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Nathaniel Popper
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Digital Gold: Bitcoin and the Inside Story of the Misfits and Millionaires Trying to Reinvent Money Kindle Edition

by Nathaniel Popper (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 2,000 ratings
Editors' pick Best Nonfiction

A New York Times reporter’s “vivid” account of the dramatic rise of Bitcoin and how it has led to untold riches for some—and prison terms for others (Financial Times).
 
Shortlisted for the Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year
A New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice
 
The notion of a new currency, maintained by the computers of users around the world, has been the butt of many jokes, but that has not stopped it from growing into a technology worth billions of dollars, supported by the hordes of followers who have come to view it as the most important new idea since the creation of the Internet. Believers from Beijing to Buenos Aires see the potential for a financial system free from banks and governments. More than just a tech industry fad, Bitcoin has threatened to decentralize some of society’s most basic institutions.
An unusual tale of group invention, Digital Gold charts the rise of the Bitcoin technology through the eyes of the movement’s colorful central characters, including an Argentinian millionaire, a Chinese entrepreneur, Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, and Bitcoin’s elusive creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.
 
“Engrossing.” —Library Journal
 
“An elegant, thrilling tour-de-force. . . .The fast-paced action never stops.” —William D. Cohan, New York Times–bestselling author of Power Failure

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  1. Print length
    435 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Harper Paperbacks
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    May 17, 2016
  6. File size
    5.6 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“An amazing story. Bitcoin is about to transform both finance and how we use the internet, and this fascinating book chronicles its unlikely genesis. Popper has produced a riveting tale filled with colorful innovators that is crucial reading for anyone who wants to understand the future.” (Walter Isaacson, author of The Innovators)

“Finally, the book so many of us have been waiting for: A riveting and smart account of the strange history of Bitcoin. You’ll start knowing nothing about Bitcoin and finish with deep knowledge, but you won’t realize you’re learning along the way -- you’ll just think it’s a lot of fun.” (Adam Davidson, co-founder of NPR's Planet Money)

“Digital Gold is as strong a narrative achievement as a reporting one” (Chris Wilson, Bookforum)

“Necessary reading” (Bethany McLean, New York Times Book Review)

“The most compelling and in-depth investigation into the world of Bitcoin and digital currency. Nathaniel Popper charts Bitcoin’s fascinating transformation from fringe oddity to a truly global currency. If you want to understand the future of money, read this book.” (Joshua Davis, author of Spare Parts)

“An impressive accomplishment” (Tim Fernholz, Quartz)

“A family saga... structured like a tech thriller” (John Naughton, The Guardian)

“Bitcoin may be a product of computer science, but it is a very human story. This highly entertaining history reminds us yet again that truth can be stranger than fiction and can be peopled with even more unusual and compelling characters.” (Larry Summers, former Secretary of the Treasury)

“It’s a tale told quickly and well” (John Biggs, TechCrunch)

“So, yes, it’s a totally awesome book” (Justin Fox, Bloomberg)

“Nathaniel Popper’s new book, Digital Gold, is as close as you can get to being the definitive account of the history of Bitcoin.” (Felix Salmon, Fusion)

“A vivid guide to the characters who met online and built bitcoin” (John Gapper, Financial Times)

“This excellent work is the book on Bitcoin you’ve been waiting for” (Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution)

“An elegant, thrilling tour-de-force. . . . Nathaniel Popper gives us a front-row seat on the origins of Bitcoin and its captivating cast of characters. The fast-paced action never stops.” (William D. Cohan, author of House of Cards)

“An engrossing look at a system creatively designed to bring money into the 21st century.” (Library Journal)

“An engrossing introduction to one of the most transformative innovations in finance of the last few decades. Digital Gold paints a vivid portrait of the economics and technology of Bitcoin as well as the people behind it.” (Susan Athey, The Economics of Technology Professor, Stanford Graduate School of Business and Winner of the John Bates Clark Medal in Economics)

“Bitcoin may be inherently speculative, but Digital Gold is a sound investment” (Edward Chancellor, Reuters)

From the Back Cover

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2015 FINANCIAL TIMES AND MCKINSEY BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEAR

A New York Times technology and business reporter charts the dramatic rise of Bitcoin and the fascinating personalities who are striving to create a new global money for the Internet age.

