I have 2 problems with this line of argument that I haven't really heard anyone address in a useful way.
1)While abundance certainly reduces value (by creating oversupply), scarcity can't in and of itself create value if there isn't demand. Say there is only 1 original Sean Hunter painting in the entire world. Since there are 34 Vermeers, it should be worth more than a Vermeer, right? Well no. Vermeer was much much better at art than I will ever be, so noone is ever going to want to own anything I paint.
2)While there is a finite supply of BTC, there is a limitless supply of alternative altcoins, and no barrier whatsoever to entry, so people can keep creating them. Since these can be made functionally identical to BTC, why should BTC retain value through scarcity? It's not doing anything that can't easily be done via another altcoin.
I think you might like this because it addresses both of your points.
>Vermeer was much much better at art
BTC is a 'much better coin' than alt coins. Its currently used worldwide. No other coin is used worldwide.
Its not just scarce, but its also highly demanded. Consider that people don't care about other coins, AND this is scarce. Its very difficult to become a rockstar, but once you do, your signature is very valuable.
BTC has broken into rockstar status. It has already happened. Alt coins have not.
BTC can't extinguish debts and taxes in any nation-state on Earth.
Taxation is in fact continually reducing the value of Bitcoin when it's applied - you can't pay your taxes in BTC, so you have to sell some of them to gain USD to cover your taxes (easy enough: you do it when you trade). But the person you sell them to has the same requirement - they will have to sell some BTC and trade out into local currency to extinguish tax obligations. The long term trend is everyone eventually must trade out of BTC to cover their taxes.
The trajectory of BTC is inexorably down - the current market is irrational.
> It's not doing anything that can't easily be done via another altcoin.
You can't pay to a Bitcoin wallet with an altcoin. It's a different currency.
I could start printing jstanley dollars but that won't impact the scarcity of actual dollars. Even though a jstanley dollar is still just a piece of paper that can do exactly the same things as a USD piece of paper.
1)While abundance certainly reduces value (by creating oversupply), scarcity can't in and of itself create value if there isn't demand. Say there is only 1 original Sean Hunter painting in the entire world. Since there are 34 Vermeers, it should be worth more than a Vermeer, right? Well no. Vermeer was much much better at art than I will ever be, so noone is ever going to want to own anything I paint.
2)While there is a finite supply of BTC, there is a limitless supply of alternative altcoins, and no barrier whatsoever to entry, so people can keep creating them. Since these can be made functionally identical to BTC, why should BTC retain value through scarcity? It's not doing anything that can't easily be done via another altcoin.