I think you are being a bit short-sighted and closeminded. It solves the issue of transaction fees for merchants and consumers(making P2P transactions) because it is a decentralized currency. Ever since the inception of credit cards, merchants have endured this fee without many options. The same goes for non-cash P2P transactions. Popmoney, paypal still take transaction fees to P2P transactions - bitcoin does not. Also, as it continues to gain acceptance and the bad actors are removed from the market - it will become less volatile. As this volatility levels out, it will provide a valuable payment instrument to individuals who are underbanked (look at mobile payments in Africa) and those in countries with highly unreliable currencies. In the future, the world economy will be based off of a cryptocurrency that transcends national borders so it is not affected by one country's economy. I am not saying that will be bitcoin - but it will be something like it. Countries are sick of relying on the Euro and Dollar