Use of English - Multiple Choice

Digital Currencies

Digital currencies have (0) BECOME a major topic of discussion over the last decade. At first, many people saw them as a passing trend, but they have since (1) .......... into a serious area of interest for investors, governments and ordinary users alike. One reason for this is that digital currencies are not (2) .......... on a central bank, which makes them different from traditional money. The first well-known digital currency, Bitcoin, was designed to allow people to carry (3) .......... transactions directly with one another. As its popularity grew, other digital currencies appeared, each trying to (4) .......... on earlier ideas by offering new features or faster systems. Supporters argue that these currencies may bring (5) .......... major changes in the way people pay for goods and transfer money abroad. However, critics point (6) .......... that prices can rise and fall very suddenly, making digital currencies risky. Governments have also begun to take a closer look at the market in (7) .......... to protect consumers and prevent crime. Whether digital currencies will fully take (8) .......... traditional forms of payment remains uncertain, but their influence is already clear.