Digital Gold is New York Times reporter Nathaniel Popper’s brilliant and engrossing history of Bitcoin, the landmark digital money and financial technology that has spawned a global social movement.

The notion of a new currency, maintained by the computers of users around the world, has been the butt of many jokes, but that has not stopped it from growing into a technology worth billions of dollars, supported by the hordes of followers who have come to view it as the most important new idea since the creation of the Internet. Believers from Beijing to Buenos Aires see the potential for a financial system free from banks and governments. More than just a tech industry fad, Bitcoin has threatened to decentralize some of society’s most basic institutions.

An unusual tale of group invention, Digital Gold charts the rise of the Bitcoin technology through the eyes of the movement’s colorful central characters, including an Argentinian millionaire, a Chinese entrepreneur, Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, and Bitcoin’s elusive creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. Already, Bitcoin has led to untold riches for some, and prison terms for others.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01D8KFX9Q
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Paperbacks
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 17, 2016
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Reprint
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5.6 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 435 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062572066
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 2,000 ratings

About the author

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Nathaniel Popper

Nathaniel Popper

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Nathaniel Popper is the author of "The Trolls of Wall Street. How the Outcasts and Insurgents Are Hacking the Markets" from Dey Street Press. His previous book, "Digital Gold: Bitcoin and the Inside Story of the Misfits and Millionaires Trying to Reinvent Money," was a New York Times Editors Choice and a finalist for the Financial Times Business Book of the Year. He covered the worlds of Wall Street and Silicon Valley for The New York Times, dividing his time between New York City and the Bay Area, for nearly a decade. Before that, he worked at the Forward and the Los Angeles Times. A graduate of Harvard University, Nathaniel grew up in Pittsburgh and makes his home in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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4.5 out of 5 stars
2,000 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and informative about Bitcoin's history, with detailed reporting of the subculture and well-written content that reads like a novel. They appreciate the character development and consider it a great starting point for understanding the technology. While some customers find it riveting, others find it boring.

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ReadabilityHistory of bitcoinNarrative qualityWriting qualityCharacter developmentStart dateTechnologyEngrossedness
134 customers mention "Readability"134 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written, with one customer noting that it makes readers want more after every chapter.

"Nathanial has written a very readable history of the origins of Bitcoin, the key players and how the cryptocurrency technology began...." Read more

"...Nathaniel Popper is a talented non-fiction writer and this was a real page-turner. I gave it five stars because I enjoyed reading it so much." Read more

"...but after Popper's book, all of them are now linked in an organized story line and they came alive in my mind...." Read more

"...reading Popper's book, which is quite accessible and almost reads like a novel at times." Read more

97 customers mention "History of bitcoin"95 positive2 negative

Customers find this book informative about Bitcoin's history, with detailed reporting of the subculture and clear explanations of concepts.

"...Informative without being biased , I learned much and you will too !" Read more

"...: The book is an example of very fine writing and detailed reporting of the bitcoin subculture...." Read more

"...You will be much more knowledgable and informed about Bitcoin after reading Popper's book, which is quite accessible and almost reads like a novel..." Read more

"In brief: This is NOT a book about Bitcoin! Instead is a book about the history of Bitcoin and how the cryptocurrency came to be; plenty of names..." Read more

58 customers mention "Narrative quality"49 positive9 negative

Customers appreciate the narrative of the book, which provides great details and an immense amount of interesting history.

