Dr. Haslhofer started by introducing Bitcoin as the most prominent example of a virtual cryptocurrency and the use of Blockchain Technology (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blockchain_(database)). This currency is not issued by any government, bank, or organization but relies on cryptographic protocols and a distributed peer-to-peer network of users to mint, store, and transfer currency units. Transactions are almost real-time and costs are minimal compared to established payment networks, which offers novel opportunities for businesses and payment providers.
https://www.big-data-europe.eu/tag/bitcoin/
