Money is our greatest invention. It will continue to evolve; Crypto and AI will play a big part.

In Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari, as well as in several of his recent interviews, he repeatedly emphasizes that money is one of the greatest stories humanity has ever invented. While it may seem unusual to describe money as a “story,” Harari extends this idea to other major institutions as well—such as religion, nations, and political systems. These are all shared narratives that help unite people and enable large-scale cooperation.

It’s hard to pinpoint these, but generally, Power Preceded Money: In many societies, power structures existed before formalized systems of money. Leaders held power based on tribal affiliations, military might, or social hierarchies. But the development of currency has played a crucial role in standardizing and quantifying power, ultimately facilitating its growth.

Whilst the phrase “money is the root of all evil” is often misquoted; the original biblical text from 1 Timothy 6:10 states that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” It is not money itself that is evil, but rather the excessive desire for it.

It’s easy to concentrate solely on the two largest economies and simplify the discussion to a comparison between democratic and autocratic systems. For instance, when the U.S. bailed out its banks in 2008, could this be interpreted as a strategic maneuver to sustain the financial narrative? Alternatively, might China’s tight control of the renminbi be viewed as a way to prevent similar unchecked greed within its banking sector? This perspective invites us to reflect on the origins of our money system, which began with the straightforward exchange of half a pig for a few chickens.

I was telling my friend that I don’t “invest” in stocks anymore; I only put my money into cryptocurrency now. The stock market has long since evolved from a place to invest in solid companies for future returns, whether through dividends or sensible growth based on scarcity. The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios of some of the Magnificent Seven stocks compared to traditional industry players are simply too inflated. Warren Buffett’s recent moves to reduce his stock holdings and maintain a larger cash reserve are not encouraging signs.

This trend isn’t limited to the U.S. markets; Chinese stocks have always operated differently, lacking the same growth dynamics and volatility seen in Western markets. I focus on cryptocurrency because I believe it will underpin the future of finance. In the coming years, there will be fewer untraceable or unaccounted currencies, especially with advancements in AI and technology that help us track everything. Governments will no longer have the unchecked power to “print” money at will.

We find ourselves at a remarkable juncture in human history. Yuval Harari has explored in several books how AI represents the first time humanity faces an intellectual challenge from a new “species.” If we could create a transformative concept like money around 3000 BC that shaped our social development for the past 5,000 years, could AI develop an even more compelling narrative that resonates with us and fosters stronger beliefs? By learning from the shortcomings of our current and previous monetary systems, might AI propose a more suitable and sustainable alternative?

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