MOST people have heard of them, a few even understand how they work, but will the average Brit ever own a Bitcoin?

With prices for a SINGLE unit topping £8,000 this week, for most people they must seem almost mythical - a pot of gold at the end of somebody else's rainbow.

4 Six countries have already banned trading in Bitcoin Credit: AFP or licensors

Established just eight years ago, the Bitcoin is a crypto-currency with no central bank or regulatory authority backing it up.

It was concocted and championed by a band of self-proclaimed cyberpunks out to create their own computer-generated marketplace and currency system.

They wanted to sidestep global centralised banking systems and their rules and regulations.

Despite its' dark market reputation, if you listen to the so-called "Bitcoin Believers" it really is THE currency of the future.

4 The Bird's Nest pub in Deptford was among the first to accept Bitcoin

4 Wealthy financiers the Winklevoss twins have reportedly become the first Bitcoin billionaires Credit: Getty

And they insist it is not just for the lucky few who got on board early and are now sitting pretty.

So where will Bitcoin be in 10 years, and will the average Brit ever be able to pop down their local and buy a pint with one? (Or a very small portion of one.)

Well, a tiny handful of pubs already do take the currency - and many more could soon follow suit.

However, even the most avid "believers" struggle to argue that the Bitcoin will ever replace the pound in the pocket, but they insist a Bitcoin is just like real money.

And they point to the fact that if you have Bitcoin, you can ALREADY buy stuff with it.

More than 10,000 businesses - including Domino's Pizzas and Lush Cosmetics - happily accept the crypto-currency.

Man named Satoshi Nakamoto denies he is the creator of Bitcoin

Lush Finance Manager Mike West adds: “With Bitcoin, customers from all around the world will pay the same for our products, free from volatile currency fluctuations and lofty bank charges.

"Crypto-currencies are the future of global trade and we want to ensure that we are prepared to move into this new digital era.”

At these outlets, you can use Bitcoin to buy what you want - from a single ice cream to a Rolls Royce.

So if you want to buy a camera for £250, then you need a way to transfer that amount to the seller.

In theory, it doesn’t matter if you pay cash, write a cheque, email the money via PayPal or use Bitcoin.

In reality, you have to balance a range of factors including convenience, security and transaction costs.

However, Bitcoin payments are not reversible and offer no consumer protection.

4 Each Bitcoin can be split into 100,000,000 pieces Credit: AP:Associated Press

And the real good news - say the "Believers" - is wannabe investors don't actually need a fortune to get on the ladder.

Each unit is divisible to the eighth decimal place, meaning a Bitcoin can be split into 100,000,000 pieces - each tiny piece is called a Satoshi (named after the fabled Bitcoin inventor) .

Most exchanges - like City Index, AvaTrade and etoro - will let you specify the amount of cash you want to spend and sell you the equivalent fraction of Bitcoin.

For example, if one Bitcoin is worth £10,000, and you want to buy £100 worth, you’ll receive 0.01 or one per cent of a Bitcoin.

Some companies will even let you buy as little as £1 worth of Bitcoin - just enough for that ice cream.

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However, there is a finite number of Bitcoin available – fixed at 21m – and there are already 15m in circulation.

And experts say the value of the currency will only continue to go up as the number left on the open market goes down.

However, its main selling point - the lack of accountability and anonymity - could eventually prove its downfall.

Law enforcement officers repeatedly claim that gangsters, drug dealers and terrorists embraced Bitcoin to launder money and purchase illegal goods, including weapons, on the dark web.

Pubs that currently accept Bitcoin - but there could soon be many more King William IV, Barry, South Wales The Barrell Drop, Nottingham The Bell at Sapperton, Cirencester The Bird's Nest, Deptford, London The Coalheavers' Arms, Peterborough The Devonshire Arms, Cambridge The Kilted Kangaroo, Stirling The Port Royal, Exeter The Royal Dick, Edinburgh The Thirsty Pigeon, Isle of Man The White Lion, Norwich

And the financial authorities clearly threatened by a currency out of their control - continue to lobby worldwide governments for it to be outlawed.

Many also see it as way for the rich to get richer and point out that Bitcoin performs no "socially useful function."

On Tuesday, it was revealed wealthy financiers the Winklevoss twins had become the first Bitcoin billionaires after investing just £8m four years ago after seeing their stake rise by 10,000 per cent.

Six countries have already banned trading in Bitcoin and China and Russia are also considering outlawing it.