Great question, so glad you asked.
A big securities exchange in Chicago on Sunday began selling Bitcoin futures for the first time, something seen by many as an important step toward mainstream usage. But what this really means for Bitcoin and its users is far from clear.
Futures contracts let traders bet on whether the price will rise or fall, without actually having to hold bitcoins. (Activity on Monday suggests that most expect the currency’s staggering price gains to slow in the coming months.) That will likely draw more traditional investors who are interested in Bitcoin but would like to avoid the hassle of storing the currency and keeping it secure from hackers.
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