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he Bitcoin has changed the way the world thinks about money, and its influence continues to grow. Since the first Bitcoin transaction took place 2009, the digital currency has been accepted by a steadily growing list of businesses, institutions and marketplaces \u2013 including real estate. And it\u2019s a trend investors need to watch.

The Bitcoin was created in 2008 as an experiment in freeing financial transactions from the control of traditional institutions and regulations. Completely digital and totally unconnected with any kind of government agency or banking concern the Bitcoin promised to democratize money completely.

Developed out of a computer algorithm that dedicated geeks could use to \u2018mine\u2019 new coins, the Bitcoin can be used in any transaction two parties agree upon. There\u2019s no way a government entity could interfere or track that transaction. Bitcoin can be bought and sold on several large exchanges operating around the world to make transactions of small and large amounts run smoothly.

From those early days, Bitcoin deals have gone mainstream. In world exchanges, Bitcoin stands alongside traditional currency heavy hitters such as the dollar, the euro and the yen, with values that fluctuate from lows of $20 to highs of over $200. Bitcoin can be used to buy cars, pay college tuition, build a website, get fertility treatments, travel \u2013 and now, buy and rent houses.

Bitcoin\u2019s presence in the world\u2019s real estate market has grown significantly since the creation of major Bitcoin exchanges that make it easier than ever to conduct business using the digital currency. It\u2019s possible to buy and sell real estate entirely in Bitcoin \u2013 and even to pay your rent in Bitcoin too. To do this, all that\u2019s necessary is two parties who agree to the deal.

Butcoin is especially attractive to investors who want to buy real estate in a foreign country. Most popular now in Asia, the use of Bitcoin in real estate transactions is spreading worldwide. The digital currency appeals to investors from countries whose official currencies are unstable or devalued, but Bitcoin transactions offer an upside \u2013 and some serious downsides as well \u2013 for investors everywhere.

Should you buy, sell, or even rent, investment property with Bitcoin? The very qualities that make the cybercurrency appealing also contribute to its iffy reputation among investors and money market watchers. The anonymity and lack of regulation over Bitcoin transactions made the digital currency a prime vehicle fro all kinds of illegal transactions, from drug dealing to money laundering. Many people are aware of Bitcoin\u2019s connection to the online drug marketplace Silk Road, thanks to the widely publicized trial of its alleged founder in January 2015.

The Silk Road incident called attention to one of the main concerns about Bitcoin. Digital currency is independent of any issuing organization such as a country\u2019s central bank or other large financial institution. While that keeps Bitcoin \u201cfree,\u201d it also means that many of the safeguards surrounding traditional money just don\u2019t apply.

In the US, the government can block certain transactions that break local or national laws. It can track transactions through bank accounts and other means. Using those paper trails it can prosecute suspected criminal activity \u2013 and compensate victims.

In a Bitcoin transaction, none of those safeguards apply \u2013 and if a deal goes sour, there may be little or no recourse for those involved. A recent case involving a Hong Kong based Bitcoin exchange resulted in the loss of over $300 million USD in a suspected Ponzi scheme \u2013 but investors had little recourse once the exchange closed its virtual doors.

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The volatility of Bitcoin itself may also present some challenges for investors in big-ticket items like houses. Bitcoin trades in the international money markets like traditional currencies, and that means its value can fluctuate widely. The property you buy with Bitcoin today may sell for a drastically different amount later on.