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We are used to money being created by the state. Or rather, we are used to money being created by banks on behalf of the state. The state has no direct control over the quantity of money created by the private sector on its behalf, though it does influence that quantity through monetary policy and, in these days of near-zero interest rates, fiscal policy. But it does guarantee it. Or rather, it used to.

In recent weeks, some Bitcoin critics have been rethinking their initial Bitcoin skepticism. But others are as convinced as ever that the cryptocurrency is doomed. One of the harshest critics is Mark Williams, who teaches finance at the Boston University School of Management. He predicts that in the first half of 2014, bitcoins will lose almost 99 percent of their value, falling below $10. We spoke by phone on Monday. The transcript has been edited for length and clarity.