This week our guests are the hosts of Coin Talk, a podcast about Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies and the blockchain. Journalists Aaron Lammer and Jay Caspian Kang talk to us about their show, their own adventures trading crypto, and the weird culture of ICOs, conmen and speculators that Aaron calls "Coinworld".

You've read the news - Bitcoin is up, Bitcoin is down, Bitcoin is this, Bitcoin is that and... now Bitcoin really is down. You've likely already decided whether or not it's something you're interested in. But it's not the only cryptocurrency you should be keeping an eye on. There are plenty of altcoins that are looking to do big things in the space in 2018 and we've got five you should definitely keep an eye on.

There's no shortage of places to pick up bitcoin if you're keen on having your own slice of cryptocurrency, but it doesn't hurt to have more options. So, as of yesterday, you can now pop down to the newsagency and purchase both bitcoin and ethereum OTC, though it does involve a hoop or two.

A short-lived and relatively unknown cryptocurrency project built on Ethereum called Prodeum disappeared this weekend - along with the money a small number of hapless investors sunk into it. All that remained of its website was a white page with the word "penis" written on it.

With cryptocurrencies all the rage, lots of people are looking for ways to mine various coins in order to take advantage of the current volatility that can see some people make monitor profits very quickly. OsherCoin is an entrant to that market that wants to make that process easier for the masses. They have a bespoke appliance that can mine currency that doesn't require a pile of tech expertise to build a cluster of devices to get into the cryptocurrency market.

Bitcoin, the decentralised digital currency, seemed on the verge of disappearing after every scandal, crash or hack. But eight years later, it's not only growing but accelerating, with the price of a single BTC "coin" recently climbing above $5400.

And it isn't the only cryptocurrency; competitors include Litecoin, Dogecoin and Ethereum (a currency that supports "smart contracts"). These graphs, videos and explainers contain everything you need to know.

With the meteoric rise in popularity of Ethereum, cryptocurrencies and blockchains are back in the news again. Graphics card prices have soared with the promise that those who have the computers and know-how to do some serious mining can take home huge sums in a Bitcoin-like gold rush to snatch up as much virtual currency as possible. But how easy is it to make your fortune in cryptocurrency? And is it worth your while getting started?