Re: Okay, now I get cryptocurrency
You're (falsely) assuming people in the US are buying bitcoin to use them as an alternative to the banking system. Other than criminals (still the Killer App for bitcoin) that's a fraction of 1% of the bitcoin ownership in the US - its the new "gold bug" thing for millennial "prepper" types - the older ones are still buying gold.
The overwhelming reason people in the US are buying bitcoin is as an investment/gamble (take your pick) They buy it believing a greater fool will come around and buy it from them in the future when they want to unload it. They won't ever directly spend bitcoin, they will convert it back to dollars down the road.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
