It's interesting to watch ordinary people attempt to dabble in currency. How many criminal organizations, governments, and financial institutions (redundant?) the world over have people who wake up everyday just to manipulate the value of currency? For example, a common criticism of China is that they purposely manipulate their currency to devalue the US dollar. In which ways could such organizations impact a new currency like bitcoin? Simple theft doesn't work very well unless immediately converted to cash, just like tangible goods being fenced, often below true value. Was it really just theft?
I'm just an armchair economist, but I have read real economist argue that a strong US dollar limits the US's ability to repatriate it's manufacturing base. Also, I don't think China so much increases the dollar as it limits the growth of the Yuan in measure with technological and capital improvements that allow it to keep its export market strong and keep manufacturing business in China.
