I don’t view it as any way to “preserve value”

To me it’s only true use is to anonymize payments (which requires some work to truly anonymize properly) - I see it as a system you dive in and out of. Not hold in. Simply because it’s not backed by anything it has no implied stability. At least the dollar (not backed properly anymore) has one of the largest world powers behind it keeping it floating along. There isn’t one of those for BTC…

I think most crypto is really all about another market for pump and dumps, a Wild West without much regulation…

Much like AI’s promise about letting humans enjoy a life with less labor, the idea sounds great but its reality is the majority of people just truthfully to make more money one way or another.