Bitcoin - the money of the future, investment or fad?

As many of you are no doubt aware, the price of Bitcoin has shown a lot of volatility over the last year.

Below are some links to videos and articles about the blockchain and Bitcoin:

Blockchain massively simplified (TEDx talk)

Bitcoin Explained (Video)

What is Bitcoin (CNN article - A basic introduction)

Bitcoin - a primer (Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago)

Introduction to Blockchain - St Louis Fed

A Cryptocurrency Primer (Texas Comptroller)

For those of you who want to explore the topic of Cryptocurrencies and Fintech in more depth, here is a link to the website of the Federal Reserve of St. Louis: Cryptocurrencies and Fintech (Webpage of the Federal Reserve of St. Louis)

Please share your thoughts on the following question, or any related topic:

Do you think cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin serve any legitimate purpose? Are they just a passing fad, or should they be viewed as opportunities that may revolutionize the world of finance and beyond? Do they pose any threats to the global economy?