Bitcoin has topped.

[Baron]

Governments can (and have) blocked the on-off ramps. Without on-off ramps, you can't convert to/from fiat.

I haven't seen any evidence of that whatsoever. Anybody with an internet connection can choose between 294 different exchanges worldwide to swap their crypto for whatever they want and the exchange list is only growing. So if there are major governments trying to block crypto on/off ramps, they are doing a terrible job of it.

 

[vanzandt]

If it can get over $30K on relatively strong (historic) volume all the way up to that level, I don't think it'll ever look back. i would say $27.8K, but I'll use $30K to be safe.

 

[Cryptjitsu]

I haven't seen any evidence of that whatsoever. Anybody with an internet connection can choose between 294 different exchanges worldwide to swap their crypto for whatever they want and the exchange list is only growing. So if there are major governments trying to block crypto on/off ramps, they are doing a terrible job of it.

You're joking right? You cant be serious.
Most CEXs forbid USA customers, the ones that still function in USA then get selective state by state depending on the regulations. Regulations, which primarily get worse for on-ramp/off-ramp.
Just look at New York. It's basically down to 3 onramps/offramps. It was at least double that 5 years ago.

Also, as a general rule, the CEXs that want to stay off USA regulators radar have become a lot more serious about avoiding dealing with US residents. You used to be able to form a basic entity in a super crypto friendly tax haven territory to get KYC status and hence onramp/offramp. But that changed over the last couple of years.

Like it or not, the banking system & regulators hold the real trump cards in this scenario.

 

[Baron]

You're joking right? You cant be serious.
Most CEXs forbid USA customers, the ones that still function in USA then get selective state by state depending on the regulations. Regulations, which primarily get worse for on-ramp/off-ramp.
Just look at New York. It's basically down to 3 onramps/offramps.

You're misinterpreting what I was saying. I'm not saying that every single person has access to every exchange out there. I just meant that no matter where you are located, if you've got an internet connection you can find a crypto on/off ramp with no problem at all. Even in your worst case example of New York, you claim there are only 3 accessible exchanges, but how many does a person need? Last time I checked, all you need is one anyway. I don't know a single person that wants to trade crypto but is unable to do so because of no access to an exchange.

 

[Cryptjitsu]

You're misinterpreting what I was saying. I'm not saying that every single person has access to every exchange out there. I just meant that no matter where you are located, if you've got an internet connection you can find a crypto on/off ramp with no problem at all. Even in your worst case example of New York, you claim there are only 3 accessible exchanges, but how many does a person need? Last time I checked, all you need is one anyway. I don't know a single person that wants to trade crypto but is unable to do so because of no access to an exchange.

1) Not every single person. Check out North Korea, where only the government hackers are involved in crypto.

2) "you can find a crypto on/off ramp with no problem at all" It's significantly harder than in the past, with increased KYC requirements, long wait times, worse support, etc. On ramps & Off ramps were much more lax in the past. You can just look at localbitcoins for an example. Or the BTC ATMs & cafes being regulated out of certain states, such as New York. You can also look at Binance kicking off non-KYC users, and the rest of exchanges following suit. It's kind of an accepted fact now that it's just a matter of time before even Kucoin ends up folding to the regulatory pressure.

3) "Last time I checked, all you need is one anyway" If you take crypto seriously and believe you only need one on-ramp/off-ramp, you are a newb and will be taught a very harsh lesson.

The trend is clear, whether you choose to accept it or not. And the reality is that the most crucial block in this whole crypto game is the on-ramps/off-ramps, which is controlled by major banks & governments.

 

[Baron]

1) Not every single person. Check out North Korea, where only the government hackers are involved in crypto.

2) "you can find a crypto on/off ramp with no problem at all" It's significantly harder than in the past, with increased KYC requirements, long wait times, worse support, etc. On ramps & Off ramps were much more lax in the past. You can just look at localbitcoins for an example. Or the BTC ATMs & cafes being regulated out of certain states, such as New York. You can also look at Binance kicking off non-KYC users, and the rest of exchanges following suit. It's kind of an accepted fact now that it's just a matter of time before even Kucoin ends up folding to the regulatory pressure.

3) "Last time I checked, all you need is one anyway" If you take crypto seriously and believe you only need one on-ramp/off-ramp, you are a newb and will be taught a very harsh lesson.

The trend is clear, whether you choose to accept it or not. And the reality is that the most crucial block in this whole crypto game is the on-ramps/off-ramps, which is controlled by major banks & governments.

