Inside Story

Can Bitcoin be trusted?

El Salvador announces plans to make Bitcoin legal tender, but other countries are concerned about cryptocurrencies.

In just about 10 years, Bitcoin has turned from an idea into one of the most talked-about financial assets.

Fans say it is the future of money, free from the control of governments and central banks.

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele is planning to make his country the first to accept Bitcoin as legal tender.

But as some countries embrace cryptocurrencies, others like China are cracking down on their use.

Critics accuse criminal gangs of using virtual currencies to conduct illegal activities online.

So what does the future hold for digital money?

Presenter: Sohail Rahman

Guests:

Thibault Schrepel – Assistant professor in economic law at the Utrecht University

Delaram Kahrobaei – Chair of cybersecurity in the Department of Computer Science at the University of York

John Biggs – Journalist, entrepreneur and former editor of CoinDesk, a site specialising in Bitcoin and digital currencies