no I wouldn't consider BTC is whole new world. It is however a very interesting variation on currency and the decentralised nature of it gives hope its value never being corrupted or perverted as that there will never be a Federal Reserve associated with it.
I would consider cryptos a whole new world of currency. There's really been nothing like it before, or nothing that ever even remotely grabbed peoples' attention.
I see crypto currencies as very much like mining gold , the product of all that effort is only really desired because its scarce and requires input to create. That input can be digging holes in the ground and extracting shiny yellow stuff or processing power slaving away over complex maths stuff.
cheers
peat
Good mining and may your hashrates be high.