In the first of a 3-part series, Mr. Sagalow looks at Bitcoins, the peer-to-peer payment system that uses open-source software.

Recently, Great American Insurance introduced a new fidelity insurance policy for Bitcoin theft.  According to Ty “…the market is still evaluating the policy…its terms and conditions as well as which companies are eligible to purchase it. “

Bitcoins have been around since 2009, when the first open-source peer-to-peer transfer software was first invented. Ty explains that a “Bitcoin has no physical presence.” According to the U.S. Treasury Department it is a virtual currency.   Bitcoin has value, Ty says, “because…millions of people throughout the globe say it has value….A transfer or purchase using bitcoins has about 2% fee, (much lower than a credit card) and is anonymous.“

Mr. Sagalow believes Bitcoins are here to stay. In the next edition, Ty will look at the risks posed by Bitcoins, and what new products are emerging to manage the risk.