Put down the dictionary guys.

I skimmed through the replies and saw OPs post and there seems to be some confusion of what "money" is.
There were cultures in the past that would use seashells as "money".

Money is basically an IOU that is communally agreed upon.

By this definition, yes...bitcoin is money.


I am somewhat new to bitcoin but understand its unsavory appeal of groups exchanging it to fund illegal activities.

By this use alone, this is money.