Maybe the "first-world countries" will criminalize all use of Bitcoin as Bitcoin continues to rise and their currencies continue to deteriorate. Respectable citizens and companies will not be able to use it (without massive deception to avoid detection).
However, all the other countries will increasingly adopt Bitcoin.
In 25 years, there is a global economic renaissance, except the first-world countries of the past are now the dregs of the global economy.
so govt criminalises bitcoin (i would love to see the law that makes it illegal, is it illegal to own, mine, trade with?) how do they shut down a de-centralised network? localbitcoins allows you to buy and sell in person, tor sites could easily provide an exchange service and with the introduction of things like ripple finding other BTC users will get easier, so saying shut it down is easier than actually shutting it down. Plus if we have learned anything it is that a bitcoin clone can pop up next week, there are already litecoins, if the govt law banning BTC is so braod that it brings in all virtual currencies then poeple like Amazon (just starting their own) or Canadian National Bnak who are douing the same would also be affected, it would stifle innovation for the legal markets but the grey market would bloom in response.
Maybe the "first-world countries" will criminalize all use of Bitcoin as Bitcoin continues to rise and their currencies continue to deteriorate. Respectable citizens and companies will not be able to use it (without massive deception to avoid detection).
However, all the other countries will increasingly adopt Bitcoin.
In 25 years, there is a global economic renaissance, except the first-world countries of the past are now the dregs of the global economy.
</tinfoil>