The Leap of Faith (Or: When Shells Became Money)
A type of sea snail shell that was used as symbolic money for thousands of years in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands.
A currency whose value is based on a shared social agreement or convention, rather than on the intrinsic value of the material it is made from.
The essential characteristics that a good must possess to be considered an effective form of money: durability, portability, divisibility, uniformity, limited supply, and acceptability.
A digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security. Like cowrie shells, its value is not based on a physical commodity but on a shared belief in its network and rules.
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