I know it's debatable, but I think bitcoin does have intrinsic value based on it's utility and privacy.
What utility? Sure I can buy a few goods and novelties online with it, but I can't pay for food, gas, rent, insurance or any of those sort of things with it unless I convert it back to USD.
And what privacy? From what I've been reading on here, almost every exchange requires you provide photo ID, proof of residence, a bill of some sort or paystub, etc. Aside for the "big/important" things like insurance and rent, I've never had to provide any of those things when buying things online. What privacy?
You are right about both these things. Most can't pay YET. Although I buy lots of things all the time and it's growing exponentially, and the real estate I'm buying with my imaginary money will be rented for bitcoin. Bitcoin is far, far more private than PayPay, credit cards, or whatever else your using on the internet. Those methods expose your financial information to strangers. Bitcoin is simply better money than the USD.
A stock is a promise to pay back with interest on a capitol investment.
Erm... no. That is a
bond.
A stock is a fractional ownership in an enterprise, which is, if you chose the stock well, a productive entity in the real economy with employees, market and assets.
Ok, a stock is more of a hope for future profit then.