The source of currency and social inequality.

If you're really interested in alternative currencies like Bitcoin, the book "A Nation of Counterfeiters: Capitalists, Con Men, and the Making of the United States" is worth a gander.

The US didn't have a centrally issued currency until the mid-1800s. Instead, banks issued their own notes, and more uhm...enterprising individuals "issued" their own as well.

There's an argument to be made that the US couldn't have grown the way it did in the early 1800s without a lot of made-up currencies. The resources to back a gold or silver currency just didn't exist in the quantities required.

There's a lesson here somewhere.

Review here- http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n40a04.html

He is wrong in that all money in existence is borrowed from the central bank. Actually a very small portion of U.S. Dollars in circulation are earning interest for the Federal Reserve. Most of the U.S. Dollars being printed by the Federal Reserve today is loaned directly to the U.S. Government.

There are many problems with the Federal Reserve, but bitcoin isn't the solution. The biggest problem with bitcoin is that it puts computer users in the position currently held by bankers. You have to realize that most people in the world aren't computer users. Bitcoin further stratifies that difference.

A twist on an old /. meme:

1. Mine bitcoins

2. Blog about how great bitcoin is

3. Make bitcoin use widespread by... ???

4. Profit!