RE: State of the Sndbox - Week 17 [Reconsidering “Currency,” Presentations and Workshops]
The etymology of currency is the condition of flowing.
The human brain has neural networks, and electrical signals flow through it. When people belief in the same thing, trust networks are created between minds in which currency, or money is readily accepted. Current flows through networks, and this is facilitated by centralised databases before the advent of blockchain technology, the backbone of cryptocurrencies.
Since cryptocurrencies are essentially programmable currency, we can create trust networks that contain various utilities and merit systems. Cryptocurrencies can also be viewed as tokens that provide users with rights to access functions available in their respective networks. Hence, they're kinda like assets / commodities as well..
Btw, I'm not entirely sure if the etymology of currency has anything to do with what I've described :P
It's adding a new layer of intelligence to the web. And we've spoken about this before I think, but the quote at Steem Fest "editing the blockchain is a lot like open heart surgery"... really solidifies the notion that there's a living thing being manifested right here (or at least the beginnings of one).
Currency as an infrastructure of flow + trust is super interesting. I've got to mediate on this one... might be worth another post soon ;)