at a secure public location. No one responded yet. People who have em, probably want to hang on to them. They make it harder to buy than a POS Chinese pink sheet . Bid 25 @200 ! The top is now officially in
I think 5K is quite a lot for people who use it for payment and as a currency. But keep us in the loop how the transaction went. Also educate yourself how to make a safe wallet, (maybe a paper wallet) because there are quite a few horror stories about wallet hacking.... I have a dormant CFD account and they listed BTC as tradable instrument. I have just checked and they probably follow MtGox's price (it is a bucket shop anyway) because the top was 229 and the low 175 for today, currently 201. I think I am going to start to trade it. My guess is that we will visit 180 in the next 3 days again... Actually, to trade BTC the best is a broker like this. The price is in a way not connected closely with Bitcoin, more like a derivative. No withdrawal problems or other legal trouble...