Читать книгу Bitcoin For Dummies - Peter Kent - Страница 33

To debase means to “reduce (something) in quality or value; degrade.” In the context of currency, it originally meant to lower the value of the metal used in coinage. Today, currency debasement typically refers to a government printing more of it, thus making each bill or coin worth less.

An undercurrent of libertarianism runs through the Bitcoin community. One of the big benefits of Bitcoin touted by Bitcoin true believers is that Bitcoin is not under the control of any particular government. It’s money for the people, by the people.

This means no government — or other form of governing body — can “print” more Bitcoin. In fact, the mathematics that define how Bitcoin works have “baked in” a regular flow of Bitcoin coming into circulation (6.25 Bitcoins every ten minutes currently); every four years, that rate will drop by half, until eventually, the flow of new Bitcoin will dribble away to nothing. Bitcoin cannot be “debased” by flooding the market with more Bitcoin.