World's first insured Bitcoin vault opens in UK, uses 'deep cold storage' techniques

The world's first Bitcoin storage service that insures deposits of the digital currency against hackers and accidental loss has opened in London.

Bitcoin is a virtual currency that can be generated through complex computer software systems with solutions shared on a network.

Although the digital currency is gaining popularity, concerns about its security are on the rise. Online wallets used to store Bitcoins have been subject to a number of cyber-attacks and some users have also suffered from accidental loss.

The new Bitcoin storage service offering insurance in UK, named Elliptic Vault, uses "deep cold storage" techniques to secure the digital currency.

Bitcoin keys are encrypted and stored offline. There are multiple copies, protected by layers of cryptographic and physical security.

The copies are accessible only via a quorum of Elliptic's directors.

The facility's founders claim they are the "first in the world" to offer insurance for Bitcoin owners.

Unlike money stored in a conventional bank, Bitcoins are not insured and there is no way of retrieving them.

"One of the main concerns people have with Bitcoin is that it's quite difficult to store securely," Elliptic co-founder Tom Robinson told the BBC.

"Offering people insurance seemed an obvious step," said Robinson, an Oxford graduate, who started the company with two friends.

Lloyds of London is the underwriter for the Elliptic Vault service and insurance payouts will be calculated using the Bitcoin to US dollar exchange rate at the time a claim is made.

Elliptic's launch comes as governments around the world are deciding how to legislate for the digital currency.

Asian financial hub Singapore has become one of the first countries to issue guidance on taxation for Bitcoin businesses, although it also said it was monitoring transactions to detect illicit financing by criminals and terrorists.

In India, a number of Bitcoin operators have suspended their business following the recent warning by the country's central bank against use of such virtual currencies due to potential money laundering and cyber security risks.

However, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is yet to come out with a clear regulatory framework for Bitcoins.

In the US, Overstock.com has become one of the first major online retailers to accept Bitcoin.

Bitcoin came into existence in 2009. It has become the world's most expensive currency and its per unit value soared past $1,200 level or about Rs. 63,000 in November 2013.