Quote from: Discounted on Today at 08:32:16 PM

I'm not saying Bitcoin is not secure or decentralized, if I came across that way in the post, it wasn't the intention. I'm saying Bitcoin is not even close to scalable. Transactions take way too long, and are too expensive for a globally adopted currency. It can't scale in real world adoption, unless you sacrifice security, or decentralization by using an alternate network, like El Salvador has attempted.

Right, in terms of transaction times. I actually think at the moment looking at things, we'll probably see altcoins be used for lower values. This might actually be integrated in a user friendly way in the future, I don't know. However, by reducing the transaction times, and therefore the confirmations you're effectively making it a little less secure. Although, Bitcoin could potentially be used like that now. As an example, many users here feel comfortable enough to allow for 0 confirmations, and only see it broadcast on the network. I wouldn't recommend it for the security implications that could potentially impose, but most people are already doing this with cards using fiat, so maybe people don't care all too much about the additional checks to prevent double spending etc.

I'm not sure that makes Bitcoin insecure though, since Bitcoin by default would still be secure, it would be the user choosing not to use the additional checks, which means Bitcoin is secure, but the users are slightly less secure by taking risks, however small they may be in reality.

Expensive; yeah there's an issue of that. However, segwit, and Lightening offer somewhat solutions to the expense problem, and in the future we'll likely see additional steps taken to reduce the transaction fees. However, due to the nature of Bitcoin, fees will always be a part of the network, and I'd rather higher security, a decentralised system to a degree, and paying a fee than giving up those benefits. I mean, a lot of people are already getting fees associated with their cards, they just don't realise it. Especially, if you own a credit card.