[BLKNSLVR]

There are more words after the comma. There will be quibbling about the definition of "middleman".

Yes, bank transferral of money for basic things can often be free and very fast these days, but it wasn't when bitcoin was created, and cryptocurrency does more than just that nowadays too.

Both areas are constantly evolving, so comparisons are a bit fraught with bias.

[Karrot_Kream]

I gotta say, hats-off to you for answering all of these emotionally charged posts with nuance and without losing your temper. Cheers!

[BLKNSLVR]

I've already had many of these arguments in my own head, and it's only been with research (education, the universal silver bullet) and experience that I've been able to find trustworthy answers, so I try to share how I got 'from there to here'.

It's also taken me far too many years to learn that ridicule and dismissal are not paths towards persuasion. Not that I've permanently learnt that lesson though.