swissie

I can do better: We all should have bought "Apple", 500 years ago.

Amen! The priests have alwas fared better than their followers. Hate to think that the creators of "new cryptos" (weekly or monthly) are the modern day priests.

Can't remember. But I also can't remember when I heard "Hello sexy man" for the first time.

Point 1,2,3 are absolutely correct, resulting in "trust", making it a "common denominator" for worldwide trade. If the Thai Farmer should decide to export his water melons, he would have to take a glance at the US$/BAHT exchange rate occasionally. He is not likely going to look at the price of Bitcoin.

Above comment makes it clear to me, that unless someone is a "computer-wizard", it is not possible to understand the "inner-workings" of crypto currencies. I happen to believe that 95% of people are not computer-wizards. Caution would suggest, if something is not understood, better "hands-off". This brings me in "devils-kitchen". Men claim, that we don't know the "inner-workings" of women. That has not stopped us from keeping our hands off women. "Brute Force" was mentioned. I can rob a bank with brute force. Someone tell me how to rob with "keyboard brute force". It might turn me into a convert.

These days, the "Market Gurus" cant't make up their minds. Torn between market statistics that can indicate a future economic "recession" or a general "nevermind". We will "sit out whatever comes", recommending mostly a very conservative approach to "the markets". Fine. - But future "Bull-Markets" sneak up like a cat on silent paws. Not noticed by the Wall Sreet Guru community, until the cat has leaped foreward (upward) by 50%). Then they recommend it with "a strong buy". Currently we have a cat, getting ready to "leap". Having formed a very solid technical and fundamental base from witch to "leap". Having build up the foundation to laep for months. Most producers of this material agree that they will not be able to satisfy the demand for this material. At the latest by September this year. Regardless if the Chinese Economy recovers or not. (A major consumer). The Wall-Street Gurus have not gotten wind of it yet. But the producers of this material have. Does the cat, aproaching on silent paws has a name? Yes, it's name is COPPER.

I have asked many questios and received many answers. Can you ask again what answer I have not given.

According to you, not long enough. But I have never met a person that bought Bitcoin at $ 60'000 and is still happy.

Quote: "No technical reason. Its creator just made that choice so the system is not indefinitely inflationary. What if he changes his mind and allowes for 100 million coins? Quote; "It's called Crypto Currency because it relies on Cryptography. Kryptos means concealed, hidden, secret. Not unexplainable, mysterious or beyond comprehension. Secrecy is the key to digital security because the opposite would mean everyone could access your accounts, wallets, data etc. Then why is it that on a monthly basis we learn that certain Crypto accouts heve been plundered by some sophisticated "hackers". Secrecy? PS: It happenes that some native English Speakers occasionally post messages here, that I can only qualify as "cryptic messages". It may have something to do with local "slang", giving new meaning to Crtiptologie, dwarfing the Cryptig messages of the old Greeks. ======================== Now down to some basic fundamentals: To asses the intristic value of something we need a "measuring stick". Here, we are walking on "thin ice". 2000 years ago, in the middle east, the measuring stick consisted of 100 sheep skins equals the value of 10 cows. I strongly believe that the US$ will remain as the "measuring stick" for a long time to come. (power of taxation). To what would one link any crypto to a system without power of taxation? Exchanging a hundred sheep skins for 10 cows, taking place at the New York Stock exchange? Or exchanging a good looking women for 1 Bitcoin? An exchange of " values" can only take place with a centralised common denominator. Worldwide. And this is the US$ still. Formerly Gold and Silver coins. Cryptos can not replace "the value compass" of this world due to the lack of the power of taxation. Worse: Without any "tangible" anchorage of any sort. (Unless backed by 100 sheep skins or 1 good looking women as currency).

Of course, turning it into "economic-growth". For better or for worse. Do Crypto Miners contribute to Economic Growth"?

Thanks guys. I am a bit wiser now. A few questions remain: - The "production" of Bitcoins is called "mining". I read that the amount of Bitcoins that ever could be mined is limited to 21 Million coins. Why not more? Please explain. Surely we will not run out of numerical combinations. - The "mining" uses already as much elctricity as the entire country of Morocco. "The Governements of this world" may find this unacceptable, if this trend continues. ------------------- Many speculative bubbles have come and gone over time. Starting with the "Tulip Mania" in old Holland. 1 Tulip seed had the value of a downtown house, before the big crash. At least a tulip was something tangibe. One cold see it, smell it, touch it. On the other hand, most people have never seen, nor smelled, nor touched a Bitcoin. I like "tangible things". Holding a 100 Dollar billl in my hands still gives me a warm feeling. Especially as long as the value of Cryptos is measured in form of US$. The word "Crypto" has it's origins in the old Greek language. Meaning: Mysterious, unexplainable, beyond comprehention. Food for thaught.

