10k value for a digital check simply doesn't make sense; this market is not mature, or ready - the 2 main exchanges are down during any significant BTC rise or drop/once you can't sell, you can't sell at any price, while the Coinbase VP says institutional investors will bring liquidity to the market/I read the rich getting richer; make no mistake, the shorts are coming as soon as BTC options gets listed, and I will be one of them; simply because this is an electronic avoid-the-government scheme is not enough to me-I can send money NOW on Western Union anywhere in the world and pay less for instant NOW transactions. Care to argue- go ahead
You have raised some valid points and i am also not denying the fact that western union or paypal can send money almost anywhere in the world. But what you are missing is when bitcoin get listed more people will trust bitcoin and more people will invest on it. Shorting bitcoin is just a short term strategy, what they usually do is hold it for long period of time.
If you think that bitcoin is just a digital check to avoid the government then you really need to do more research.
Anyways that is your money and your decision.
Have to agree with the op here in that btc as it is now will never become mainstream, too many faster and cheaper alternatives. It is nothing more than an investment vehicle, like people paying millions for crap at an auction ... perceived value.
As for shorting, the bitcoiners have no idea what is coming. The fact that MOST can only go long now is the only reason for this sustained bull market.
Wait until btc goes on a regulated exchange and can be shorted easily and you will see downtrends that will make these current brief down spikes look like blips.
Shorting is as viable a strategy as holding, as you said, but even more so a more profitable strategy because markets fall with more force than they rise typically.
I hope you are not counting on these sustained gains once shoring and regulation happens.