On Monday I wrote an article for TheStreet.com about the psychology of the Bitcoin craze. Since that article it had rallied another 50% into early trading on Friday. According to Bitcoincharts.com, the price is at $1213 as I write this post.
Part of the equation for the currency is that it is not inflationary, which is supposed to be in contrast to central banks which are inflationary by the nature of their policies. The chart captures the price action and I took the screenshot where the cursor hovered over a time from early in the year when the price was below $25.
Although Bitcoin is intended to be a currency, this sort of volatility hurts the chances that it can be widely adopted at some point (I realize some are using it for transactions). This is not to say Bitcoin should not exist, people should be able to speculate on whatever they want to and own the consequences good or bad but a vehicle for speculation (up 50% in a couple of days) makes for a poor choice for a currency.
Typically when a chart goes vertical as the Bitcoin chart has, it comes back down almost as fast (check out Andrea Electronics (OTCQB:ANDR) and Comparator Systems). If you can point to an instance where something went vertical and did not subsequently crash, please leave a comment with the particulars.
If it turns out that years of ZIRP and QE have distorted markets leading to some horrible consequence, then things like the mania with Bitcoin will be looked back at and with full conviction of hindsight bias we will regularly hear things like "we knew Bitcoin was a warning." In past posts I have noted that the equity markets have defied consequence and maybe there will never be a consequence from the last few years, but the divergence of the S&P 500's fortunes and Main Street's fortunes should at least increase your index of suspicion.
2013年12月1日 星期日
Second major Bitcoin heist this month allegedly takes over $1 million
Hackers have allegedly stolen over a thousand bitcoins from the European payment processor BIPS in a theft that's now valued at over $1 million. BIPS tells Mashable that most of the bitcoins — 1,295 in total — came from the company's own holdings, but "several consumer wallets" were also compromised in the hack. The payment provider says that it was initially hit with a DDoS attack on November 15th, followed by a second attack on November 17th that managed to take the funds. Though BIPS disclosed some information on the attack just two days later, full details don't appear to have been given until last Friday.
"YOU MAY WANT TO FIND ALTERNATIVE STORAGE SOLUTIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE."
BIPS says that the attacks appear to have originated from Russia and neighboring countries. It's now turning to law enforcement for help, but BIPS says that it'll first ask users for permission to turn over data about their bitcoins. Even with law enforcement's involvement though, users likely won't be seeing their lost bitcoins again — and at a time when they're becoming increasingly valuable. Because of the rapid fluctuation of Bitcoin's price, the stolen bitcoins were only worth around $650,000 at the time of the alleged theft, while they're now significantly more valuable.
Since the hacks, BIPS — which offers a free online wallet for storing Bitcoin — has been telling bitcoin owners that they should really be storing large quantities of the digital currency offline, where it can't be hacked. "Web wallets are like a regular wallet that you carry cash in and not meant to keep large amounts in," Kris Henriksen, BIPS founder, writes in a forum post. "Please be advised that attacks are not isolated to us and if you are storing larger amounts of coins with any third party you may want to find alternative storage solutions as soon as possible."
Another major hack took around 4,100 bitcoins from the wallet service Inputs.io earlier this month, then worth over $1 million as well. While Bitcoin hacks have contributed to crashes in the currency's pricing in the past, Bitcoin has only been rising lately — likely only making the currency all the more attractive to hackers.
"YOU MAY WANT TO FIND ALTERNATIVE STORAGE SOLUTIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE."
BIPS says that the attacks appear to have originated from Russia and neighboring countries. It's now turning to law enforcement for help, but BIPS says that it'll first ask users for permission to turn over data about their bitcoins. Even with law enforcement's involvement though, users likely won't be seeing their lost bitcoins again — and at a time when they're becoming increasingly valuable. Because of the rapid fluctuation of Bitcoin's price, the stolen bitcoins were only worth around $650,000 at the time of the alleged theft, while they're now significantly more valuable.
Since the hacks, BIPS — which offers a free online wallet for storing Bitcoin — has been telling bitcoin owners that they should really be storing large quantities of the digital currency offline, where it can't be hacked. "Web wallets are like a regular wallet that you carry cash in and not meant to keep large amounts in," Kris Henriksen, BIPS founder, writes in a forum post. "Please be advised that attacks are not isolated to us and if you are storing larger amounts of coins with any third party you may want to find alternative storage solutions as soon as possible."
Another major hack took around 4,100 bitcoins from the wallet service Inputs.io earlier this month, then worth over $1 million as well. While Bitcoin hacks have contributed to crashes in the currency's pricing in the past, Bitcoin has only been rising lately — likely only making the currency all the more attractive to hackers.
What is Bitcoin and how is it used?
Virtual currencies, or digital cash, are gaining popularity as a new way to purchase goods or services. They are not regulated or issued by a central bank. The most popular virtual currency is Bitcoin, which soared above $1,000 for the first time on Wednesday.
