Today, it was seen that the Bitcoin slumped to a new 13-month low, with the biggest cryptocurrency touching $5173.23 on the Bitstamp platform.

Bitcoin was last down 5.2 percent at $5270. The cryptocurrency, and other lesser coins including ethereum and XRP, endured a sell-off last week, with some blaming fears that a “hard fork” in bitcoin cash, where the smaller coin that split into two separate currencies, could destabilise others.

From its birth in an anonymous, academic style paper to one of the world’s most volatile and closely watched financial instruments, bitcoin has lived through a tumultuous first 10 years.

Here is a look back at some of the trials and tribulations of the world’s most popular virtual currency as it stands on the brink of either mass market acceptance — or early retirement.