Bitcoin and other Fiats

I worked on a cover story with designer Joannah Ralston for the Milken Review about Bitcoin, the internet-based peer-to-peer currency created by the programmers behind Wikilieaks. Bitcoin gained some traction in the spring of 2011, with a speculation frenzy that created a spike in its value. The crash that followed burned a lot of folks involved. The creation of bitcoins is a fascinating and complex but finite process, and bitcoins are 'mined' by cryptographic speculators. Handling of the currency and related security is complex and intriguing but also a reflection of broader global fiat currency issues. Whew. That's a lot of nerdspeak, now here are the visuals.

What is a bit coin worth? Well, it all depends on who you ask. Bitcoins are secure, but owners have had their computers hacked or stolen and lost everything.

I wanted to convey some of the complexities of the currency in this full-page opener