我們現(xiàn)在網(wǎng)上交易仍然需要通過電子銀行來完成支付，不過有人說在不久的將來，或許新興的比特幣就能代替?zhèn)鹘y(tǒng)貨幣幫我們完成交易了。那么，到底什么是比特幣（Bitcoin）呢？我們今天就來科普一下。

The Bitcoin is a form of electronic money which has been created specifically for use on the Internet. The Bitcoin doesn't operate like conventional currencies in that it isn't regulated by a central bank, and relies entirely on web-based networks. Bitcoins are 'minted' by a network of computers, which run specialized software designed to release new coins at a fixed and steady pace, currently around 25 Bitcoins every ten minutes. Bitcoins, unlike the cash in your pocket, are finite, and there are currently around 10.8 million of them floating around the system. Though notoriously unstable, the average value of one Bitcoin currently stands at around 35 US dollars. Like many traditional currencies, Bitcoins even have their own symbol (compare ￡, $, €, etc) and also a currency code, BTC (compare GBP, USD, EUR, etc).

比特幣（Bitcoin）是電子貨幣的一種形式，是專為互聯(lián)網(wǎng)交易使用創(chuàng)造的貨幣。比特幣不像傳統(tǒng)貨幣那樣由央行來發(fā)行管理，而是完全依托互聯(lián)網(wǎng)來運(yùn)行。比特幣由一個(gè)計(jì)算機(jī)網(wǎng)絡(luò)來“印制”，一款特制軟件在該網(wǎng)絡(luò)中運(yùn)行，以固定穩(wěn)定的頻率發(fā)行新幣，目前的頻率為每十分鐘出25個(gè)比特幣。跟你兜里的現(xiàn)金不一樣的是，比特幣的數(shù)量是有限的，目前整個(gè)系統(tǒng)內(nèi)大約有1080萬個(gè)比特幣。雖說該幣種早有價(jià)值不穩(wěn)定的罵名，不過每個(gè)比特幣目前的平均價(jià)值基本保持在35美元左右。而且，跟很多傳統(tǒng)貨幣一樣，比特幣也有它自己的貨幣符號(hào)（像￡, $, €等）和貨幣代碼BTC（像GBP, USD, EUR等）。

So, how do Bitcoins work? To purchase them, users go to an online exchange service where they can convert their local currency into virtual money. This electronic cash is then stored in a user account, often described as a digital wallet, which can then be used to make online purchases anywhere where Bitcoins are accepted. Bitcoins can also be converted back into conventional currency at dedicated trading sites. (Source: macmillandictionary.com)

那么，比特幣是怎么流通的呢？要購買比特幣，用戶需要通過一個(gè)在線兌換服務(wù)將他們當(dāng)?shù)氐呢泿艙Q成這種虛擬貨幣。然后，這些電子貨幣就會(huì)被存儲(chǔ)在用戶的賬戶中，這個(gè)賬戶也被稱為電子錢包，而錢包中的比特幣就可以在任何接受該幣種的地方被用于網(wǎng)上交易。你也可在一些專門的交易網(wǎng)站將比特幣兌換成傳統(tǒng)貨幣。

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