Introduction 1. Defining Alternative Currencies 2. Alternative Currencies and Sustainability 3. Alternative Currencies and Social Justice 4. Alternative Currencies and the Market 5. The Politics of Alternative Currencies Conclusion Index

How promising is Bitcoin as a currency? This paper discusses four claims on the advantages of Bitcoin: a more stable currency than state-backed ones; a secure and efficient payment system; a credible alternative to the central management of money; and a better protection of transaction privacy....