Yesterday, I visited a neighborhood Freecycle-style event. Everybody brought usable but unwanted items and we traded. I manage to get a nice old film camera and a cell phone from the deal. However, as I was there, I got to thinking—hey, haven't I done this before? On the internet, maybe?
We barter and trade without money far more often than we think, and the internet has just increased that. How often have you talked to someone and said, "Sure, I'll do X if you go and help me with Y"? Because of the constant communication we have through the internet, we barter more often than ever. In fact, because of that, the internet is a great testbed for inventing the future of money. On the internet, systems can be changed, tested, and switched out much more efficiently than physical systems. If, say, you want to try out a new micropayment system, try it out on the internet before you do it in the real world. You'll have a wide array of testers and you'll be able to learn more in less time.
[Does this post seem incomplete? It is. More coming soon.]
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