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Isn't that what my 401k is? Sure I get matching contributions from my employer, but I am hoping it keeps rising and that I can sell later for a profit when I retire. Maybe I'm oversimplifying that, but how is that any different?

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Because companies exist to create revenue and grow. Revenue means dividend and R&D investment, hence, people spend more to buy those shares because company values are higher. For Cryptocurrencies, you just expect someone else will pay more than you do, but there is no obvious reason why it should be that way forever.

The assets in your 401k (if invested in the market, especially if invested in broad market index funds to be highly diversified) actually have value beyond simply being a speculative asset. They're shares in businesses with a lot of motivations to make a profit, and they're going to continue doing their best to do so, and you benefit from that as a shareholder.

Cryptocurrency is largely a bubble of speculation and get-rich-quick hype with not much actual utility for most people beyond a lot of claims that don't ever really pan out.

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