<p>Yes, for most people it is an easier option to obtain bitcoins through an exchange (or a private trade perhaps) than through mining.</p>

<p>The current market price of Bitcoin is essentially based on a balance between 2 outcomes:</p>

<ol>
<li>the anticipated probability of Bitcoin becoming completely worthless in future (eg if the encryption failed, or maybe if multiple countries outlawed it)</li>
<li>the anticipated probability of Bitcoin becoming far more popular (and more highly valued) than it is now</li>
</ol>

<p>The first outcome would probably lead to a price of around zero, and the second outcome could lead to a very high price.</p>

<p>No matter what you believe, Bitcoin is dependent on many factors beyond the control of an individual.</p>

<p>If you hold on to bitcoins, you're essentially hoping for outcome number two.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-03T08:26:04.690Z
Some countries declaring it illegal would not necessarily cause a price drop, it could actually make it more popular. Or not. But that's not obvious.
o0'.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-03T19:23:09.533Z
@Lohoris, I agree; it's unknown what the effect would be. However, the potential is there. To cover either possibility, I intentionally added a "maybe" to the way I worded it!
Highly Irregular
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-04T10:24:04.440Z
True, but it is still in the negative effect side, while we don't know if it would be negative _or_ positive.
o0'.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-03T07:35:15.877Z
2013-04-03T07:35:15.877Z
Highly Irregular
<p>Yes, mining is optional.</p>

<p>You will profit from selling and trading. Holding only means, unrealized profit / loss.</p>

<p>Bitcoin is deflationary, as opposed to inflationary fiat currencies. Bitcoin's worth is supposed to go up as there are less and less coins, and more people starts using it.</p>

<p>Anyways, exchange rate varies with investor / speculator / general public's current interest.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-03T07:20:48.870Z
2013-04-03T07:20:48.870Z
vi.su.
<p>Question: Can I just buy/sell/trade to BTC and hold it and still be profitable? I mean with money you'd need to invest it in stocks, bonds, and etc to make more cash and simply holding on to cash over the long term means the same as losing money. Is this also true with BTC? Will I be losing money if lets say I buy 2 BTC coins and just leave it alone without investing it?</p>

<trading><economic-theory><bitcoin-economy>
Can you use BTC without mining?
Pandastew
# Can you use BTC without mining?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-04-03)

Question: Can I just buy/sell/trade to BTC and hold it and still be profitable? I mean with money you'd need to invest it in stocks, bonds, and etc to make more cash and simply holding on to cash over the long term means the same as losing money. Is this also true with BTC? Will I be losing money if lets say I buy 2 BTC coins and just leave it alone without investing it?

**Tags:** trading, economic-theory, bitcoin-economy


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-04-03. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Yes, for most people it is an easier option to obtain bitcoins through an exchange (or a private trade perhaps) than through mining.

The current market price of Bitcoin is essentially based on a balance between 2 outcomes:

1. the anticipated probability of Bitcoin becoming completely worthless in future (eg if the encryption failed, or maybe if multiple countries outlawed it)
2. the anticipated probability of Bitcoin becoming far more popular (and more highly valued) than it is now

The first outcome would probably lead to a price of around zero, and the second outcome could lead to a very high price.

No matter what you believe, Bitcoin is dependent on many factors beyond the control of an individual.

If you hold on to bitcoins, you're essentially hoping for outcome number two.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Some countries declaring it illegal would not necessarily cause a price drop, it could actually make it more popular. Or not. But that's not obvious.  
> **username_1**: @Lohoris, I agree; it's unknown what the effect would be. However, the potential is there. To cover either possibility, I intentionally added a "maybe" to the way I worded it!  
> **username_2**: True, but it is still in the negative effect side, while we don't know if it would be negative _or_ positive.  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2013-04-03. Score: 0

Yes, mining is optional.

You will profit from selling and trading. Holding only means, unrealized profit / loss.

Bitcoin is deflationary, as opposed to inflationary fiat currencies. Bitcoin's worth is supposed to go up as there are less and less coins, and more people starts using it.

Anyways, exchange rate varies with investor / speculator / general public's current interest.


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