Understanding Why More People Are Using Alternative Currency Every Day

By Kate McMahon


With the downturn in the economy spreading out to involve more and more parts of service, retail, online goods and even banking institutions, more and more people are wondering why governments control money. Called micro-currency or alternative currency this trend is growing in popularity all over the world.

It is surprising how many people take for granite that the small pieces of paper they carry around with them have any value at all. Different ways to value and exchange goods are sprouting up at an all time rate. Some of them are even being used and endorsed by rich and famous people. While it is unlikely they ever overtake common forms of money like dollars or euros, they seem to really be catching on.

These different means of trading often become popular during tough economic times. As nationalized money starts to dry up, people still have requirements to be met. Families still need to buy food, they still need to pay bills as well as goods and services. They have needed to devise clever ways to fulfill these needs which are legal and accessible to most average people.

In the US all currency is controlled by the federal reserve. While Americans can use money, it is not really theirs. Defacing currency in the US is a federal crime. Counterfeiting money is one as well. Knowing this it is surprising to learn that 13 states are seeking approval from their state government to mint their own money.

Another popular trend is bitcoins and litecoins. One of the biggest advantages these have is that they are completely decentralized. They are fast, easy and completely anonymous world wide. People seem more than willing to put their faith in technology over more traditional economic institutions like banks.

A local type being implemented on the far western side of Massachusetts around Berkshires is called Berkshires. There are roughly 400 businesses locally that take them instead of dollar bills. This includes the 13 banks that are acting as exchange stations for them. This helps build stronger community ties within the businesses who take and their customers.

Even big corporations are getting in on the bandwagon. Companies like starbucks and amazon are now offering starbucks stars and amazon coins. These items can be exchanged for goods and services for each company. In the past other noteworthy companies have also used this approach like marlboro and camel with marlboro miles and camel dollars. Both could be exchanged for novelty items when they were sent into the company.

Most advocates for alternative currency use believe they are a simple means of returning power back to the common people who live on the very fringe of this fiscal success. This will give people like the underemployed, elderly or disabled a fighting chance at economic freedom. As things start to get worse it will not be what items you have, so much as what you still have that you could exchange for something else. And this is what all these people are really banking their future on.




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