Part 3/12:
The narrative tracks the major transformations in money's technological form:
Barter Systems: The earliest form of one-to-one exchange.
Abstract Money: The shift from tangible items like shells to abstract representations such as colorful strings or beads. This is regarded as the first major evolution.
Precious Metals: Gold and silver provided a scarce, portable, divisible form of money that became dominant in early civilizations.
Paper Money: Trust-based systems emerged when gold was stored in vaults; promissory notes or paper certificates represented ownership of gold, replacing physical transfer.
Plastic and Digital Money: The introduction of credit cards and digital ledgers marked further innovations, culminating in the current era of cryptocurrencies.