In just over 16 years, Bitcoin has transformed in terms of market perception, going from a pure peer-to-peer payment system to an investment asset, to being considered a strategic asset by companies and even sovereign states. The module aims to outline this evolution, exploring different points of view and the potential developments of the ecosystem that is emerging around Bitcoin, with all its contradictions and, in the background, the crucial issue of protocol scalability
Bitcoin Evolution_Handbook_Chapter 1_Bitcoin_from payment tool to strategic asset
1 The emergence of a new asset class
2 Bitcoin as a payment system
3 The adoption and institutional custody of Bitcoin
4 Bitcoin in an investment portfolio
6 Ways to gain exposure to Bitcoin
7 The evolution of the Bitcoin Ecosystem
Chapter Recap_Bitcoin from payment toll to strategic asset
Bitcoin Evolution_Handbook_Chapter 2_Bitcoin and environmental impact
1 Climate impact of bitcoin mining in the US
2023_07_MIT_Climate impact of miningin the US
2 Bitcoin and energy in Africa
2023_07_Gama Africa_Energy and Bitcoin in Africa
3 Cambridge Digital Mining Industry Report
2025_04_University of Cambridge_Cambridge-Digital-Mining-Industry-Report
4 The Direction of Bitcoin Mining
Chapter Recap_Bitcoin and environmental impact
Bitcoin Evolution_Handbook_Chapter 3_On-Chain Intelligence and AML
1 On-chain intelligence_ a new analysis tool
2 Cooperation with the authorities
3 Limitations of on-chain intelligence
4 Future opportunities and innovations
5 The Origins of On-Chain Intelligence
Chapter Recap_On-Chain Intelligence and AML
Bitcoin Evolution_Handbook_Chapter 4_Scalability an security
1 The blockchain trilemma
2 Block size and frequency
3 Transaction costs and Gas Fee
4 Scalability solutions on Bitcoin
Chapter Recap_Scalability and security
