Money is just an abbreviation, an emblem of value. People commonly agree to use this thing that is worthless by itself because it's much easier to trade little

Money is just an abbreviation, an emblem of value. People commonly agree to use this thing that is worthless by itself because it's much easier to trade little pieces of paper and metal (or, in today's economy, move bits around) than it is to trade solid, final goods. People horde both dollars and bitcoins on the presumption that persons will continue to prefer trades facilitated by these value emblems instead of the much clunkier trade-by-solid-goods only.