Things you need to know about Bitcoins:
What is Bitcoin? It is a digital currency that is created and exchanged independently of any government or bank. The currency is generated through a computer program and can be converted into cash after being deposited into virtual wallets. When Bitcoin was launched? In 2008, a programmer known as Satoshi Nakamoto - a name believed to be an alias - posted a paper outlining Bitcoin's design and later in 2009 released software that can be used to exchange Bitcoins using the scheme. That software is now maintained by an open-source community coordinated by developers. How does Bitcoin work? It exists through an open-source software program and its supply is controlled by a computer algorithm. Once you download and run the Bitcoin client software, it connects over the Internet to the decentralized network of all Bitcoin users and also generates a pair of unique, mathematically linked keys, which you'll need to exchange Bitcoins with any other client. One key is private and kept hidden on your computer. The other is public and a version of it dubbed a Bitcoin address is given to other people so they can send you Bitcoins. How Bitcoins are generated? The process of generating Bitcoins is quite complicated and involves solving complex algorithms and sharing the solution with the entire network. The "mining" is very computationally intensive and requires powerful computers. How to transfer Bitcoins: When you perform a transaction, your Bitcoin software performs a mathematical operation to combine the other party's public key and your own private key with the amount of Bitcoins that you want to transfer. The result of that operation is then sent out across the distributed Bitcoin network so the transaction can be verified by Bitcoin software clients not involved in the transfer. How to trade Bitcoins: Exchanges like Mt. Gox provide a place for people to trade Bitcoins for other types of currency. Payments to a merchant who accepts Bitcoins are made from the wallet application, either on your computer or smartphone, by entering the recipient's address, the payment amount. Who controls the Bitcoin network: It is controlled by all Bitcoin users around the world. While developers improve the software, they can't force a change in the Bitcoin protocol because the virtual currency can only work correctly only if there is a consensus among all users. Bitcom transactions: At the end of August 2013, the value of all Bitcoins in circulation exceeded $1.5 billion with millions of dollars worth of Bitcoins exchanged daily, according to Bitcom website. (With Agency inputs)
Things you need to know about Bitcoins:
What is Bitcoin? It is a digital currency that is created and exchanged independently of any government or bank. The currency is generated through a computer program and can be converted into cash after being deposited into virtual wallets. When Bitcoin was launched? In 2008, a programmer known as Satoshi Nakamoto - a name believed to be an alias - posted a paper outlining Bitcoin's design and later in 2009 released software that can be used to exchange Bitcoins using the scheme. That software is now maintained by an open-source community coordinated by developers. How does Bitcoin work? It exists through an open-source software program and its supply is controlled by a computer algorithm. Once you download and run the Bitcoin client software, it connects over the Internet to the decentralized network of all Bitcoin users and also generates a pair of unique, mathematically linked keys, which you'll need to exchange Bitcoins with any other client. One key is private and kept hidden on your computer. The other is public and a version of it dubbed a Bitcoin address is given to other people so they can send you Bitcoins. How Bitcoins are generated? The process of generating Bitcoins is quite complicated and involves solving complex algorithms and sharing the solution with the entire network. The "mining" is very computationally intensive and requires powerful computers. How to transfer Bitcoins: When you perform a transaction, your Bitcoin software performs a mathematical operation to combine the other party's public key and your own private key with the amount of Bitcoins that you want to transfer. The result of that operation is then sent out across the distributed Bitcoin network so the transaction can be verified by Bitcoin software clients not involved in the transfer. How to trade Bitcoins: Exchanges like Mt. Gox provide a place for people to trade Bitcoins for other types of currency. Payments to a merchant who accepts Bitcoins are made from the wallet application, either on your computer or smartphone, by entering the recipient's address, the payment amount. Who controls the Bitcoin network: It is controlled by all Bitcoin users around the world. While developers improve the software, they can't force a change in the Bitcoin protocol because the virtual currency can only work correctly only if there is a consensus among all users. Bitcom transactions: At the end of August 2013, the value of all Bitcoins in circulation exceeded $1.5 billion with millions of dollars worth of Bitcoins exchanged daily, according to Bitcom website. (With Agency inputs)
Bitcoin keeps surging, taps new record atop $1,200
MADRID (MarketWatch) -- Bitcoin continued to push higher Friday, touching a new record of $1,242 before pulling back to around $1,183. The virtual currency took out Wednesday's $1,000 high on Thanksgiving Day. The run-up for bitcoin got new life after a congressional hearing earlier this month that effectively gave the currency an official blessing. The currency also elbowed into the holiday shopping season with its own Bitcoin Black Friday promotion involving hundreds of merchants.
Bitcoin passes the $1,000 mark for first time: Digital currency QUADRUPLES its value in less than three weeks
Virtual currency Bitcoin has passed the $1,000 (£613) mark for the first time since it was introduced in 2009.
According to the currency's main exchange, Mt.Gox, the price for a single Bitcoin has almost quadrupled since its previous record high of $267 (£165) less than three weeks ago
Analysts claim the demand for Bitcoin follows increased awareness about benefits of the currency and a drive to move it into the mainstream.
Bitcoins can be bought with near anonymity, which supporters say lowers fraud risk and increases privacy.
The current rises follow the launch of the world’s first Bitcoin ATM, dubbed Robocoin, in a Vancouver coffee shop.
The blue and silver ATM machine, which is operated by Vancouver-based Bitcoiniacs and Nevada-based Robocoin, changes bitcoins to Canadian dollars and vice versa.
Users scan their hand to confirm identity, and then funds move to or from a virtual wallet on their smartphone.
According to the currency's main exchange, Mt.Gox, the price for a single Bitcoin has almost quadrupled since its previous record high of $267 (£165) less than three weeks ago
Analysts claim the demand for Bitcoin follows increased awareness about benefits of the currency and a drive to move it into the mainstream.
Bitcoins can be bought with near anonymity, which supporters say lowers fraud risk and increases privacy.
The current rises follow the launch of the world’s first Bitcoin ATM, dubbed Robocoin, in a Vancouver coffee shop.
The blue and silver ATM machine, which is operated by Vancouver-based Bitcoiniacs and Nevada-based Robocoin, changes bitcoins to Canadian dollars and vice versa.
Users scan their hand to confirm identity, and then funds move to or from a virtual wallet on their smartphone.
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