They call it “digital gold," but is Bitcoin the future of money, or a shiny distraction for digital fools?

Created in 2009 by a still-unknown programmer using the alias Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin is now accepted by many merchants all over the world. But for most of us, the open-source currency is still an unknown quantity.

SEE ALSO: A Complete, Interactive History of Bitcoin

The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin, a new documentary making its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival next week, tells the story of the strange currency via its pioneers. It explains the “Bitcoin mining” market, and explores the many shadowy subcultures within the Bitcoin community.

The stars of this financial frontier include Daniel Mross, a 35-year old Pittsburgh programmer who became obsessed with Bitcoin in 2011, and happens to be the elder brother of Nicholas Mross, who made the documentary.

The film premieres next Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at SVA Theater 2 in New York, N.Y., followed by a Q&A with the Mross brothers. Check out the first trailer above, which the filmmakers shared exclusively with Mashable.

BONUS: Everything You Need to Know About Bitcoin in 2 Minutes