bitcoin isn't an investment, it's a speculation. Not that you can't make money with a speculation, but that doesn't make it an investment.

If you are looking for a thorough introduction to cryptocurrencies there is a wonderful 3 part podcast series on cryptocurrencies HERE

JYL, in particular, I think you'd enjoy listening to this series with your finance background.

You'll hear from experts in the field and get a better understanding of blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and everything in between.

The host Patrick O'Shaughnessy comes from a quantitative investment background and is a very smart guy. I've listened to the series and will probably have to listen another time or two to get 60% of what they talk about.

From my first time listening to the series, I'd say I'm convinced it's a subject worth learning about.

From the Podcast description:

I'd love to hear what you guys think about the series. I'm a total newb to cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology and appreciate hearing from people that are smarter than I am.

I do still have it! The original gift of about $200 is worth about $1,800 at the current price. I'm still thinking of it as a fun experiment and look at the price every few days on my stock ticker.

I'm not sure at what value I will start thinking seriously about cashing out... Not to say that $1,800 is a small sum (it isn't to me) but I still don't really think of it as my money...

I still don't understand it at all... like most stock market investing, not very tangible or rational to me.

Also, I can't believe this thread is almost 5 years old.

I love reading the posts from a few years ago saying it's worthless, dead & over!

In the end, I still can't figure out any need for Bitcoin in any aspect of my life. I understand it is a way to do business electronically and untraceable. I just don't have a need to do that. Not even a little.

Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan claims it's a fraud, then the following week quietly direct his company to start trading it.

If the bankers are lying about it....

sc_rufctr eating so much crow now.

Been acquiring ETH since May. Everyone was grousing while ETH was coupled price wise to BTC...now BTC is taking off and ETH is in a slow idle. Just a matter of time till the whales decide it's ETH's turn.

I like crow ;)

i put my bitcoin into bitstamp and started playing around with that money. right now i am really gung ho about XRP (ripple), especially being that it is back by actual money in escrow. it is a really interesting digital currency.

i predict that bitcoin will hit at least $10K and i've been saying that for a couple of years.

you may be right that you don't have a need for bitcoin in your life, but you are wrong that it is untraceable. and it is saving people in venezuela right now.

the real value is in the ability to bypass a bank. think of it as a credit card (prepaid) that ANYONE can use with access to something as simple as a SMS cell phone.

As of 11:AM October 31 2017 1 bitcoin = $6374.02 US Dollars

$11,377 today

https://www.coindesk.com/price/

Tulips

I love my tulips! As well as my ETH, LTC and XRP.

I made AU$7500 in BCH in one day. Started with a buy in of $2400. Bought in the morning and sold that late that night.

My son keeps trying to convince me to drop a bucketload of money into BitCoin, and make big gains in short time. I don't have bucketloads of extra money, or any real knowledge about electronic currency, so I will remain on the sidelines for this one.

^ You don't need bucketloads. Just start with $500. Join a reputable broking firm. I've made $400 from $500 in 5 hours. Some of these smaller crypto's rise 300% in one day. The trick is to cash out and not wait for a few extra dollars. Take your profit and run. I think in the last 3 months I've close to $13K from $2400. I still have the $2400 back into crypto currencies and my bank account looks healthier.

Think long term here. Use play money, less than 5% of what you put back. Dollar cost averaging. Just throw a little at it every month and forget. Bitcoin, Litecoin, Etherum, etc... spread a little out. Amazing how the business news outlets are covering the chit out of the cyrptos in the last week. Do not know the winners, but this is a revolution and there will be pushback, highly volatile. Still very much in the infancy with relation to market cap. Getting ready to get crazy in December with major exchanges getting involved. Think there is a huge upside here, think 5 years ahead.

Look what the current market cap is and what it is expected to be in 12 mos. I know a $10k bitcoin price seems insane, but will rise along with the dips. Etherum (ETH) is what makes all this tech run, just getting started. Litecoin makes transactions fast and easy. Bitcoin is the gold. Ripple (XRP) is the bankers coin. You can purchase all fractionally. Coinbase is very easy to use. Investments for these is a hobby for me. What a frigging ride. When some say they are a bubble, what is the current stock market? I went to cash for a large portion of holdings in the market 4 months ago. The market is gonna cause some pain at some point for a lot of people as they claim for the cryptos. I have more than made up for it in crypto land.

You can easily purchase coins with fiat and spend with coins, and convert back to fiat when you want. You can use credit cards using bitcoin. Very easy to move coins and make large purchases. There is no magic to these, a great system. Caution, you are subject to gains by the tax man.