Thanks eisfeld. Very helpful. Commodity Futures prices take their clue from the cash market price. Projecting the cash price into the future. That's why they are called "futures markets". That can lead to "Contago" or "Backwardation" situations. Finally backed by something tangible, the cash price of a commodity. Not really comparable to "Cryptos".

I truly want to understand "crypto currencies". "Experts to the forefront". I understand, that "fiat currencies" are becoming more suspicious. For thousands of years Gold and Real Estate were a refuge when "Currency De-Basement" were on the agenda of Kings an other rulers, when they ran short of Gold (the only money, back then). As I understand it, while buying Bitcoins I get a combination of numbers that my baker around the corner will not accept as currency and give me no loaf of bread for a part of my numerical combination. Outside of a numerical combination I can not see the value of anything outside of the value of a numerical combination. Backed up by nothing else than a numerical combination, hoping that another fellow will consider a purely numerical combination is some sort of "currency". Backed by nothing but a combination of numbers. - In my younger days, I traded all kinds of volatile commodites (CBOT, CME) mainly "Pork-Bellies", knowing that the worst thing that could happen, is having delivered 40'000 Lbs of "Pork Bellies" at my doorstep. A big loss, but still an "asset", because people like to eat bacon. How do you eat Bitcoin? Unlike "Pork-Bellies", a combination of numbers is not an "asset". Both highly speculative. I still prefere "commodities", with a tangible value, instead of a numerical combination, called "assets". My baker across the street does not believe in "numerical assets". He believes in "cash" and won't sell any of his bread for some part of a Bitcoin. Any currency (fiat or not), reflects the state of the "health of a nation", politically, economically, sociaally. Not looking too good, I agree. To replace this by something backed by absolutely nothing tangible must fail. As the Central Banks will not abandon the privilege of controlling "the money supply", not tolerating alternative "dream-currencies", bare of any tangible "assets". Nor having the power of "Taxation". Knowing that the greatest "ponzi-scheme" is in the making. China has already forbidden "crypto currencies" unless approved by the "Governement". So truly, I need to know, why would anyone buy a number of other numbers for 30'000 $ and call it finally an "asset". Back on Toipic I would simply like to know why some people prefer to invest in something that only exists as a mathematical complicated password, basically. Hoping that the next fool will buy the "complicated password* for 1 Dollar more. ----------------------- My perception on things. Opposing views to enlighten me are very welcome. Especially if it comes to lend credibility of the greatest "Ponzi-Scheme" there ever was.

No matter what political system mankind lives in. There is always an "Elite" forming. (Even in old Communism). Accumulating a nations wealth in no time at all. As far as as our written history goes back, it has always been that way. Until today. To summarise: "Man is mans wolf". "The freedom of the wolfes is the death of the lambs". Or, according to my 2 Thai stepdaughters: No matter who is in power, we still have to go to work every day.

As you mention, a Dollar Put Option is another way to go. But notice: The Option is linked to a futures contract. That means not only come the "Carrying Charge" for the futures contract into play, you would also have to pay for the Dollar Put Option. In other words, before your "hedge" even starts to "hedge", the Dollar would have to have taken a historical nosedive already. Financing cost 23% plus 10% Option Premium = minus 33%. After that, your "hedge" will start to work. That makes for a lousy hedge. PS: If at all, something like that should be done via a internationally operating broker, not by any Thai Bank. They are not equipped to handle complicated "financial constructs". Not to speak of their high commissions, just for buying and selling Thai Stocks. I hate to think what they would charge if they have to involve a "Corresponding Broker".

