Was 2014 a good year for bitcoin?

2014 was the most surprising, exciting, demoralizing, political, contentious, spectacular year in the Bitcoin’s six-year existence. Many impressive, very influential friends were made. Many powerful enemies stepped forward as well, looking to control that which was not meant to be restrained.

Could bitcoin democratize International Finance?

In June 2011, attackers lifted the equivalent of $8.75 million. Bitcoin promises to give a bank account to anyone with a mobile phone, no ID required. It's clearly an amazing and potentially world-changing technology -- the first viable, decentralized, reliable form of digital cash. It could democratize international finance.

What were some common themes among the early bitcoin exchanges?

Some common themes among the early Bitcoin exchanges were that they were operated more or less as one man outfits, they quoted extremely low Bitcoin prices, the exchanges had limited interest even among the Bitcoin hobbyists, and the exchanges were prone to attacks from hackers and fraudulent activity.