bitcoin is a shining thing.
Let's try to understand why people like shining objects. I think is radically a form of comunication: jewels like wampum shells, are worn so you can see it from far. If you have a commodity which is visible from far an so is possible to desire it for somebody who looks, you'are just advertising for it. Maybe your advertising works becaus you are a powerful, violent king, but maybe advertising needs no testimonial. If you adveritse for a commlodity, this commodity gets medium of exchange value. Bitcoin is an internet based viral advertising campaign for a commodity, so it's a very shining, visible from far object. That's why (given the two other proprieties of rareness and indestructibility ) it's a good store of value.
I wouldn't actually call bitcoin is a shining thing. On the contrary, it allows you to hide your money and your identity (though your mileage may vary) from some prying eyes and ears...
"Money loves silence, and big money loves deathly silence"
yes it does, but we have to think about the origins of money, gold was choosen because of it advertising effect at those times the only way to advertise was via clothes and fetishes. Now we have the net, and cryptocurrencies make the net itself their form of advertising.
I thank pork for this useful conversation, but i think he is plain wrong given he thinks money has to have some use value different from acceptance. Gold is absolutely useless, he might have said in other times, and with good reason. But if we focus on the reason why gold was choosen (or wampum shells) it's because "useless" means undestructible, one of the 3 proprieties of a good store of value. (and bitcoin DOES HAVE this important prorpiety).
It seems that behind satoshi there is Nick Szabo.
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/527078/20131203/satoshi-nakamoto-nick-szabo-bitcoin-creator-revealed.htm i tfind usefeul his paper on th origins fo money (especially when it talks about the adoption of wampum shells).
http://szabo.best.vwh.net/shell.html