"...Wow! I am shocked, this is journalism at its best, applied to a favourite but difficult to understand contemporary subject...." Read more

"...It didn't disappoint! Popper does an outstanding job of telling the story of Bitcoin's mysterious origins and the highs and lows of its..." Read more

"...The author did a great job in story telling...." Read more

"...The story telling is great too and it almost reads like a novel, complete with the drama and mild suspense...." Read more

52 customers mention "Writing quality"46 positive6 negative

Customers find the book well written and easy to read, with one customer noting it reads almost like a novel.

"...my comprehension and vision of the content of the book has become more easy to understand, but with the technical content as the such in this book..." Read more

"...Nathaniel Popper is a talented non-fiction writer and this was a real page-turner. I gave it five stars because I enjoyed reading it so much." Read more

"...Bottom line: The book is an example of very fine writing and detailed reporting of the bitcoin subculture...." Read more

"...and informed about Bitcoin after reading Popper's book, which is quite accessible and almost reads like a novel at times." Read more

11 customers mention "Character development"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters in the book fascinating.

"...But all of the events are real and the characters are actual living human beings, sometimes with sad endings...." Read more

"...The author did a great job in story telling. Multiple lines of important actor are illustrated to demonstrate the different camps of bitcoin..." Read more

"...Still wouldn't invest in it, but a great story and crazy cast of characters...." Read more

"...The author gives such vivid descriptions of the characters and brings the stories to life, also giving such a great timeline of event...." Read more

9 customers mention "Start date"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book serves as a great starting point, with one mentioning it's particularly good for beginners on the subject.

"I thought it was going to be a dry read but I was hooked from the first chapter...." Read more

"This is a great starting off point for anyone interested in Bitcoin. Very quick read!..." Read more

"...Great place to start, though." Read more

"I think it's a good source for beginers on the subject. Not much technical info but a good introduction to the cryptocirrency world" Read more

7 customers mention "Technology"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's technology exciting, with one customer noting it's a real breakthrough in computer science, while another mentions it opens their mind to the future.

"...future, but the blockchain technology appears to be a real breakthrough in computer science...." Read more

"...Recommend for everyone wanting to learn about this exciting technology." Read more

"...The ideas that motivated them to create and nourish the new technology...." Read more

"Bitcoin and the Blockchain that makes it possible is the most exciting and intriguing innovation since the creation of the Internet...." Read more

14 customers mention "Engrossedness"9 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book's engrossment, with some finding it riveting while others describe it as boring.

"...Brilliant minds with drive, excitement and passion to fuel their pursuits...." Read more

"I loved this book at the beginning (very exciting!), got bored in the middle, and was unhappy with the abrupt ending...." Read more

"...Truly engulfing and fascinating to read about these amazingly gifted young men who just created this virtual currency, that at one point was just..." Read more

"Really fascinating story told by author in riveting and compelling prose. Made some hard to understand technology..." Read more

Brilliantly Engrossing
5 out of 5 stars
Brilliantly Engrossing
Engagingly written with detailed biographical information on important figures that have impacted Bitcoin over the past decade. Tells the story of the libertarian idealogues that created Bitcoin and then how it has developed wider acceptance but has simultaneously lost some of its allure to the libertarian movement as the financial system and the government have begun to force it to adapt to their precepts.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Michael R. Purcell
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Great History of Bitcoin
    Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Nathanial has written a very readable history of the origins of Bitcoin, the key players and how the cryptocurrency technology began. Informative without being biased , I learned much and you will too !
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  • Anthony T
    4.0 out of 5 stars Following Wences' journey is my favorite part of the book.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2021
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Since I began my journey into reading on a daily basis my comprehension and vision of the content of the book has become more easy to understand, but with the technical content as the such in this book left me wondering what each term was/ment.

    Blockchain? Hashrate? Decentralization?

    As an absolute beginner of the crypto space I will say that the journey and the characters of the book really caught my attention and the struggles they went through, and the silent genius that seemed to spawn from each individual. Brilliant minds with drive, excitement and passion to fuel their pursuits. It is all fascinating how everything came to be and the rollercoaster ride feels like something straight from a movie, and it could be!

