The world of cryptocurrencies has entered the "mainstream" debate. However, despite the media buzz, such currencies are far from being viewed as real alternatives for currency investors. Their inner workings remain impenetrable; the collapse of the major Bitcoin exchange MT Gox was a bitter reminder of the fragility of such systems and it served to further dent the enthusiasm for the cryptocurrency system. Will 2014 mark a year of change where cryptocurrencies address some of these weaknesses?