It is worth pointing out that Bitcoin does not require an investment to use it. Merchants can price their goods in bitcoins using a real-time exchange rate to limit their exposure to changing prices.
Since transactions propagate (without confirmations) within a few seconds the merchant can accept the payment and later cash out to, say, USD/GBP/EUR via the exchange or some other mechanism (e.g. direct to a credit card). Alternatively, if part of their supply chain takes payment in bitcoins (e.g. a hosting service for their website, or a supplier of goods) then they can simply pay their overheads with them.
Disclaimer: I am currently long on bitcoins and am using them as part of my long term retirement fund.
And for the avoidance of FUD: https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Myths
It is worth pointing out that Bitcoin does not require an investment to use it. Merchants can price their goods in bitcoins using a real-time exchange rate to limit their exposure to changing prices.
Since transactions propagate (without confirmations) within a few seconds the merchant can accept the payment and later cash out to, say, USD/GBP/EUR via the exchange or some other mechanism (e.g. direct to a credit card). Alternatively, if part of their supply chain takes payment in bitcoins (e.g. a hosting service for their website, or a supplier of goods) then they can simply pay their overheads with them.
Disclaimer: I am currently long on bitcoins and am using them as part of my long term retirement fund.