Bitcoin has recently been gaining attention in the media. For those who don't know what it is, Bitcoin is a digital form of currency that is not controlled by any banks or governments. The article "Will You Be Paid in Bitcoin?" discusses what Bitcoin is, and whether it is a good idea or not.
The author mainly wants the reader to know about Bitcoin and its growing popularity. The author reports the facts: Bitcoin was invented in 2009. It is popular in countries that have unstable currencies, such as Argentina. Its value changes like a stock price; right now one Bitcoin is worth about $840. In July 2010 a Bitcoin was worth about 6 cents. The author includes both sides of the Bitcoin - they note that more and more businesses are using it. They also include a quote from Robert Shiller of Yale University: "It is a bubble, there is no question about it." The author does not have an explicit bias towards Bitcoin being a good or bad thing.
However, the author does seem to think that Bitcoin is interesting, or at least rather futuristic. The author opens the article with the question "Could a mysterious Web currency someday replace dollars?" The use of the word "mysterious" indicates that the author is unsure whether Bitcoin is a good idea or not, but that he or she thinks it's cool and worth watching.
The author of "Will You Be Paid in Bitcoin?" seems to think that Bitcoin is a cool and futuristic idea, but doesn't know if it will last. Personally, I am not sure that Bitcoin is a good idea. I have one question about Bitcoin: Dollars, and most forms of government-issued currency, are backed by gold. What is Bitcoin backed by?
