From "cryptobros" to "block chain security," cryptocurrency has been a major feature of the economic world throughout the twenty-first century. For some, cryptocurrency has provided a path to prosperity; for others, it has been a source of economic ruin. For many "influencers" and politicians, creating and selling cryptocurrency has taken a central place as a new fundraising strategy, manipulating the economic dreams of the masses to garner political power. Over the years, cryptocurrency has evolved from a fringe economic hobby to an important facet of the modern economy, but many Americans continue to have little knowledge of how cryptocurrency works or about how they might get involved themselves, without risking becoming a victim.

This volume of The Reference Shelf looks at what cryptocurrency is, cryptocurrency and politics, its ethics, and its future. Exploring issues such as regulation, high-risk behavior, crimes, scams, and cryptocurrency in politics. This volume begins with a preface, outlining the currency system and the potential future implications of the industry's advancement. The preface also provides introductory information regarding money and the exchange system. The Reference Shelf: Cryptocurrency includes essays that fall into five sections: Understanding Cryptocurrency, Cryptocurrency and Crime, Cryptocurrency Ethics, Cryptocurrency and Politics, and The Future of Cryptocurrency