Poll: Will Bitcoin Be a Viable Alternative Currency in Five Years?

In a poll conducted earlier this week in the CFA Institute Financial NewsBrief, we asked readers about bitcoin’s longevity.

Will bitcoin be a viable alternative currency in five years?

Having risen to more than $1,100 per bitcoin in trading just a few months ago, bitcoin has subsequently experienced a good deal of turmoil and volatility. As noted in the blog post “Bitcoin: New Gold or Fool’s Gold?” bitcoin’s competition with government-sponsored currency will gain the interest or possibly the wrath of governments worldwide. China and Russia, among others, have already come down harshly on the cryptocurrency, with China prohibiting banks and payment companies from using bitcoin and Russia banning it altogether. In addition, hackers have been attacking the platform. A number of denial-of-service attacks have taken down the bitcoin exchanges Mt. Gox and Bitstamp, creating fear and uncertainty about its durability. As of this writing, the cryptocurrency is trading at about $665 per bitcoin; yet just last week, it experienced a “flash crash” down to $100 before regaining that lost ground.

Interestingly, bitcoin is not just a currency; it is also an inexpensive payment platform. Whereas credit card companies charge merchants fees ranging from 1% to 5% of purchase price, bitcoin is virtually free. Also, bitcoin competes with money wiring at banks and such money transfer services as Western Union, which charge similar fees. Given both its current popularity and substantial challenges, we asked 1,183 investors whether they thought bitcoin would be a viable alternative currency in five years’ time. They responded with a resounding no, with 77% saying bitcoin would not be viable and only about 12% saying it would.

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Please note that the content of this site should not be construed as investment advice, nor do the opinions expressed necessarily reflect the views of CFA Institute

Ron Rimkus, CFA

Ron Rimkus, CFA, is a content director at CFA Institute, where he focuses on economics and alternative investments. Previously, he served as CEO at the online technology company he founded, Chaos Management, Inc. Prior to founding Chaos Management, Rimkus served as director of large-cap equity products for BB&T Asset Management, where he led a team of research analysts, regional portfolio managers, client service specialists, and marketing staff. He also served as a senior vice president and lead portfolio manager of large-cap equity products at Mesirow Financial. Rimkus earned a bachelor of arts holds a BA in economics from Brown University and an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Topical Expertise: Alternative Investments · Economics