Crypto

The title above resonates with me in the way the magic words of my youth – “Shazam” and “Abracadabra” - were used to make doors open, rocks move or get rid of nuisance people standing in your way.

The creation of currency of real (i.e. dollar) value by mucking around with a computer still mystifies me. I’ve met real people who have managed this trick of magic, and also those who haven’t created their own cryptocurrency but have bought and subsequently sold at significant profit – using currency that’s been around for longer than I have.

The word currency has always been applied to “things”, actions or services other than round pieces of metal or crinkly bank notes. These currencies tend to be somewhat localized rather than almost universal like today’s current newcomer.