The bitcoin, a virtual currency reserved only for geeks? Not really ! In France, for the first time in the summer of 2014, the report on electronic currencies of the Senate Finance Committee praised the merits of Bitcoin technology. While the US series The Good Wife has made the motor of one of its episodes. But what exactly is the bitcoin?

That is that the virtual currency Bitcoin?
It is an e-currency which has as its unit of account the bitcoin. What is unknown is that this virtual currency is actually only one of the various applications available via the community network www.bitcoin.org .

1 bitcoin = 1 euro?
No. The bitcoin can be compared to a stock exchange. As a listed share, the course of the bitcoin varies . The price of this virtual currency is currently around 430 €.

What is the use of bitcoin money?
Bitcoin is a universal currency that can be used as small currency. Bitcoin is electronic cash that allows micro-payments (where the bank card is not adapted). A good example of using this virtual currency: the ability to buy and access the content of an online article paying at 0.80 cents for example.

Where can I pay with bitcoins?
Many merchant websites, mostly American, accept bitcoins. But more and more physical stores are putting themselves there too. The coinmap.org website lists the places in the world where the payment in bitcoins is accepted:
- 32 establishments in Paris and in the suburbs,
- 6 to Toulouse,
- 2 near Marseille,
- 4 from the side of Nantes,
- 2 between Vichy and Dijon.
Among them, an osteopath, the rental of apartments, a dental office, a bar ... On the interactive map, their number evolves live.

How do you actually pay to pay with bitcoins?
Nothing very complicated. The client must, of course, have a bitcoin account on the Internet.
- On an e-shop, the principle is the same as Paypal (which is owned by a bank).
- In a physical store (which accepts bitcoins), Smartphone mandatory for the buyer and terminal suitable for the seller. It is on this last that the client flashes his code bitcoin via the screen of his telephone. In 5 seconds, the secure transaction is performed. This is the same principle as the contactless payment of our blue cards.

How s' register on the Bitcoin network?
Simply download and install free software (and free) to use the network and therefore its virtual currency.

Is the virtual currency bitcoin safe?
In December 2013, the Banque de France issued a warning note concerning the use of bitcoins. Not so much for the risks incurred by individuals but rather collectively. Excluding the banking system, based on anonymity, the bitcoin was described as a "highly speculative" currency (due to sharp fluctuations in the price), which could be used to finance illegal activities and money laundering.

Thanks to Patrick Noizat, co-founder of Paymium, a French buying and selling platform for bitcoins