I think what was meant is that digital payments like you find in games were a really innovative idea back in the day, when the poster mentions discovering them.

I think what was meant is that digital payments like you find in games were a really innovative idea back in the day, when the poster mentions discovering them. That is the genesis of all crypto projects. (Remember Flooz, anyone?). Clearly lots of people wanted in on it and it became the hot mess that is NFTs, crypto Ponzis, etc. I think the takeaway/contribution was that those aspects of digital currency (in game) have done very, very well and made lots of money. So, there might be other uses of digital currency that are also viable.