31 thoughts on “Raising the bar

  1. Anybody see this article about the couple that stole $3,5 billion in Bitcoin?
    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/feds-arrest-husband-and-wife-team-and-recover-3-6-billion-in-bitcoin-stolen-in-2016-from-bitfinex-the-largest-government-seizure-in-history/ar-AATCjex

    It only interests me because:
    1) it’s “crypto” *cough*
    2) everyone tells me the government can’t track / monitor / seize / “ban” crypto currencies
    3) people imagine thee exchanges are ‘secure’

    I’ve toyed with getting into crypto, but if any of this is true, I don’t see any real advantage to holding crypto.

    Thoughts?

    • For me, it boils down to “What you don’t physically possess isn’t yours.” Just like the stock market, you go for the quick win and rarely get it. Conversely, stay in a minute too long and you roll snake-eyes, lose big and wish you’d done something else with 20-20 hindsight. Too many sucker games out there with an endless supply of of suckers playing.

    • Tim, on #2, earlier this year, i read a news article where the gov had tracked bitcoin transactions and used it as evidence in a criminal case. Also read an Ars article after the IRS sent out a news release reminding folks that crypto profits are taxable income. That article went on to explain how they were watching the bitcoin transaction stream and suggesting that they intended to go after the large transactions if they didnt show up as reported income. So yeah, this stuff is worthless for privacy purposes as far as i can tell. Certainly worthless to someone of my limited abilities.

      re #3, ive always wondered why anyone would not hold their own bc themselves unless they were actively trading That Day.

      Speculation and moving money across borders are the only reasons i see for crypto, at least for my purposes. And neither of those appeal to me at the moment.

      • At this point the only ‘use case’ I can see for crypto, is surreptitiously moving large sums of cash across international borders ‘undetected’.

        But I ain’t going anywhere, so it’s useless to me.

        Change my mind 😉

        • The only reason I’ve heard that makes crypto appealing is the ability to have currency the government can’t readily steal from you, unlike a digital bank account.

          • See above-cryptos are about the easiest thing for bureaucrats to steal,just log on a touch a key-and it’s gone.

    • can you hold it in your hand, and will someone give you something you want in exchange for it in the absence of government? answer to both questions must be yes, or its just fake money.

  2. I also upgraded to 10’s and even a few 100’s. I think the 100’s even stop bullets. Lol. Krugerands minted in 2022 have been quite available lately. Stock up while you can, nothing says f’ you NWO like a few krugerands, you know apartheid an all.

    Crypto is not to be anonymous, or decentralized, its to track you, its electronic, any questions? ETH will be part of internet 2.0 get some.

  3. I understand “because I can” and “because I want to”, but as far as the “I should” reason, while I guess it depends at least partly on how you value silver (storehouse of value, inflation hedge, speculation, safe haven investment, etc.), but I’m curious about why you’re buying silver bars versus “junk” silver coins, and really curious why you’re buying silver NOW ? Sure, everyone is talking about inflation, but looking at the silver price chart, silver has traded at between 22 and 28 over the last year and a half, and it’s actually down from mid-2020’s price – I’d love to see more of an inverse relationship between PMs and the market, but I don’t see that – open my eyes.

    • Why would I buy junk silver instead of ‘regular’ silver? Its not that I’m buying silver now..I’ve always been buying silver. I’m just transitioning from buying it in 1oz bars to 10oz bars. I’m not trying to time the market on silver…I set a goal for how many ounces I want to buy every month and then I buy that amount, every month.

      • I have a question too. Are you buying as a inflation hedge (which I could see 10o easier to keep) or future use as money if the dollar turns to TP? If the latter would it be better to buy 1 oz rounds to use as money? I would think if the dollar turns to TP the price of silver will shoot to the moon, making a 1 oz size better to buy products (or hungry coeds- note plural they will have friends!) with. I don’t care much for junk silver as too many yahoos will want to count the silver dollar as a….dollar bill.

      • The premium is lower on 10 oz bars than 1 oz bars. It’s the best bullion uy aside from 100 oz bars which have an even lower perineum on non-junk. Buy the best deal when you can find it.

        You should also diversify your holdings for when trading /bartering for larger ticket items.

  4. I’ve thought about large bars or coins, but so far I’ve stuck with small (1 ounce or less) because they’ll be easier to use for most transactions.
    I’ve bought fractional gold when I want a larger store of value.

  5. Ahhh… silver… It’s a good feeling to have some tangible assets locked up in the safe.

    All the silver that I’ve got is in 1oz and 1/2 oz rounds and junk silver coins. Some time ago, I considered getting some larger bars, but the question I couldn’t resolve was how to divide them when smaller amounts are needed.

    Be that as it may, good job Commander.

  6. I’ve been add 1 gram Silver little bars since that maybe less hassle doing small purchases

  7. If all other preps are completed, precious metal is a great store of purchasing power. We all know that. But, you need to envision life after the PetroDollar crashes ( and with it, our control over the PM paper markets artificially dampening price ). That is when any gambling you are doing with silver will pay off. Silver is getting scarce, as most is lost through industrial use, and production is in trouble. While the masses are distracted with fake digital assets, soon they will wake up and demand will far exceed supply. Once the artificial control is done, true value will soar. Hell, all you are doing is betting against the dollar. A pretty safe bet. Again, after all other preps are done- including elimination debt and rent/mortgage. Just the fact the gold/silver production ratio is off from historical levels is a strong signal for silvers upside. That doesn’t account for inflation or future production issues. That is current production problems alone. I’m more a food/ammo kind of saver, but any excess into silver is a no brainer to me.

  8. Buddy in Spokane was at a dealer this week.
    Sold some rounds, dealer offered $1.50 over spot !
    Also mentioned he was unable to find any Junk silver…

  9. I like the 1 oz as can use it easier for potential daily interactions. Have a few 10oz bars for major swaps potentially.

  10. the premiums are high right now, anything over 10% seems like too much considering I have paid as low as .49 cents over spot in the past. Platinum seems under valued right now with a low premium so maybe that may be a better buy right now.

    As an added bonus, in a pinch, a 10oz silver bar could be placed in a sock and used to smack someone up side the head, try that with bitcoin.

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