Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by pedrocr 3239 days ago
>crypto currencies are by far the best digital payment solution when it comes to the time it takes for transactions to clear

Isn't paypal much faster than crypto currencies at doing the same? The normal banking system is quite slow (in part for good reasons) but the digital currencies that came before the crypto currencies are much better at this already, and better than bitcoin will ever be.
2 comments
fpgaminer 3239 days ago
You missed the salient word: "clear"

PayPal transactions never really clear. You can probably reverse a 3 year old PayPal transaction...

But Bitcoin payments are irreversible after only 1 hour. There are no other systems that accomplish that online.

link
pedrocr 3239 days ago
If your definition of clearing is that they can't be reversed then nothing that isn't a crypto currency allows it. That's not the usual definition of transaction clearing though.
link
discombobulate 3239 days ago
Coinbase uses the term 'digital currency' to -- I believe -- placate NY regulators & to support their regulation moat.

You're correct: if crypto currencies were digital currencies there would be no advantage. However, crypto assets are decentralised & resistant to censorship. The power shifts away from the nation state (& Trump), & toward individuals.

link