I'm sure for some people it already has. For example the guys who sold all his life savings to live in a tent has put his full faith in it. That faith and portability is all that is needed for a gold method of currency. When bitcoin is compared to the tulip bulb craze the person shows a lack of understanding of history. The tulips had a purpose before the craze as something for the garden. Bitcoin was exclusively designed as a currency. It has time and again proven  its ability to evolve and manage bumps in the road. Bitcoin is here to stay. It may evolve slightly. The equipment used to transaction verification my change but it has come at the right time. If it came during the dial up era or before people were comfortable with online transactions, it would have failed to challenge the major fiat currencies. In this time the only thing that can stop it is government intervention. But as long as the government is run by elected people its death is not likely.