The first reference to Bitcoin appeared in 2008, in a paper by a writer supposedly named Satoshi Nakamoto. However, the name turned out to be a pseudonym for a person or group who preferred to remain anonymous. A year later, Bitcoin was released as open-source software.
Bitcoin was not the first attempt at a cryptocurrency; others had existed in one form or another for nearly 50 years, but without much success. In a short space of time, though, Bitcoin became the first cryptocurrency to be widely traded internationally. The first Bitcoins were mined in January 2009; within 200 days, one million coins had been mined. By 2019, this had risen to over 17 million Bitcoins—worth a total of U.S. $65 billion—and more than 300,000 new transactions were taking place every day.
More sophisticated uses of this currency may occur in the future. In most cases, financial transactions involve exchange fees, taxes, and payment delays to guard against fraud. Virtual transactions, however, are speedy and cheap—and are settled immediately. And unlike a credit card exchange, where credit card numbers and security information are handed over completely for any transaction, a Bitcoin transfer is authorized only to pay a specific amount.
Virtual currencies also make it possible to make a digital payment without needing PayPal or a credit card. This is particularly useful in many parts of Africa, Latin America, and South Asia. Immigrants to developed countries may find it a convenient way to send funds back home to their families. Bitcoin supporter Jonathan Mohan says, “[I] The vast majority of people on the planet don’t even own a bank account [II]…. Just as in Africa, people went directly to cell phones. [III] In these developing nations, you’re not going to see them start getting bank accounts. [IV]”
The most obvious drawback is a lack of stability in the value of the currency. Bitcoin’s independence makes it more stable in principle than traditional currencies. In reality, though, its value has fluctuated wildly over the time it has been in existence. In 2012, the price of a Bitcoin was about U.S. $12;byDecember2015,ithadreachedU.S.$400. Two years later, it reached a peak of almost U.S. $20,000, but then lost almost 80 percent of that value within a year. Those are some wild swings.