Once a Bitcoin Miner: Scandal and Turmoil in the Cryptocurrency Wild West

Journalist Lou (Field Notes from a Pandemic) looks at cryptocurrencies’ history, evolution, and future. When Bitcoin first emerged six years ago, some perceived it as a fad, but cryptocurrency has since seen an explosion in recognition, Lou writes, and some companies now accept Bitcoin as trade. Cryptocurrency is finding use as well to pay off hackers who commit ransomware attacks. Even as Bitcoin becomes a widely used currency, there are many unknowns about its long-term prospects, Lou says, especially relating to investment. He delves into these questions using minimal technical jargon, grounding theory with anecdotes, interviewing figures like Virgil Griffith (who allegedly sold blockchain technology to North Korea), and mapping out the underground of crypto mining. Recommend for patrons who aren’t familiar with cryptocurrency or have some idea and would like to invest; also good for fans of Freeman Publications’ The Only Bitcoin Investing Book You’ll Ever Need.