Paul Vigna

This could have been good, but they got enough details wrong (not due to facts changing, but just sloppiness and bad editing), plus a huge amount of filler (half of the book?) that it wouldn’t be worthwhile for most people. Unfortunately, I’m not aware of other better books about cryptocurrency beyond the initial bitcoin and basic blockchain tech level.

I’m a relative expert in this topic (involved in anonymous electronic cash and similar projects since 1992, currently working in the cryptocurrency space in technology and security) so I was already familiar with essentially all of the content in the book. The problem with a book like this is that in addition to constantly moving goalposts, a lot of projects are rather deceptive, and if you write about things with too high a level of credulity it will ultimately be misleading. There is probably some value in just summarizing what projects say they intend to do, but a lot more value in actual analysis.

The “fluff” level was high, but there was probably a solid 50-100 page book inside. If that had been combined with some deeper analysis of projects, technology, and results, it would be worth reading.… (meer)

Money supposedly makes the world go round. It doesn’t; that’s physics; but it is the lifeblood of business and the system that controls it, governments, banks, brokers and the other middlemen have made and lost fortunes with it and with that control comes power. Cryptocurrencies might be something that you have heard of, but like most people you are probably unaware how this new form of money is aiming to revolutionise the concept of money.

Bitcoin is probably the best known of these new cryptocurrencies. They are beginning to offer a genuine alternative to regular currencies, allowing people without access to credit and banks a way into global finance. This new money is a peer-to-peer type verified by technologies such as the blockchain and encryption allowing the bypassing of regular money channels. It is not subject to regular laws either, it was extensively used on the Silk Road website for illegal transactions and has gained some notoriety, however it is democratic and anyone can mine the coins to spend how they choose.

It is an interesting book about a new form of cash and whilst the authors do their best to explain it in simple and straightforward terms, it is at time very technical and complex. It is worth reading though, especially if you have an interest in technology or finance; but be prepared to be baffled at times.… (meer)