[kdeforche]

> I think this is actually the most interesting point. The truth is that, no, you don't actually need to use bitcoin right now. And that's different than not needing to use the internet in 1993. Right now, there are plenty of substitute goods - more stable, more accessible currency that is used by more people. In 1993 there weren't that many substitute products for the internet.

There is always a risk with drawing parallels, but the Internet-Bitcoin one isn't entirely silly.

Tell me, right now, what's the easiest way for me to safely send you 5 Euro? I think that would be putting cash in an envelope with enough stamps on it to reach your house? And how would I know you really live there? And how can we both assert that the transaction happened? Perhaps if you happen to live in Europe (as I am) we could do a bank transfer. But what if you're in the USA, or in Africa?

That's something that today can only be done with Bitcoin. Sure it's no panacea (bitcoin), but neither was editing a mail in VI and ELM.

Question is: is there a need for this? I believe so, given that there even supposedly is a need for something like SnapShat.