The debate over the relative merits of bitcoin (BTC) versus gold heated up this week after reports emerged of counterfeit bars fueling a $2.8 billion corruption scheme.
Citing Chinese and Japanese media outlets, Cointelegraph reported that a loans deal between Chinese financial institutions and Wuhan Kingold Jewelry – with gold as collateral – fell apart when it became known that the gold was actually gilded copper.
According to Chinese outlet Caixin, “at least some” of the gold bars involved were simply copper, with the loan lenders seriously out of pocket as a result.
“That has left lenders holding the bag for the remaining 16 billion yuan of loans outstanding against the bogus bars,” it reported.
The saga is just the latest involving fake gold to engulf high-profile entities. Previously, Cointelegraph reported on allegations that gold reserves in major central banks could also in fact be tainted with other metals.
For bitcoin supporters, gold’s authentication problems form a major argument against investing or holding the precious metal.
A survey by analyst Mati Greenspan revealed that bitcoin was by far the most popular choice for investment. Forty-two percent of over 2,300 respondents selected it, while gold was in second place.
For gold bug Peter Schiff, however, the findings said more about the mentality of bitcoin investors than gold’s integrity.
“This just shows you how delusional #Bitcoin bugs are,” he commented on Twitter. “Given how much further Bitcoin is from its record high relative to the Dow Jones or #gold, they still expect it to make a new high first. Hope is never a good investment strategy.”
Can’t fake BTC
Schiff’s perspective is nothing new, but his well-publicized ups and downs with Bitcoin have not convinced its supporters to believe in his distaste for it so far.
Last week, RT host Max Keiser claimed with 100% certainty that Schiff making a “huge buy” would occur once BTC/USD hit $50,000.
Summarizing the gold versus Bitcoin debate in light of the Wuhan Kingold scandal, meanwhile, Parallax Digital CEO Robert Breedlove hinted that the choice would be ultimately obvious for the market.
“#Bitcoin is more divisible, durable, portable, recognizable (which encompasses verifiability), and scarce than gold. Bitcoin is also cheaper to safeguard and less vulnerable to theft,” he wrote. “I wonder which one the free market will select?”