The OP asked how much does it cost. In Dollar and Cents. Well, here it is: To establish "a hedge" with futures one must short the $ against the BHT. CAUTION: Often overlooked, "Carrying Charges / Financing Cost" come into play. Currently, a $ vs THB hedge would cost you a whopping 23.76 % per year. Extremely expensive. Source: https://www.oanda.com/uk-en/trading/financing-costs/

My Thai wife is now 20 years in my home country. Just back from her annual visit to Thailand. To visit daughters/family. She came back in some sort of a "somber mood". She claims that Thailand has not changed for the better. Complaining that 1 part of her Thai Family is well educated, with good jobs (financed by her), but still always short of money. The other part of her family is less educated and also always short of money, naturally. With a granddaughter, growing up in the Bangkok smog. The plan was, that after my demise, she would return to Thailand in old age. (Home country/family etc etc etc). Not anymore. She has made it clear, that after 20 years of residency in this small country in the middle of Europe is now her "Home Country", not Thailand anymore. She claims, that Thailand has given her nothing but hard labor, humiliation and Thai males that have seen a wife as something as a "sex slave" with a marriage certificate. (Long before some Europeans came to Thailand, looking for "sex-slaves"). That was her time in Thailand in her younger years. Then came the "white knight". = ME. She insists, that the "white knight" was the best thing that ever happened to her, elevating her from an underpriviledged lifelong Thai existance. We both like the way things have turned out.

I too had my "Bucked List". Gladly, I went thru my Bucket- List between the age of 20 to 45. Fearing that I could not "work-off" my Bucket-List in old age. This is exactly what has happened. Today, I could only experiance 10% of my original Bucket list. Once ones health is failing, it's hard to "work-off" any Bucket-List. One point of my Bucket-List was always to keep in very close contact with the females of this world until old. Nope. I am now looking at the females of this world from a distance. Salivating profusely while doing so. The curse of old age: The desire is still there, but the capability may not. For me, proof enough, that God dosn't like old males.

"Timing" is everything. Hard to do concerning the Stock Market. Impossible as far as life expectancy is concerned. = "You don't know the day, nor the hour". PS: Bought a livelong member<deleted> in "EXIT" (Switzerland) for CHF 1000 fife years ago. To be able to determine the point in my live, when I wanted to "Exit", according to my free will. Rats! 6 months later it was conveyed that it takes 2 independent Doctors, agreeing that one must be terminally ill before any "Exit" wishes would be considered. As opposed to before. Nedless to say, "Exit" gives no refunds. Worst investement I ever made.

Can't supply any statistics. But it worked ONCE.

Great, thanks. Can you give a source that shows Donald in a bathing suit? With the help of "photo shop" I will prove positive that Donald had something to do with Stormy. Remarking that this is all "authentic" and genuine. Certfied by Mark Zimmermen and Bob Dylan (Robert Zimmerman). AI knocking at the door.

I left Thailand for the same reasons you did. Just in time. Shortly after I got "home", I accumulated massive medical bills. My Thai health insurance (covering 3 million Bht) would not have covered my hospital bills. I would have gone bankrupt in Thailand. Remarkably, when I left Thailand I wasn't ill in any way. I will never know if it was destiny, a gut feeling or just pure luck that made me leave Thailand "just in time". Other than that, in spite of it all, you seem to be "holding up" quite well. I too have found out that accepting "it is what it is" is helpful. Leaving the door open for potential new adventures (great or small).

Where can I get a "Stormy Daniels" T-shirt?

Ahhhh the old Greek Philosophers. The pillars of civilisation and democracy. Most of them had "Toy Boys". All perfectly normal. Today they would be in prison, classified as paedophiles.

A few footnotes. Sexual temporary relationships were mentioned. Easyly possible in Thailand. It's just that those temporary "female companions" disappear as soon as the Farang truly needs them (health or otherwise). To end up alone and sick in old age is probably the sadest ending for any Farang in Thailand. ---------- The benefits of old age were mentioned. Only if ones physical and mental health remains intact. I visit my older brother regularily at a rest home. Every time I leave, I suffer a mild trauma. All I see there are old folks sitting in the day room, staring into space. Nobody talks, nobody reads a newspaper, TV is running, nobody watching it. = The other side of "The golden years" I am afraid. ----------More: Old ghosts that haunt us: There is a frequent poster here (the one that loves Thai Beaches). Most of us know his story. He has "Loved and Lost" in old age plus having lost a good part of his earthly assets. Clearly, a "double whammy". The old wisdom "Time heals all wounds" may work for most of us, but clearly not for the poster I am referring to. I wish it wasn's so because I can relate. In my younger years I have also "Loved and Lost". For many years "Time refused to heal my wounds" until I met my current wife. I experianced "instant healing". Very much according to a Rolling Stones text "an other girl will take my pain away". It worked instantly. Never looking back. Might this work for said poster as well?