如今，全世界比特幣的使用日益頻繁。對(duì)于國(guó)內(nèi)普通大眾而言，比特幣受到關(guān)注則是雅安地震。在雅安地震發(fā)生后的第二天，壹基金合作發(fā)展部總監(jiān)霍慶川在微博上發(fā)布了這樣一條消息：“壹基金雅安地震比特幣捐贈(zèng)地址：1DUMifqLdCRvx6tAzafwDC2tKRntRAAm3z 已經(jīng)收到意向捐贈(zèng)50Btc（按照今日匯率，折合人民幣4萬(wàn)），我們會(huì)委托中國(guó)比特幣公社出售募捐到的比特幣。歡迎極客和駭客們向壹基金捐贈(zèng)比特幣。這是中國(guó)第一個(gè)接受比特幣捐贈(zèng)的NGO，比特幣也第一次在中國(guó)成為捐贈(zèng)物?！?/p>

截止到2013年4月24日，壹基金合作發(fā)展部總監(jiān)霍慶川和比特幣中國(guó)的官方微博顯示，壹基金已經(jīng)收到233個(gè)比特幣，折合人民幣將近22萬(wàn)元。那么，到底什么是比特幣呢？

【比特幣簡(jiǎn)介】

Bitcoin (BTC) is a digital currency. Bitcoins can be transferred through a computer or smartphone without an intermediate financial institution.
比特幣是一種數(shù)字貨幣，不需第三方金融監(jiān)管機(jī)構(gòu)介入，便可在電腦或智能手機(jī)上進(jìn)行商業(yè)交易。

The processing of bitcoin transactions is automated by servers called bitcoin miners. These servers communicate over an internet-based network and confirm transactions by adding them to a ledger which is updated and archived periodically.
比特幣交易過(guò)程由稱作“挖礦工”的終端用戶自動(dòng)運(yùn)作，他們分布在網(wǎng)絡(luò)系統(tǒng)的各個(gè)節(jié)點(diǎn)（即參與流通渠道維護(hù)的所有終端）。在交易時(shí)，對(duì)每一個(gè)貨幣的來(lái)源進(jìn)行追溯，每進(jìn)行一次交易，就多記錄一次流通信息，并在點(diǎn)對(duì)點(diǎn)網(wǎng)絡(luò)上進(jìn)行廣播，使得所有節(jié)點(diǎn)都保存有全部貨幣的全部流通信息。

Bitcoin is accepted in trade by various merchants and individuals in many parts of the world. A large share of such commercial use is believed to be for illicit drug and gambling transactions. Although bitcoin is promoted as a digital currency, many commentators have criticized Bitcoin's volatile market value, relatively inflexible supply, and minimal use in trade.
比特幣已經(jīng)在全球多個(gè)地方被商家及個(gè)人所接受。但有人懷疑比特幣涉及到毒品賭博等非法交易。盡管已成為一種數(shù)字貨幣，但很多評(píng)論家都批評(píng)比特幣市場(chǎng)價(jià)格波動(dòng)太大，供應(yīng)不夠靈活，交易涉及面太窄。

【比特幣新聞】

WASHINGTON — The top U.S. derivatives regulator CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) is considering whether the Bitcoin virtual currency should be subject to its rules, a top official at the agency said.
美國(guó)商品期貨交易委員會(huì)（簡(jiǎn)稱“CFTC”）官員表示，正在考慮網(wǎng)絡(luò)虛擬貨幣“比特幣”是否適用于該機(jī)構(gòu)的法規(guī)。該委員會(huì)是美國(guó)衍生品行業(yè)的最高監(jiān)管機(jī)構(gòu)。

The U.S. Treasury Department in March said that Bitcoin exchanges would be subject to the same money laundering rules that govern money services business like Western Union.
美國(guó)財(cái)政部3月表示，比特幣交易所將與西聯(lián)匯款等其他資金服務(wù)公司一樣，受到洗錢法規(guī)的監(jiān)管。