A high level overview of the world of Cryptocurrencies, liberally illustrated with Doge memes. This was a lightning talk (5-7 minutes), so it scratches the surface, hopefully enough to get you interested in the world of cryptocoins. It begins with the basic definitions, the reasons to use and accept cryptocurrency, the main currencies (Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dogecoin), the many altcoins and their distinguishing factors, and finally introduces you to cryptocoin mining (producing your own coins using your computer).

1. Cryptocurrencies
A Serious Introduction
Drake Emko
Revionics

2. Cryptocurrency: What?
It is a Digital Currency that uses cryptology for security
Decentralized Not issued by any central authority
Trust based on peer-to-peer consensus
Anonymous (More or less) Transactions are not tied to your identity
Wow?
Bitcoin is the first and most popular
cryptocurrency, created in 2009

3. Why? For Businesses
No (or low) transaction fees
compared to credit cards!
coinpayments.net
moolah.io
Built in customer base of
cryptocurrency enthusiasts
Source: coindesk.com

4. Why? For Users
Distrust of government surveillance,
currency manipulation
FUN
Community
Mining
Currency trading
Maybe get rich!

5. Cryptocurrency: Which?
Bitcoin Biggest
Most valuable
Litecoin Second biggest (arguably)
Easier to Mine
Dogecoin Silliest
Best community

6. All of the Rest!
source:
altcoinherald.com

7. Not All Coins Are Equal
Source:
coingecko.com

8. Developments - Mining
Proof of Work (PoW) algorithms
Old School - Only big mining farms using ASICs can profit
SHA-256 - Bitcoin
Next Generation - Make algorithm more memory intensive, give GPU miners a chance!
Scrypt - Litecoin, Dogecoin
Brave New World - Defeat the first generation of ASICs!
Scrypt-N, X11, X13 - Vertcoin, Darkcoin, CloakCoin
such environmental!

9. More Developments
Proof of Stake (PoS) - Earn coins by holding them (like interest)
Pandacoin (PND), Reddcoin, Bottlecaps
Improved anonymity
Darkcoin, Monero, Anoncoin
Outside the Box!
Colored Coins - Create your own currency on the Bitcoin network
Mastercoin, Bitshares, Counterparty - Financial derivatives, savings wallets,
decentralized exchange
Ethereum - Framework and programming language for creating cryptocurrencies
such advanced!

10. How to Mine Coins
CPU Mining
Download: sourceforge.net/projects/cpuminer

11. How to Mine Coins
GPU Mining
such efficient!
Download:
Mac Miner
cgminer & more

12. How to Mine Coins
ASIC Mining
Fastest
Expensive
such such such fast
much warn:
most hardware companies = SCAM

13. How to Mine Coins
Entry Level ASICs: try Ebay
less bankrupt!

14. Buying and Selling
Cryptocurrency
Exchanges
Mintpal
Cryptsy
Bittrex & more

15. How To Use Coins
Tipping on social media
Donate to good causes
Buy stuff!

16. New Frontiers
Such many apps to develop!
Everything is new...