Bitcoins can exist without exchanges, but would you support the argument that the existence of exchanges are among the factors facilitating the popularity and accessibility that people have to bitcoins?
I try to say my opinion, which obviously can be shared or not. Bitcoin is a technology! which is likely or not to change the fortunes of future finances. Do you need exchanges? most likely not! if it is seen as a speculative object then it needs a counter value in fiat, but if we look at it as a means of mass adoption then it absolutely does not need the existence of Exchanges