Post
Topic
Board Economics
Topic OP
The Money-ness of Bitcoin
by
bitcoiner32
on 04/04/2013, 13:53:44 UTC
Prima facie, bitcoins possess all the qualities required from a money (a generally-used medium of exchange). They are perfectly homogeneous, easily cognizable, conveniently divisible, storable at practically no cost, and imperishable. Also, they seem to be fully shielded from counterfeiting. In addition, because they exist as a consumption and investment good, they are appraised on their own, thereby satisfying the Misesian regression criterion for the free-market inception of a medium of exchange. However, in order to become a viable alternative to existing monies, bitcoins must generate a sufficiently large demand so that their usage becomes generalized. Without the certainty that they can be transacted for any other good in the economy, a demand to hold them as money could not develop. It is with respect to their capacity to become and remain commonly used that bitcoins suffer from a relative disadvantage.

http://mises.org/daily/6399/The-Moneyness-of-Bitcoins

Von Mises always has informative articles. Glad to see they recognize the strength of bitcoin as money.