    For those looking to dive into how Bitcoin started and the legacy of events and real individuals that supported it (or cast FUD from it), be prepared to listen to a narrative of an incredibly well structured community of people who laid down the foundation for where we are today. Now surely this is only one instance of what has taken place but I Believe it's a good starting place.

    Also, the technical appendix in the back is quite handy! Check it out!
    Customer image
    Anthony T
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    Following Wences' journey is my favorite part of the book.

    Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2021
    Since I began my journey into reading on a daily basis my comprehension and vision of the content of the book has become more easy to understand, but with the technical content as the such in this book left me wondering what each term was/ment.

    Blockchain? Hashrate? Decentralization?

    As an absolute beginner of the crypto space I will say that the journey and the characters of the book really caught my attention and the struggles they went through, and the silent genius that seemed to spawn from each individual. Brilliant minds with drive, excitement and passion to fuel their pursuits. It is all fascinating how everything came to be and the rollercoaster ride feels like something straight from a movie, and it could be!

    For those looking to dive into how Bitcoin started and the legacy of events and real individuals that supported it (or cast FUD from it), be prepared to listen to a narrative of an incredibly well structured community of people who laid down the foundation for where we are today. Now surely this is only one instance of what has taken place but I Believe it's a good starting place.

    Also, the technical appendix in the back is quite handy! Check it out!
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    One person found this helpful
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  • G. Heyworth
    5.0 out of 5 stars Don’t miss the train.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2015
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    If the Internet had been invented before the discovery of GOLD, the Aztecs would have etched Block Chains on their monuments. You’ll have to read this book to get the joke…however lame.
    I am a 30-year+ veteran of retail financial services. No, not a Quant who devises algorithms; I deal with Moms ‘n’ Pops and deliver understandable solutions.
    So, what’s with this Bitcoin thing? I needed to know what was going on. With the likes of Sir Richard Branson and other highly sophisticated and moneyed proponents of Bitcoin, I am reminded of the early stages of the Internet when a client commented to me, ‘if I meet someone, professionally, who concedes that he is not “online” then I fairly dismiss him. (I, of course, was very “online”.)
    I’ve always maintained that ‘if humans invented it, then humans should be able to understand it’.
    This book not only explains Bitcoin, this book is an historical compendium of Bitcoin’s embryonic journey to date. I had been reading, collaterally, the 2-part insertion in WIRED magazine about Silk Road, the internet drug site using Bitcoins to trade…wow, did I get confused as to who did what to whom! Popper, (Digital Gold Author) really did a yeoman’s job of articulating the timeline, whys, and the wherefores of the Bitcoin market.
    To convince me of the global demand of a digital commodity (an important distinction from “currency”) I only had to read about the Argentinian entrepreneur, Wences, who recounts his days as a boy at the grocery store with his mother. Carrying bags of currency into the store, they would fill shopping carts and if any cash was left over, they would go back to the shelves to spend it all. The point made was that if the cash stayed in a closet for a week, items on the grocery shelf would have been priced higher due to rampant inflation in Argentina.
    Another epiphany for me was the hypothetical example of an airliner crash survivor in the Andes Mountains. The aircraft’s cargo hold has split open to reveal gold bullion and bags of currency. Which is more valuable? The currency, because you can burn it for warmth.
    Ensconced in the comfort and economic stability of the dollar-denominated United States, we Americans are hard pressed to imagine the horrific political and financial instabilities around the globe. Bitcoin, as a global commodity has the potential to be a godsend to all global trade, not just in the disparate economies that are so horribly dysfunctional.
    The train is at the station. By reading this book about Bitcoin, I feel confident of my not missing it.
    23 people found this helpful
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  • Joe Schuessler
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2016
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Other books would probably provide a better technical introduction to Bitcoin, but Digital Gold was an enjoyable narrative of the story and characters behind the development of this new currency. Popper's background as a reporter for the New York Times allowed him to gather some spectacular material that no one else could; It is doubtful anyone could have put together such an accurate and comprehensive overview that captures the personalities of the key players so well. You can tell Popper really made an effort to get to know them as people. For example, the way he describes Mark Karpeles, a programmer who managed a notorious exchange website Mt. Gox, seemed sort of like the computer nerd character in the original Jurassic Park movie: a sort of slovenly guy who recklessly causes a catastrophic meltdown. Super-competent Roger Ver seems like a real-life Bruce Wayne; Charlie Shrem comes across more like an overgrown kid.

