If you're too embarrassed to admit that you don't really understand the digital currency Bitcoin, you're not alone. 你是不是不好意思承認自己其實不瞭解比特幣這種數位貨幣，其實你並不孤單。
Google says one of the top searches of 2013 in the U.S. is "what is Bitcoin?" 谷歌表示，美國二○一三年搜尋次數數一數二的就是：「比特幣是什麼？」
So, what is it? 那麼，比特幣是什麼呢？
Well, as I said, it is an entirely digital currency. It does not exist in physical form. 如同我剛剛說的，這是一種全然數位化的貨幣，沒有實體的型態。
And you can make transactions with Bitcoins without any middlemen, which means no banks, no fees. 用比特幣進行交易不需透過任何中間人，也就是說沒有銀行，毋須手續費。
And you never have to give your real name, making Bitcoin the currency of choice for those who want to conduct anonymous purchases on the Internet. 而且，你也完全不需要提供自己的真實姓名，讓比特幣成了想要在網路上匿名購物的人士首選的貨幣。
But you might be wondering one thing, if it doesn't exist in the physical world, how can a Bitcoin have any value? 不過，你也許會有一個疑問：既然比特幣不存在於實體世界中，怎麼會有任何價值？
After all, we've seen how easy it is to copy other digital goods like movies and music, 畢竟，我們都見過其他數位商品如電影與音樂等有多麼容易複製，
so why can't Bitcoins be copied? 那麼比特幣為什麼不能夠複製呢？
Well, that's because each Bitcoin is a product of an incredibly complicated math problem. 這個嘛，那是因為每個比特幣都是一道極度複雜的數學問題的產物。
It's a problem that can only be solved by very powerful computers. 這道問題只有非常強大的電腦才有可能解開。
And even then, it takes some time to come up with a solution. 而且，即便是這種電腦也需要花上一段時間才找得出答案。
Now, having a set of powerful computers running around the clock to solve that problem is called a Bitcoin mine. 日以繼夜不停運作的一組解題電腦，稱為比特幣礦場。
And Pauline Chiou visited one right here in Hong Kong. 邱曼怡在香港這裡造訪了這麼一座礦場。
If you want to see how Bitcoins are created, come inside this industrial building in Hong Kong. 如果你想瞧瞧比特幣是怎麼創造出來的，就到香港這棟工業大樓裡看看吧。
These are the copper pipes. 這些是銅管。
Kar-Wing Lau runs a data storage company that houses a Bitcoin mine. 劉加榮經營一家資料儲存公司，裡面設置了一座比特幣礦場。
What is a Bitcoin mine? 比特幣礦場是什麼呢？
It's computer hardware stored inside these metal racks 就是安裝在這些金屬架裡的電腦硬體，
that work around the clock cracking an algorithm that spits out digital Bitcoins when the equation is solved. 日夜不停地運轉以破解一道演算法，只要解出算式的答案，就會產生數位比特幣。
Of course, it's a virtual currency. There's no physical coin, 當然，這是一種虛擬貨幣，沒有實體的硬幣，
but its value recently topped $1,000 after policymakers in the U.S. indicated they were open to the idea of a digital currency. 不過，比特幣的價值近來已經站上一千美元，因為美國的決策官員表示他們對於數位貨幣的構想抱持開放態度。
Senator Carper, I think there is broad-based agreement about the potential of a digital economy and virtual currencies. 卡波參議員，我認為社會對於數位經濟與虛擬貨幣的潛力存在廣泛的共識。
Like a gold rush, more Bitcoin miners are setting up shop. 如同淘金熱，愈來愈多的比特幣礦工都開始成立自己的營運組織。
More and more private people, as well as some more professional organizations stepped into the Bitcoin market and started mining. 愈來愈多私人以及比較專業的組織都踏入了比特幣市場並開始挖礦。
And this increased hashing power, as we call it. 這種現象增強了我們所謂的雜湊演算能力。
The algorithm automatically adjusts the difficulty upwards. 在這種情況下，演算法會自動提高難度。
The Bitcoin network automatically changes the difficulty of the math problems depending on how fast they're being solved. 比特幣網絡會依據數學問題獲得解答的速度而自動調整難度。
The algorithm has capped the number of Bitcoins at 21 million. 這項演算法將比特幣的數量上限訂定為兩千一百萬。
This kind of raw computing power requires new hardware, electricity and storage space. 這種純粹運算能力需要新硬體、電力與存放空間。
The Bitcoin mine that is located here uses a special immersion liquid to keep its electronics at a stable temperature. 位於此處的比特幣礦場使用一種特殊浸液讓電子零件的溫度保持穩定。
All of this costs the mine more than $65,000 a month to operate. 這一切使得這座礦場的運作成本達到一個月六萬五千美元以上。
The Bitcoin mine in this data storage center was designed and set up in just six months. 這座資料儲存中心裡的比特幣礦場在短短六個月內就設計建置完成，
And it was funded exclusively in Bitcoins. 而且資金來源完全是比特幣。
Lau's storage company was paid in Bitcoins, which he converted into euros, Hong Kong dollars and renminbi, to buy parts for the storage system. 劉加榮的儲存公司收取比特幣，他兌換為歐元、港幣與人民幣之後，再用來購買儲存系統的零件。
These are pictures of the data center in Montreal that we're using. 這些是我們在蒙特婁使用的資料中心的照片。
David Shin is a Hong Kong banker who has joined four other partners to start a Bitcoin mine called IceDrill. 大衛．辛恩是一名香港銀行家，他和四位合夥人成立了一座名為 IceDrill 的比特幣礦場。
They will set up the mine in Montreal close to the computer hardware manufacturer. 他們將會把礦場設置在蒙特婁，靠近電腦硬體製造商的地方。
Just like mining, you need a pickax or you need sort of, you know, equipment to be able to mine. 就像採礦一樣，你需要鶴嘴鋤，或者說某種能夠挖礦的設備。
And transactions in China with the largest Bitcoin exchange in the world can still move the Bitcoin market. 在中國與全世界最大的比特幣交易所交易，還是有可能推動比特幣市場。
So the global part of the Bitcoin community, I feel, they're much more on the libertarian side. 我認為比特幣的全球社群比較偏向放任自由主義。
They are looking to grow the ecosystem. They're reinvesting their Bitcoins. 他們希望讓這套生態系統進一步成長，他們會把他們的比特幣拿來再投資。
China, I feel that from what I can tell, they are buying to hold them. 至於中國，就我的了解來說，他們購買比特幣是為了要持有。
Shin believes the idea of a digital currency can take off. It might just take a while. 辛恩認為數位貨幣的概念有可能快速普及，可能只需要一點時間而已。