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CoolestBeansyesterday at 10:22 PM0 repliesview on HN

I agree the issue is not the scale but you're missing the reason the scale has allowed to inflate to these proportions is through purchase agreements that are enabled by other purchase agreements. Yes banks, other funders, and even the cash flow of the largest companies can provide lifelines, but why would they if the pullback begins? The problem with circular purchase agreements is the mechanism that allowed them to grow rapidly would also force them to shrink rapidly and most funders aren't going to want to catch that falling knife unless profit is near guaranteed, which it isn't. The numbers are still deeply in the world of speculative. Doesn't matter if you have a line to a bank president, they don't want to bail you out for free.

The point is that the numbers as they exist now require the industry to shoot the moon. It's not impossible, maybe the technology really is that revolutionary. But the margin for error is microscopic.