As the AI market continues to balloon, experts are warning that its VC-driven rise is eerily similar to that of the dot com bubble.

  • bigschnitz@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Money has value insofar as governments use it to collect tax - so long as there’s a tax obligation, there’s a mandated demand for that currency and it has some value. Between different currencies, the value is determined based upon the demand for that currency, which is essentially tied to how much business is done in that currency (eg if a country sells goods in its own currency, demand for that currency goes up and so does it’s value).

    This is not the same for crypto, there are no governments collecting tax with it so it does not have induced demand. The value of crypto is 100% speculative, which is fine for something that is used as currency, but imo a terrible vehicle for investment.

    • Freesoftwareenjoyer@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I don’t know if it’s good investment or not, but cryptocurrency has uses that are valuable to a lot of people. You can send money to other people without using a bank or PayPal and you can pay for things online anonymously. Some cryptocurrencies might have additional properties like Monero, which also gives you privacy. NFT might also have practical uses some day - for example it could be used for concert tickets.

    • higgs@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      You are right in that it increases people’s belief in money because it is the primary source of revenue for states. But if the majority of people did not believe in the piece of paper, it would be worth nothing. That is the fundamental value of money as we know it.

      There have been states where stones were the currency simply because the inhabitants believed in them.

      • Sludgeyy@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Gold Standard

        Linking money to a material with intrinsic value for it’s value

        Gold has intrinsic value

        US Dollar moved to be a Fiat Currency

        US Dollar is backed by a Government

        Crypto has zero intrinsic value, not linked to anything with intrinsic value, and not backed by a Government

        Crypto is an imaginary “item” some people want to have valve. Value is created because of this want.

        US Dollar is legal tinder for all US debts, Crypto is not

        Crypto is not a currency but a digital commodity

        • SCB@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Gold does not have intrinsic value. It is merely scarce (relatively speaking). The value of gold fluctuates all the time.

          • Sludgeyy@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Intrinsic - belonging naturally; essential

            Gold has physical applications that are needed

            Even if people didn’t want it because of the looks, gold would still be needed to make things

            Gold has intrinsic value because it is always going to be worth something

            Gold is never going to be worthless. That’s it intrinsic value.

            • SCB@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              Much of gold’s value (certainly before the ending of the Gold Standard) was totally subjective. It looks pretty. Being rare and pretty gave it value.

              I suppose you could tie some sort of value to technical application, but it isn’t intrinsic to gold itself. If society collapses tomorrow, gold isn’t suddenly going to be currency.

              • Sludgeyy@lemmy.world
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                1 year ago

                Yes much of gold’s value comes from the way it looks. Not disputing that.

                I suppose you could tie some sort of value to technical application, but it isn’t intrinsic to gold itself

                It is

                Gold has properties that are unique. You can’t just use iron as a replacement. Apple can’t be like, “You know gold is expensive, I think we will just use cheap iron in our phones instead”. Not going to work out. There is a demand for gold over it just looking pretty.

                This technical application is what gives gold it’s intrinsic value

                Even if that value is really low it’s always going to be something

                Well not always because, like you said, if society collapsed, Apple wouldn’t need to make phones. But at that point, all economic stuff is out the window. It would have to go through a bartering system until some kind of currency system could get started again. Eventually gold will be needed again. So really it still has value just not at the time.

      • SCB@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Money is a physical representation of the concept of value. Saying “what gives money value” is like asking “why does rain make clouds.”

        This is why printing money decreases the value of the currency - the value it represents has not changed so the value is diluted across the currency as the amount of currency expands.