Whilst BTC is a good SOV (Store of Value) for now it is absolutely terrible as a real world use case. It's incredibly slow and expensive to pay and settle with. Awful. SOV is all it has but the banks will not be interested in using it as they adapt their own strategies. Mostly in how to move money quicker, in places that struggle with cross transfers. Often in some of the more poor places in the world. Essentially helping to bank the unbanked.
There are much better digital assets available that have several use cases. Ones that can both pay and settle transactions in a few seconds, at a fraction of a penny (around 0.000001p). There is one that is currently being used by many banks. It's why several businesses and banks can offer not only FPI but also settle that payment too. This has been one of the most difficult things for the antiquated banking system in regards to SWIFT messaging system. It's still too slow on the "settlement" side. This doesn't apply so much if you are within the same banking group or country but even SEPA payments can take a while to settle.
We live in a faster world now and the traditional banking system is still behind. They are working towards it but the future isn't with SWIFT. The GBP and USD are continually being devalued, thanks to things like increased quantitative easing. You £1 or $1 simply is just not worth as much and it will continue to reduce in value.
Imagine if there was an asset that can solve that problem? Can work with any currency and solve all the issues for the unbanked and cross border settlement? Well there is, but it isn't BTC or ETH.
ETH is also pretty slow, unless you pay the astronomical "gas" fees to transact quicker which is then counter productive because if I'm buying a coffee I not only don't want to have to wait for 30+ confirmations before it settles but I also don't want to have to pay high fees to process it. BTC is worse. It can take days sometimes to settle. My coffee will be very cold and don't even think about attempting to pay with it during a bull run. It simply is not practical as a useable asset.
If we want to talk about using future digital assets (or crypto if you must) as normal as we do with FIAT today then those assets are not for that. Stability is key (and I'm not talking "stable coins") and there are some assets that have relative stability compared to the likes of BTC and ETH and/or many other assets that get purposely manipulated or shilled to the max.
If you want something that has a future within integrating the banking system to a new and more modern level; that is inclusive for all and not just for the greedy "maxis" then I'd be looking at a digital asset called XRP. Along with Spark Token (FLR), which will also bring even more use case possibilities.
I won't tell anyone that they should invest or speculate on this or that outright because i'm not being qualified to give that advice but there are also some people that are qualified to give advice who know very little about digital assets (or crypto), or even emerging markets. Which I always find odd and often their main answer is to dismiss it altogether. Maybe really it's a curve ball and they are hoping people don't get in before them
The only downside to anything Samdy said (I'm aware of your job btw
), was regarding keeping hold of your cash. As I said above, the GBP is devaluing year on year. It isn't really something you want to just hold completely on its own. That'd be throwing value away.
As an aside, I've held XRP since around 2015. NFTs (Non Fungible Tokens) are another way and "fun" to get involved with. NFTs are essentially items or collectibles that are often loaded with value within. Say artwork, concert tickets, photography and so on. There's more to them than that but NFTs could have a use case in future for marketing strategies via bands as they may look to take back a little control of how their works are distributed.
Don't believe the scaremongers who say it's all for drug dealers (sorry Flammable, this isn't for you), the darkweb or other mucky undertones. In fact, the beauty of XRP is that everything is fully traceable. Plus anyone can work on the XRPL (XRP Ledger). I have known a great guy called Wietse for several years now and he initially created the XRP Tipbot, a fun way to move money via social media (I've mentioned having something similar on here before to replace the "like"/"cunt" function), he now runs XRP Labs with two other guys in an office in Amsterdam. All his work goes into building on the XRP Ledger to make integration even easier for say your Nan or anyone who doesn't digital assets or "crypto". He's an incredibly approachable guy.
Anyway, I've gone full Bamboo (not talking in the third person really) but I hope it offers some counter balance to Drummer Boy, who whilst is partly correct in BTC being a new SOV, it isn't the future in terms of usability. Without being patronising to you FDB, I'd ease off on the BTC maxi forums for a while as it seems they've got you sucked into the blinkered BTC culture of "BTC is the only one and everything else is trash" (I know you mentioned ETH but same foe in some respects).
Also, fully respect what Samdy has to say too. Good evening chaps (and chapettes, if there actually are any left on here).
