Backgrounder Bitcoin is a new kind of global payment network that many consider to be a currency as valid as a dollars, euros, and yen. Bitcoin is meant to be a quicker, cheaper, and more reliable form of payment than money that’s tied to individual countries. In addition, it’s the only form of money users can theoretically “mine” themselves, if they have the right computing power. And anyone can buy and sell bitcoins through exchanges. One big difference is that Bitcoin is entirely digital; no one is carrying around actual bitcoins in their pocket. Bitcoin has become increasingly accepted as a currency on par with other currencies, to the point that it has become exchangeable with the dollar and the euro at prices accepted by the global financial community. It is now recognized in many countries, including the United States, at a means of commercial exchange, or a stored value of wealth, giving it the appearance of a bona fide currency. Can Muslims use Bitcoin? And what should investors be aware of if they want to invest in it? The Islamic perspective on Bitcoin According to Azzad Asset Management Shariah Advisory Board Member Emeritus Dr. Abdulbari Mashal, Bitcoin exhibits a