luna-1999 · March 21, 2018 23:10
diff --git a/gistfile1.txt b/gistfile1.txt
 Q: Bitcoin has two aspects to it that make unique - software and economics. 
 Can you explain a bit about the software to us folks that can’t code?

 A: Bitcoin itself can best be described as a protocol: a set of very specific rules that participants 
 agree to. We are used to thinking about social protocols, for example sending a gift on a special 
 occasion and then receiving a thank you card. Bitcoin’s protocol is automated with software. Each 
 participant runs their software, called a node, which connects to other nodes over the Internet. 
 The Bitcoin nodes verify that every transaction sending and receiving bitcoins is following the 
 protocol rules, and rejecting the ones that don’t. Secure timestamps determine the order in which 
 transactions are recorded, to prevent participants from spending the same bitcoins twice. 
 This timestamping function is provided to the network by specialized participants called “miners”, 
 who use hardware performing computationally intensive “proof of work”.
 It’s important to note that while the media focuses on the energy consumption of miners, 
 the node software can be run on normal computers and consumes less electricity than 
 your web browser. This enables the Bitcoin network to be highly decentralized: the protocol 
 rules are jointly enforced (and thus determined) by a large community of people around the world.
	Q: Bitcoin has two aspects to it that make unique - software and economics.
	Can you explain a bit about the software to us folks that can’t code?

	A: Bitcoin itself can best be described as a protocol: a set of very specific rules that participants
	agree to. We are used to thinking about social protocols, for example sending a gift on a special
	occasion and then receiving a thank you card. Bitcoin’s protocol is automated with software. Each
	participant runs their software, called a node, which connects to other nodes over the Internet.
	The Bitcoin nodes verify that every transaction sending and receiving bitcoins is following the
	protocol rules, and rejecting the ones that don’t. Secure timestamps determine the order in which
	transactions are recorded, to prevent participants from spending the same bitcoins twice.
	This timestamping function is provided to the network by specialized participants called “miners”,
	who use hardware performing computationally intensive “proof of work”.
	It’s important to note that while the media focuses on the energy consumption of miners,
	the node software can be run on normal computers and consumes less electricity than
	your web browser. This enables the Bitcoin network to be highly decentralized: the protocol
	rules are jointly enforced (and thus determined) by a large community of people around the world.