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The Economist11 min

Crypto: will the bitcoin dream succeed?

Mathieu Favas

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This analysis examines Bitcoin's 2021 trajectory as a volatile investment asset rather than a functional currency, highlighting its extreme price fluctuations, low transaction efficiency compared to traditional payment networks, and massive environmental energy consumption. The discussion covers the decentralized architecture created by Satoshi Nakamoto, the lack of central bank safeguards, and the mixed adoption landscape where El Salvador legalized tender while regulators restrict institutional capital and criminals exploit the system. Experts remain divided on whether the capped supply of 21 million coins represents a nascent asset class comparable to gold or a speculative bubble destined to burst like historical financial manias.