大象传媒

At the most basic level, cryptocurrency is digital money. For some people, it is a way to do business online while preserving their privacy. For others, it is a way to get rich quick from their bedrooms.

And in some cases it can be a crippling addiction that has left people's lives, and the lives of their families, in ruins.

The popularity of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum has exploded in the last few years. Hundreds of thousands of people in the UK are estimated to own some and the market has grown by more than 拢1tn since the start of the pandemic.

The Nine鈥檚 Jonathan Peters has this report.

Produced by Nick Sheridan, filmed by Martin Sharkey and Charles Ross.