Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are sometimes referred to as digital or virtual currencies. You can use them to buy products and services – for instance you can buy a holiday online using Bitcoin. Other cryptocurrencies include Ethereum and Litecoin.
Digital currencies are used day to day in some European countries, but at present not many shops in the UK accept them.
The value of Bitcoin has fallen sharply in recent weeks, but is worth five times more than it was a year ago.
Dr Jones, who is a partner and patent attorney specialising in the technology sector at UDL Intellectual property in Cardiff, said while she expects some of these virtual currencies to fail, and there is “a huge amount of froth out there”, cryptocurrencies will continue in some form, due to their international popularity.
“In the UK we’re not as far advanced as other countries. If you go abroad you will see there is much wider adoption of some of the currencies. For example Japan last year legalised [Bitcoin] as legal tender,” she said.
However international opinion is divided, and the UK government is considering regulation of digital currencies because of fears they can be used for money laundering.
Welsh multimillionaire Kevin Green is sceptical and prefers well-established assets like property and gold and silver bullion.
“I feel a lot safer in the steady growth of that over the years rather than the boom and bust type of scenario that’s happening with cryptocurrency.
“If the price drops, at least with property you’ve got something you can sell and recover. With cryptocurrency we don’t know whether it’s going to drop right back to nothing, disappear, that’s the problem.”