Bitcoin value has been climbing rapidly, reportedly in response to the global banking fiasco. Most recently the Cyprus ordeal has caused their value to skyrocket to over $100/coin. There are still limited uses for actually spending bitcoins directly for goods or services - at least legally. The Guardian reports that they are being used as the main currency for transacting within the underground virtual market, Silk Road. Also supposedly, the current state of hyper-inflation of the coins will prevent or at least hinder their path to becoming a legitimate working currency - instead they become an investment item.
Until now, bitcoins and services of it's sort have had no regulation. This rapidly expanding bubble, however, has gotten the attention of many governmental econo-types. Perhaps bitcoins will forge the road through red tape and come out on the other end as a regulated viable world currency. Who knows.
Has anyone purchased or done transaction with Bitcoins?
Will alternate privately held/distributed electronic currencies help or hinder the world economy?