There's a growing number of people fascinated by the cryptocurrency. I admit, I am one of them. I am intrigued by the increasing appetite in the region of bitcoins as an alternative form of investment.

 Who would not be enthused? The value of a bitcoin at the onset of 2017 stood at $1,000, then soared and flirted close to $20,000, an astronomical gain. Its worth by end of the year just past, though, slightly dropped. 

  Intellectual discussions among seasoned bank presidents, treasurers, and ordinary individuals on the viability of bitcoins as an alternative form of investments indicate two common observations: One, the growing demand for bitcoin is because everyone is going electronic. And, second, which is a bit concerning is: there's no underlying asset.
 So, what is a bitcoin? It is a virtual currency that was created in 2009 by an unknown computer wizard using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. Individual bitcoins are created by computer code. Transactions are made without middle men, so there are no transaction fees and no need to give your real name. More businesses are beginning to accept them and in some parts of the world you can even buy pizza with bitcoins. It's a virtual wallet and aren't printed. like pounds, dollars, or euros - they're produced by people, and increasingly businesses, running computers all around the world. Bitcoin is attractive to some users because of its anonymity, as well as its lack of government control.