The developments of digital technology have affected the way we interact with money. We use credit and debit cards, check our balances online, use ATM to withdraw money from out bank account
or make direct transfers without ever touching physical cash. But these are examples of digitization of existing currency – there is always a paper dollar that you can get for a digital
dollar. Digital currencies are a fairly new phenomenon. They exist only in digital world. There is no state currency, no state assets to back them up.
Beyond Bitcoin explores what digital currencies—such as Bitcoin and Amazon Coin—are and whether they may have a lasting effect on the landscape of money and payments. Halaburda argues that to
understand these innovations and potential challenges and further developments in the market, one needs to develop an understanding of what needs various digital currencies fulfill and what
business models are consistent with their use. This book is the first systematic work on digital currencies and appeals to scholars and practitioners alike.
