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In person, I can exchange information with someone without anyone interfering. In person, I can exchange value (e.g.: chocolate for firewood) without anyone in
by DecoPerson 6y ago
In person, I can exchange information with someone without anyone interfering.
In person, I can exchange value (e.g.: chocolate for firewood) without anyone interfering.
Online, I can exchange information without anyone interfering (using encryption).
Online, I cannot exchange value without anyone interfering.
Exchanging value at a distance is complicated, because there’s so many different laws, bank APIs, apps, regulations, etc etc. We use middle-man services to simplify these problems for us — but they charge hefty fees. There’s delays, and arbitrary restrictions. All these complications also introduce additional risk (compared to exchanging the value in person).
A single, perfect global bank, or a perfect standard for all banks to follow, would allow me to exchange value online without anyone interfering. However, such a thing isn’t likely to happen.
Cryptocurrencies, if executed well, offer a real pathway to “I can exchange value online without anyone interfering.”
- DecoPerson 6y agoThis also applies to storing value. See what happened to Greece in 2010, where many individuals lost large amounts of cash stored in their bank accounts. This would not happen with Ethereum. If you hold 10 ETH, you’ll continue to hold 10 ETH until it’s transferred elsewhere (or you lose your keys).