So you ask about the value of crypto currencies and then ask whether I understand blockchain and smart contracts. Notice I didn't say blockchain was worthless. Blockchain came out of the crypto currency work but isn't dependent on crypto currencies. It seems to have some usefulness, but as with bitcoin is way over hyped. And as far as I can tell, all the cryptography that used in blockchain had existed already so nothing really new there. Chaining the blocks together with a cryptographic hash such that you can't, or virtually impossible, change the ledger without breaking the cryptography is probably new.
So I would agree that Bitcoin is over hyped being as old as it is, the way the Bitcoin is governed for updates, its privacy isn't really there (until taproot), it doesn't have smart contract capabilities, and its hard as shit to program (wasn't built very well for updates).
But smart contracts are a real game changer that takes out all the middlemen of the finance industry and allow everyone around the world to have access to loans and finance products only available in countries like the US. That's a big deal, smart contracts will allow loans, insurance, contracts, for less fees than what we have today. It'll also be more inclusive worldwide, allowing a population to participate that otherwise wouldn't have been able to because of their corrupt government. So its cheaper and greatly expands the financial industry market, that's a big deal!
So you ask about the value of crypto currencies and then ask whether I understand blockchain and smart contracts. Notice I didn't say blockchain was worthless. Blockchain came out of the crypto currency work but isn't dependent on crypto currencies. It seems to have some usefulness, but as with bitcoin is way over hyped. And as far as I can tell, all the cryptography that used in blockchain had existed already so nothing really new there. Chaining the blocks together with a cryptographic hash such that you can't, or virtually impossible, change the ledger without breaking the cryptography is probably new.
So I would agree that Bitcoin is over hyped being as old as it is, the way the Bitcoin is governed for updates, its privacy isn't really there (until taproot), it doesn't have smart contract capabilities, and its hard as shit to program (wasn't built very well for updates).
But smart contracts are a real game changer that takes out all the middlemen of the finance industry and allow everyone around the world to have access to loans and finance products only available in countries like the US. That's a big deal, smart contracts will allow loans, insurance, contracts, for less fees than what we have today. It'll also be more inclusive worldwide, allowing a population to participate that otherwise wouldn't have been able to because of their corrupt government. So its cheaper and greatly expands the financial industry market, that's a big deal!