Bitcoin has become a craze around the world, both for innocent tasks and some illegal ones, which is where the currency originally caught fire. As the New York Times explained, “A Bitcoin is a digital token—with no physical backing—that can be sent electronically from one user to another, anywhere in the world.”

“Unlike traditional payment networks like Visa, the Bitcoin network is not run by a single company or person,” The New York Times continued in their article explaining the odd currency, one that still confuses people years after its creation. “The system is run by a decentralized network of computers around the world that keep track of all Bitcoin transactions, similar to the way Wikipedia is maintained by a decentralized network of writers and editors.”

With an uncentralized power holding together the payment method, it is easier for users to use the currency to commit crimes. Even though this is not the only reason participants have an interest in Bitcoin, the network did gain attention back in 2011 when drug dealers were using it to take payments. The government is unable to shut down these illegal actions on the network though because Bitcoin is international, which means computers around the world are connected to the network. The United States government only has the ability to regulate computer connections within the country.

For those who are looking to benefit their own lives with the currency, Bitcoin offers many interesting features. Bitcoin.org lists the key characteristics of the system as a way of making easy mobile payments, having control over the user’s money, being able to make transactions anywhere, having the ability to choose what fees are set, and having the user’s identity protected.

Another interesting feature the Bitcoin website mentions is “sending bitcoins across borders is as easy as sending them across the street. There are no banks to make you wait three business days, no extra fees for making an international transfer, and no special limitations on the minimum or maximum amount you can send.”

Drawbacks of Bitcoin include that transactions are only protected by those making the deal, so refunds can only be made between them not by a higher power, that not many businesses or people accept Bitcoin yet, and that Bitcoin is still developing and faces flaws within its system.

To limit the ability of users to change information saved on their network-connected computer, giving themselves more Bitcoins, all computers connected save every transaction, so any changes are easily detected. According to The New York Times, the owner of the fastest working computer in the network is rewarded approximately 12 Bitcoins, with an accolade being rewarded about every ten minutes. Bitcoins will continue to be made in the system until a limit of 21 million is reached, which is expected to be reached about a century from the present day.

Twelve Bitcoins may not seem like much, but in reality, the worth of one Bitcoin frequently changes, with it currently being approximately equal to almost 8,000 dollars. The number fluctuates as people bid on exchanges of the currency.

To purchase Bitcoins, which can be bought in tiny fractions, users can go through companies online like Coinbase, or, if they are interested in joining the exchange unidentified, they are able to go through companies that are created for people to do in-person transactions.