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I often get the sense that I come off as a little nutty when I talk to my coworkers about Bitcoin. Part of that is because that I haven't quite found an "elevator pitch" to sum up such a complex and novel idea in a few simple sentences, so I sometimes ramble off-topic without adequately explaining the real benefits that Bitcoin has over fiat currency. I also get somewhat enthusiastic when I talk to people about Bitcoin and my passion could easily be mistaken for obsessive insanity. [caption id="attachment_932" align="alignright" width="281"] I totally get this guy now.[/caption] To give you some background, nobody in my office of about 100 coworkers had even heard of Bitcoin before I began proselytizing at work. I work for a very conservative real estate firm known for its Republican employee roster and monopoly in the Southern California real estate market. Most of my coworkers are a few years older than myself, married with children, and generally settled down. They drive fancy cars, wear nice clothes, drink expensive wines, and invest in conservative investment vehicles such as Blue Chip stocks, real estate, and government bonds. I, on the other hand, will not get married until everyone can, ride a scooter to work, buy my clothes at Target, drink Two Buck Chuck, and put almost all my savings into Bitcoin. On second thought, maybe I reallycrazy. Many of my coworkers simply don't understand Bitcoin. And again, I'm partially to blame for that. They'll say it's a pump-and-dump scheme that will burst when the price gets high enough and the "insiders" (presumably Satoshi Nakamoto or maybe the Winkelvoss Twins) decide to cash out. I know the pump-and-dump world well from my experience in trading penny stocks and Bitcoin just isn't a pump-and-dump. Although it really does bring up an interesting point about Satoshi's true intentions and his/her/their ability to manipulate the Bitcoin market. But already, I digress. Based on its mechanics alone, Bitcoin is not a pump-and-dump; it's a combined currency and payment system. I always get shocked looks when I tell people that I spend up to a quarter of each paycheck on Bitcoins. There is no doubt that this is a very aggressive amount to put in, but my decision was informed on months of intense research and I am fortunate to be able to afford the risk. Time will ultimately tell but so far my "commitment to the coin" has served me well. It is also exciting to see new merchants accepting Bitcoin, allowing me to spend my Bitcoins on a broader range of goods and services. So far, I've purchased earrings for my girlfriend, a Reddit timescale watch, Lealana physical Litecoins, 4 domain names, a hosting account, and hired a web developer all with Bitcoin. And even though Bitcoin's fate is still ultimately in the hands of regulators, I've pre-boarded the Bitcoin boat and will either make it to paradise or end up sleeping with the fishes.: The contents of this article are not intended to be interpreted as financial advice. The author of this article is not a registered or licensed financial agent or expert and the views and opinions expressed are for entertainment and educational purposes only. Always speak with a licensed financial agent before making any investment decisions.

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