Republicans suddenly love crypto. Americans should beware. (WP)

[andym]

39. Not correct: Forks are or at least can be clones

plus optional extra changes, with the minimum change to point to a new blockchain which was a snapshot of the original one. Most try to be improvements by actually changing the protocol-- but they don't have to. I or any competent coder could create Bitcoin 1A, Bitcoin 2A, Bitcoin 3B tomorrow, preserve the protocol and the old chain, but make one change point it to a cloned/copied new chain with new keys. I thought I explained the technical aspects in my last post. Original Bitcoin would have no technical advantage, only mind share, which is not trivial I grant you. What I am stating is that there is nothing special technically about Bitcoin, and if enough folks were convinced something about the new chain were better (Some economic superpower stating they would make it their currency for example) then it could replace Bitcoin as the dominant cryptocurrency --granted that is not likely.

As for dollar printing., sometimes the Fed actually reduces the money supply-- these actions are supposedly dictated by economic models, but I have to grant it is possible for them to err. That doesn't compare with Bitcoin's volatility and greed-based price inflation.