Here’s what I think. When bitcoin is properly monetized and becomes the money of the world, its growth in value will slow down. In fact, I believe its value will grow approximately equal to the total productivity increase of the human race.
There will be businesses and/or technologies that will have better growth, and the investors with an eye to catch those (or those who think they have such eyes) will invest their bitcoin in them, expecting a higher return than the natural increase in value of bitcoin. Those who bet correctly will win big, and those who bet incorrectly will lose big, no bail outs; proper skin in the game. This promotes sound investment decisions and decreases the amount of mal-investments in the market. Loans will probably be mostly used for projects that will return a greater value than the value increase of bitcoin. Or at least loan providers will have such expectations on projects they loan to.
For those who do not wish to invest, there is of course the choice of saving money. Actually saving money, instead of the fake saving but actually slowly being robbed with fiat. Loans for future consumption will be heavily discouraged if not gone from existence, because you are correct, consumptive loans will be extremely difficult to pay back. Instead, people will learn to save money and wait until they have saved enough money to consume. But the money is increasing in purchasing power, so it’s probably not going to be that long of a wait. It definitely won’t be like the present day, where young people in expensive real estate markets feel that they will never be able to own real estate property.
That feeling of never being able to own anything significant will be gone. That feeling of hopelessness will be gone. As long as you are able to provide value to others, willing to work hard, and willing to save money; you will own what you desire and be happy.
Thank you!
Upon further thought, I don't think mortgages will disappear since those loans are backed by real estate and the government can't print land any more than it can bitcoin. But loans for taking a vacation or buying a car? Can't imagine that happening.
Also, I was thinking, The Bible forbade charging interest millennia ago and I think Islam does as well - it seems bizarre in today's world but if you have deflationary currency (gold could have been locally deflationary if there's no local gold reserves and a rapidly growing population) it kind of makes sense because getting repaid in nominal terms means your purchasing power has increased. I wouldn't loan to a stranger without interest because of default risk, but maybe in my local community I would.
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