[patricius]

Well, not exactly. For instance, if you see gold as money, it is inflationary because of its increasing supply, which is not decided by a governing body, but by the supply created by gold mining.

Bitcoin adjusts its supply automatically and without interference from a governing body. It is deflationary since it's supply is capped and because it's purchasing power increases continually.

[lottin]

No, this monetary theory is disproven by facts. The gold standard was not inflationary. And bitcoin is not deflationary. Look at the data, it's not that hard. The data says the price level is not determined by the money supply. So, back to the blackboard.

[patricius]

Inflation is not price level. It is increase in the money supply. An increasing price level is the result of inflation. By definition gold is inflationary since its supply continues to increase.

[lottin]

Next time you attempt to discuss economics with somebody I suggest you educate yourself a little bit beforehand, to at least get a grasp of the basic concepts. The Core project has published an introductory textbook [1] that you may find useful for this purpose (although any book will do, really). In particular, chapter 13 deals with inflation among other topics [2]: "Inflation is an increase in the general price level in the economy, usually measured over a year."

[1] https://www.core-econ.org/the-economy/index.html

[2] https://www.core-econ.org/the-economy/book/text/13.html#138-...

[patricius]

Before suggesting somebody read an introduction to economics to learn about inflation, please try to take a deeper look into what inflation really is:

> Inflation, as this term was always used everywhere and especially in this country, means increasing the quantity of money and bank notes in circulation and the quantity of bank deposits subject to check. But people today use the term `inflation' to refer to the phenomenon that is an inevitable consequence of inflation, that is the tendency of all prices and wage rates to rise. [1]

[1]: http://mises.org/efandi/ch20.asp

[lottin]

Everybody knows that the Austrians believe an increase in the quantity of money inevitably leads to an increase in the price level. It's got nothing to do with the fact that, anywhere in the world, and regardless of what you may think causes the price level to rise, an inflation rate of 2% is understood to mean that the price level has risen by 2%, not that the money supply has risen by 2%. As an example, the money supply (M2) grew by 25% in the US in 2020, yet nobody claims that the inflation rate was 25%. And so this is what the term inflation means, like it or not: an increase in the general price level. This is pretty basic stuff. Even your own quote acknowledges that this is the modern meaning of the term.

[patricius]

When Austrians talk about inflation, they specifically mean an increase in the money supply. They also mean this today. You said in your original post that for a cryptocurrency to be inflationary/deflationary, it needs a governing body adjusting the supply - which is not correct using the original definition of inflation. And even if you use your definition (increasing price level), it is still just an effect of inflation (increase in money supply) that may or may not be caused by a governing body.