Hey, Mark Zuckerberg. Remember these guys? Identical twins, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss are Bitcoin moguls. Frankly, we’re not surprised.

If you recall, the twins started a social networking site while studying at Harvard University called, ConnectU and wanted to enlist class mate, Mark Zuckerberg to help build the company. Some time later, Zuckerberg left to start Facebook, which lead the twins to sue Zuckerberg. The brothers won a settlement of $20 million (R178 million) in cash, and Facebook shares now worth $200 million (R1,7 billion).

The 31 year old twins have amassed the single largest portfolio of online currency over the last six months, and it’s all in Bitcoins. Almost half the total available Bitcoin has been mined, leaving a remainder worth $1,3 billion (R9 billion). And the twins, Winklevii as they are better known, say they own nearly 1% of that, or $11 million (R98 million).

The brothers decision to go public has signaled,  according to the Sydney Morning Herald:

 A new stage of maturity for what has been an experiment alternative to national currencies.

Their investment in the currency may have proved slightly rash, given the currency’s volatility over the last two days. After reaching and all time time high of $260 (R2,322), Bitcoin’s value fell to just over $80 yesterday, and is currently sitting at $150 (R1,339). This constant ebb and flow raises questions about Bitcoin’s usefulness as a currency, or even a commodity. Cameron Winklevoss said:

People say it’s a Ponzi scheme, it’s a bubble. People really don’t want to take it serious. At some point that narrative will shift to ‘virtual currencies are here to stay.’ We’re in the early days.

With Tyler Winklevoss saying:

We have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical framework that is free of politics and human error.

[Source: The Sydney Morning Herald Money]