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 — yet for most of us, the open-source currency is still an unknown quantity.

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.