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Crypto's Gold and Silver: A New Way to Look at Value

Harvard, Cambridge, USATuesday, December 2, 2025
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The Shift from Traditional to Digital

Cryptocurrencies are challenging long-held notions about money. Historically, gold and silver have played pivotal roles:

  • Gold: A store of value, preserved for its enduring worth.
  • Silver: A medium of exchange, facilitating everyday transactions.

Now, digital currencies like Bitcoin and Litecoin are disrupting this paradigm. But how do we ascertain their value?

Bitcoin as Digital Gold, Litecoin as Digital Silver?

Opinions vary:

  • Bitcoin: Seen by some as digital gold, retaining value over time.
  • Litecoin: Viewed by others as digital silver, ideal for daily trades.

To validate these claims, researchers analyzed extensive data using specialized tools.

Tools for Analysis

  1. HODL Waves: Measures how long coins are held before being spent.
  2. Velocity of Money: Tracks the rate at which value circulates.

These tools provide insights into whether Bitcoin truly resembles gold and Litecoin mirrors silver.

Findings

  • Bitcoin: Emerges as a superior store of value.
  • Litecoin: Remains crucial for trading purposes.

Innovative Trading Strategies

The study introduced the Price-to-Utility (PTU) ratio, a novel metric to evaluate a coin's worth. Backtesting with historical data proved its efficacy, paving the way for improved trading strategies.

Open Data and Collaboration

All data and tools from the study are publicly accessible, fostering transparency and encouraging further research. This collaborative approach marks a significant advancement in our understanding of cryptocurrencies.

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