The delusions behind a bitcoin strategic reserve – Financial Times
Cryptocurrency enthusiasts have been buzzing about the idea of countries building up a strategic reserve of bitcoin. Proponents argue that holding a stash of bitcoin could provide a hedge against economic instability and give governments more control over their financial destiny. However, this idea is based on a series of delusions that could have serious consequences.
Firstly, bitcoin’s value is highly volatile, meaning that a reserve of bitcoin could quickly lose its worth. This would leave a country in a precarious financial situation, with no reliable way to stabilize its economy.
Secondly, bitcoin is decentralized and not subject to government control. This means that governments would have little power to influence the value of their reserves or regulate the currency effectively.
Furthermore, building up a strategic reserve of bitcoin would require a significant investment of resources. This money could be better spent on more stable and reliable assets, such as gold or foreign currency reserves.
In conclusion, the idea of a bitcoin strategic reserve is based on misguided beliefs about the nature of cryptocurrency and its role in the global economy. Instead of chasing after this speculative dream, governments should focus on building up reserves in more traditional assets that can provide real stability and security.