I don't really understand the Bitcoin hype. Yes it's interesting application of cryptography, but it's not really that useful as a currency. It's online only, and not really accepted anywhere very much, especially because there's too much of a barrier to casual usage. All of the transactions are public, making it a privacy nightmare unless you're careful to completely dissociate your real-life identity from your Bitcoin addresses. I just don't see the point other than as a speculative toy.