Due to the nature of digital mining, bitcoins value cannot be manipulated or altered. Bitcoin's value is secured thanks to the cryptographic functions that it employs, and though it could be hacked one day in the future, technology and cryptography experts agree that such an attack is unlikely in the near-term. However, the networks and storage locations where bitcoins are housed and protected can be hacked by malevolent forces. Despite assurances by bitcoin storage companies and developers of the currency, bitcoin exchanges can and have been hacked