For myself, the take-away from Curious Currency is that money and trade are social interactions. It is the social context that makes trade possible. Economic calculation for personal gain is secondary, though we all engage in it. I certainly would not give it up. But there is a reason why at each transaction, both parties say "thank you."

But you cannot eat gold, either. To an ancient farmer, people who put their money in metals were in precarious circumstances. Same here. Banks fail. So what?

I read a biography of Alan Turing. He convinced his aunt that the war was going to drive up sterling and drive hard money out of circulation. Already, current coins were 50% silver only. So, she converted some money into old coins and he buried them. Then, he could not find them. Risks are real... Cryptocurrencies are not going away; and after a massive solar flare, they will come back.

Thanks Mike. interesting read.

I think that mediums of trade will always present and necessary.

I think we are going in the wrong direction with digital...one burp from the sun and it's all gone with no record.
Block chain thinks they can and will shut down their satellites if a CME is detected but I wouldn't count on it.