In 2010, the value of one bitcoin was never more than a single U.S. dollar. A lot has changed. Now, one is reminded of what Dryden told General Murray in Lawrence of Arabia: “Big things have small beginnings, sir.” And the bigger things get, the more people take notice.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies—ethereum, monero, litecoin, to name a few—have surged in popularity. They have gained tremendous visibility due to increases, and dramatic fluctuations, in value. Blockchains are now being used in global commerce for countless transactions.