Bitcoin by Shutterstock 2
Bitcoin security also threatened by Heartbleed. Shutterstock.com

To many, bitcoin is a complicated techno-currency with a shady reputation. State regulators are holding hearings on it. International governments are taxing it or making it illegal. While bitcoin seems ever-present in the news, it's still not well understood, because even the most basic questions tend to go unanswered in media reports. Well, if you’ve ever wondered what bitcoin is, check out this handy infographic to find the answers to questions like, “what is bitcoin?” and “where did bitcoin start?” or “how does bitcoin work?”

Bitcoin 101 Infographic_1
Bitcoin 101 Infographic Courtesy Reuters