It seems as if you're referring to on/off ramps as they apply to anonymous users. I've submitted my personal info for the last 3 or 4 years to a variety of on/off ramps, so I'm not really in the anonymous mindset any longer. So yeah, perhaps there has been a clampdown on exchanges and services that continue to open accounts without knowing anything whatsoever about the people and/or entities that trade in and out of those accounts, but I'm not of the opinion that KYC laws are bad. It sounds like you have the opposite opinion on that though.

 

[Cryptjitsu]

It seems as if you're referring to on/off ramps as they apply to anonymous users. I've submitted my personal info for the last 3 or 4 years to a variety of on/off ramps, so I'm not really in the anonymous mindset any longer. So yeah, perhaps there has been a clampdown on exchanges and services that continue to open accounts without knowing anything whatsoever about the people and/or entities that trade in and out of those accounts, but I'm not of the opinion that KYC laws are bad. It sounds like you have the opposite opinion on that though.

I hate to state this, but you seem very out of the loop. Hence that explains your borderline delusional view on the state of things.
There has not been any non-KYC onramps/offramps in a long time, aside from the very small market that exists off the grid. Even localbitcoins was doing KYC years ago. Even the BTC ATMs have camera, and started requiring a photo of your government ID. KYC requirements were much more lax in the past, with most exchanges, and now are more strict depending on locale. None have become more lax, that's for sure. And all have becoming more restrictive, particularly toward USA & China.
It's not "perhaps there has been a clampdown". It's facts & the reality. Exactly a year ago, the trend increases with Binance kicking off non-KYC accounts. The trend has not changed and has not showed any signs of changing.
Sorry for being so blunt, but you just don't want to accept that the banking system & government truly hold the trump cards in this game because of the onramps/offramps.

 

[Baron]

I hate to state this, but you seem very out of the loop.

The word being used earlier was "blocked", as in the government has blocked the on/off ramps. Explain to me how Binance, FTX, or even a BTC ATM asking me for a driver's license or other form of ID is blocking my access to crypto. I've got a driver's license. I've got a passport. Snap a pic of the front and back with my phone and upload both pics. Takes 60 seconds. Big deal.

Again, explain to me how that's blocking my on/off ramp to crypto. The fact is that it's simply not, in any way. Would those KYC requirements be blocking my access to crypto if I didn't want to divulge any information about myself? Of course! But I also wouldn't be able to open a bank account, or have a brokerage account, or rent an apartment, or buy a house, or pretty much do anything financial-related in this world either.

Furthermore, if I seem out of the loop, it's because I'm not a cybercriminal trying to steal crypto from victims and convert it to fiat at a later time. But if you are hellbent on taking the perspective of only that specific type of user, then yes, the on/off ramps are being blocked and the KYC requirements are a total pain in the ass.

 

[Cryptjitsu]

The word being used earlier was "blocked", as in the government has blocked the on/off ramps. Explain to me how Binance, FTX, or even a BTC ATM asking me for a driver's license or other form of ID is blocking my access to crypto. I've got a driver's license. I've got a passport. Snap a pic of the front and back with my phone and upload both pics. Takes 60 seconds. Big deal.

Again, explain to me how that's blocking my on/off ramp to crypto. The fact is that it's simply not, in any way. Would those KYC requirements be blocking my access to crypto if I didn't want to divulge any information about myself? Of course! But I also wouldn't be able to open a bank account, or have a brokerage account, or rent an apartment, or buy a house, or pretty much do anything financial-related in this world either.

Furthermore, if I seem out of the loop, it's because I'm not a cybercriminal trying to steal crypto from victims and convert it to fiat at a later time. But if you are hellbent on taking the perspective of only that specific type of user, then yes, the on/off ramps are being blocked and the KYC requirements are a total pain in the ass.

I see the problem. You're looking from the perspective of YOU and ONLY YOU.
I'm looking at it from the perspective as a whole, and the obvious trends. I've had conversations with firms that are in constant loops of what is going on all around the world in regards to regulations, with one of the focuses being on getting KYC access to as many key CEXs as possible.

Regardless, this is a pointless discussion, since you will not acknowledge the actual facts until they directly affect you. You're right, Im wrong.

 

[Baron]

I see the problem. You're looking from the perspective of YOU and ONLY YOU.

No, believe it or not there are plenty of people like me out there with driver's licenses and passports.