Bitcoin

This founding document of the bitcoin movement lays out why a “purely peer-to-peer” electronic payment mechanism is necessary and how bitcoins answer that need. Bitcoin enthusiasts claim that the new currency will replace intangible trust in paper money and in financial intermediaries with tangible code. But unless you’re a software expert, you’ll need to trust that the system’s code is safe. Meanwhile, media reports of price swings, spurts and crashes risk painting bitcoins as just another e-speculation. getAbstract recommends this technospeak-laden paper to IT and finance professionals and to anyone eager for a glimpse into what could be the future of money.