Yes, it's 'safe', if by safe you mean is it a scam or not? Bitcoin is a peer-to-peer currency. This is from an article I'll link below
To conduct a transaction, the buyer requests an update to a public transaction log within the blockchain. The blockchain is managed by a decentralized network that verifies and puts a time-stamp on payments. This network is maintained by Bitcoin “miners” that receive transaction fee rewards and new Bitcoins. There are around 12.1 million Bitcoins in circulation today with the total number being capped at 21 million.
It's just another form of currency (only it's digital), and remembering a golden rule of capitalism; something is worth whatever someone else is willing to pay for it. The prices are extremely volatile ($13 start of year, $1,200 start of Dec) and so is very tough to predict I'd guess. Recently the price was roughly halved because the Chinese gov. has stopped their banks from accepting bitcoins.
Here's an article on bitcoins, the recent price drop and plans for retailers who want to start accepting bitcoins from next year:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/amitchowdhry/2013/12/21/overstock-com-is-going-to-accept-bitcoin-in-2014/Interestingly there are other digital currencies, but bitcoin has received the most publicity.
Incidently I'm no expert and have never invested in bitcoins or other digital currencies, I just keep vaguely up to date on these things.
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