History about bitcoin

One of the biggest financial stories of the past year has been the incredible rise of bitcoin. The virtual currency was designed to revolutionize peer-to-peer transactions; it doesn't require a go-between (like a bank or credit card network), the exchange of personal information, or transaction fees.

Yet while many are still confused about what exactly a "bitcoin" is and how the nascent cryptocurrency works, just as much confusion exists about where bitcoin came from and how it got to where it is today -- a technological innovation that has shaken the financial world to its core.