    Popper includes lots of entertaining details: like how businessman Wences Casares paid $250k to Eastern European hackers to find flaws in the bitcoin technology, but found that it checked out as sound; how entrepreneur Charlie Shrem's parents only agreed to post a $1 million bond to bail him out of jail if he broke up with a girlfriend they did not approve of first; or how FBI agents staged the death of notorious criminal Ross Ulbricht's assassination targets. Popper also presents a pretty convincing case that I was not familiar with for the identity of the person he thinks is Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious creator of Bitcoin

    It remains to be seen whether Bitcoin itself will last long in the future, but the blockchain technology appears to be a real breakthrough in computer science. Nathaniel Popper is a talented non-fiction writer and this was a real page-turner. I gave it five stars because I enjoyed reading it so much.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • EverydayProductsPro
    5.0 out of 5 stars Covers background
    Reviewed in Canada on September 18, 2021
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    It's good book if you are interested in knowing background of bitcoin and people who were involved in making bitcoin push forward on mainstream.
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  • Arun
    5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to understand
    Reviewed in India on June 20, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Its very nice book , i read many other crypto book but this book made me understood all about bitcoin in very easy way.
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  • Ela
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on October 5, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I bought this for my husband and he liked it.
    Report
  • 堂垣外弘忠
    5.0 out of 5 stars 非専門家が、ビットコインとブロックチェーンの歴史と今後の動向を一望できる珠玉の一冊！
    Reviewed in Japan on July 17, 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    　英文は、単語自体は非常に簡単であるものの、口語固有の表現が多彩で、電子辞書の用例検索を多用したが、正確に読むのには結構骨が折れるようです。
    　非専門家が、ビットコインとブロックチェーンの歴史と今後の動向を一望できる珠玉の一冊である。内容的には、偶発的な理由から、日本も主要な舞台になっており、大変面白い。
    　最も期待されたビットコインその事態の国際決済への広範囲の応用については、以下の理由から困難と予測されているようである：（１）国家的なサイバー犯罪が横行する中、匿名性の高い点がかえって障害となる。（２）固有の理由から決済レートが遅すぎて、カードにとって代われない。（３）貨幣の製造が中国に偏在しており、国際的富の分配上問題がある。
    　しかし、今後、日本でも予定されている銀行の発行する仮想通貨（ビットコインのようなもの）は、当面は円とリンクされているが、適当な時期にフローティングにされる予定であり、円が崩壊した際に、日本の通貨制度を補完するもの、すなわち、代替通貨として活用されるかもしれないですね。一般に、国の通貨が崩壊した際には、ドル等の外貨に対する管理は非常に厳しくなるので、代替通貨がないと、物々交換となってしまい、社会が極限の混乱状態に陥りますからね。
    　なお、一方のブロックチェーンの方は、各種の取引に利用するものとして、主要銀行、証券会社等で積極的に検討されているようですね。
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  • Rodrigo G Ruiz Quijada
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente para iniciarse en las criptomonedas
    Reviewed in Mexico on August 30, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Cuenta la historia de Bitcoin y como se fue gestionando. Esta muy bueno si son novatos en criptomonedas y quieren irse empapando en el tema.
    Report

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