The Cryptocurrency Conundrum

Bitcoin Investors Cry for More Regulation Dear Sovereign Investor, Bitcoin dominated the financial news this week. Blaming the loss of approximately a half a billion dollars worth of Bitcoins on a "weakness in our system," Mt. Gox, once one of the world's largest Bitcoin exchanges, filed for bankruptcy protection on Friday. Of course, the media has been quick to point out that this was a problem with Mt. Gox and shouldn't cast a pall over the virtual currency. Some investors aren't buying it. The value of Bitcoin dropped by more than $100 at one point on Friday. Many of the movers and shakers in the Bitcoin world are now calling for more regulation. But that largely defeats the initial allure of the cryptocurrency, which was created for use outside the control of a government. If the U.S. or even most other countries were to step in to offer more regulation of the virtual currency, the anonymity that traders enjoyed would likely disappear. In fact, regulation would mean that the days of the lawless Wild West of Bitcoin would start to look a lot more like the suit-and-tie humdrum of Wall Street … or worse. While I can understand the desire to escape the fiat currencies and the non-stop printing presses of the government, Bitcoin isn't that escape. As Jeff Opdyke pointed out recently, there are better alternatives to Bitcoin – alternatives that won't disappear with a couple keystrokes from a hacker. Regards, Jocelynn Smith Managing Editor P.S. If you've missed some of last week's Sovereign ideas, please see our commentaries below: Grab a 50% Gain From This Bond Trade  Junk bonds have been in high demand as investors seek a higher yield than available with U.S. Treasurys. Unfortunately, they have become too expensive to jump into now, but there's still a way to profit from the popularity in junk bonds. Click here to get the full details on Evaldo Albuquerque's pair trade to take advantage of the yield spread between junk bonds and U.S. Treasurys. Amanda Wants to Give You Something If you have a subscription to a Sovereign Society research advisory letter ... you are eligible to receive a one-time $5,000 payout.  You can use this money to test-drive our research or you can use it to put a down payment on a car, travel or buy a lavish gift for a loved one - the choice is yours. Amanda has full details on this unusual offer right here. Raise the Minimum Wage, Raise the Cost of Living  Obama's promised hike in the minimum wage brings hope to many lower-income workers of a better life after years of stagnant wage growth, but that improved pay only promises to make life more expensive.  Jeff D. Opdyke discusses how the increase in income is going to result in a jump in the inflation rate for all of America. To read the full story, click here. An Urgent Warning to Anyone With Retirement Savings or Home Equity ... Buried deep on page 49 of the recent IMF report is a sinister plan for global wealth confiscation that will rob anybody with even "positive net worth." Governments around the world are now using this to plot their next move. They'll plunder retirement accounts and other assets. They'll act swiftly and without warning so people have no time to flee. To discover the steps you can take right now to protect yourself, just click here. America Pays for IMF's Bad Advice  The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development were supposed to be bastions of fiscal responsibility and economic common sense, but their bad advice has made them as reliable as a carnival fortune teller. To make matters worse, they continue to be a drain on U.S. taxpayers. Bob Bauman takes a closer look at these organizations and offers an alternative. Click here to read more. BOMBSHELL: Research of Government Doc' FT900 Exposes "Next 9/11" What you are about to see is based on information obtained from a little-known document published by a non-descript Federal office located one mile from the White House. The following presentation not only reveals the contents of this document, but it walks you through the exact timeline of how and when this catastrophic event is scheduled to occur … and how it will reshape America forever. You have only 78 days left (at most now) to take all the necessary steps to protect yourself and your family.  A Weak GDP Hides Economic Strength in U.S.  The latest U.S. fourth-quarter GDP figure dropped due to the harsh winter that nearly crippled most of the country. That weakness will ooze into the first quarter of 2014, leaving investors fearful that the economy is far less healthy than they had been previously believed. Jeff Opdyke explains where the U.S. is headed in 2014 and gives a recommendation on how to profit on this move. For more information, click here. BECOME A SUBSCRIBER When the next economic crisis hits – will you be prepared? As a subscriber to Jeff Opdyke's The Sovereign Investor, we will arm you with the tools and strategies needed to prepare and prosper in the months ahead. SUBSCRIBE NOW STAY INFORMED Whitelist Us Follow Us on Twitter Like Us on Facebook Privacy Policy The Sovereign Investor Daily 55 NE 5th Avenue, Suite 200 Delray Beach, FL 33483 The mailbox associated with this email address is not monitored, so please do not reply. Your feedback is very important to us so if you would like to contact us with a question or comment, please click here: http://thesovereigninvestor.com/ Legal Notice: This work is based on what we've learned as financial journalists. It may contain errors and should not be considered personalized investment advice. 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