[jstanley]

You can split a bitcoin key up using Shamir's Secret Sharing Scheme (or just multisig) and store the key geographically-distributed such that if any one location is destroyed you don't lose the money, and if any one location is stolen the thief doesn't get the money.

You can also replace "one" with an arbitrarily-large number, depending on how many locations you want to store the money in.

[UncleMeat]

Now compare this to online banking and seriously tell me that this is easier. Yes, you can set up a system that is very resistant to failure. But my grandma doesn't understand the difference between minimizing a window and deleting her facebook account. I'm not excited about explaining SSS to her.

[VarFarYonder]

> Now compare this to online banking and seriously tell me that this is easier.

It's not. But compared to storing large amounts of dollars, pounds, or euros, it is easier.

> Yes, you can set up a system that is very resistant to failure. But my grandma doesn't understand the difference between minimizing a window and deleting her facebook account. I'm not excited about explaining SSS to her.

Your grandma won't need to know about any of that, because she'll probably continue to trust an organisation to look after her money for her.

Just because cryptocurrencies make it feasible for people to not trust other entities with their money doesn't mean that everyone will.

[jstanley]

Would you have opposed the development of mass-produced books on the basis that most people couldn't read and write?

You can read books yourself but it's so much easier to just listen to the vicar reading them out instead.

People learn things that are helpful to them.