Cryptocurrency: The Future of Money in a Digital World? I NOVA Now
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The internet revolutionized how we communicate and exchange information. Now, it’s causing the ways in which we invest and spend money to change, laying the foundation for cryptocurrency.
How this digital currency functions—much like the inner workings of the internet itself—is invisible to most. But the ongoing explosion of interest and investment in cryptocurrency is undeniable. In September, El Salvador became the first country to accept Bitcoin as legal tender. Meanwhile, China announced a ban on all crypto trading and mining.
So what exactly is cryptocurrency, and how risky is it to invest in it? Is the future of money heading in a digital direction? With help from innovators paving the way for the future of money in a digital world, Dr. Alok Patel learns what the hype is all about.
NOVA Now is a production of GBH and PRX. It’s produced by:
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Rosalind Tordesillas
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Robin Kazmier is Science Editor.
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Devin Robins is Managing Producer of Podcasts at GBH.
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© WGBH Educational Foundation 2021
@PeterKimTX
October 14, 2025 at 5:20 pm
SBF FTX LOL
@chuckbiscuits7569
October 14, 2025 at 5:20 pm
You carry more cash you spend less, it's tactile and it's that simple. Pointing your phone at this, that and the other is one of the silliest tropes of progress at present. It's like there's a fear not to be seen as some sort of analog troll for refusing to make a fetish of the newest wet dream of the tektard. Well it's not really tektard liberation cause behind it are the marrow suckers.
@Wrowjpeg
October 14, 2025 at 5:20 pm
Crypto is a scam
@fdrtrrrrrdddd
October 14, 2025 at 5:20 pm
Nice Podcast 👏
@walterulasinksi7031
October 14, 2025 at 5:20 pm
Crypto currencies will not be able to replace the actual currencies used by countries as there is no possibility of exchange rates.
The worldwide banking industry, is already using a more secure currency system. It is the credit, capable of having rate transitions done in seconds. It already can permit an ATM user to withdraw local currency from a foreign account to the exchange limitation. Eg: if the exchange rate is against your currency, it would not allow you. To obtain that much local currency ,as you would be overdrawn, much as an ATM transaction would prevent you in your own country.
@jacobv3396
October 14, 2025 at 5:20 pm
How fitting to see the crypto bots on this comments section.
@leokscott
October 14, 2025 at 5:20 pm
People that don’t understand money call crypto complicated. Because they understand how to earn and spend dollars they think it is simple. And yet they have no idea how the dollar works. No idea about markets, banks or the Fed. If you ignore 99.999% of reality things do get “simple“. Then “out of the blue” their job disappears and “mysteriously“ prices shoot up “with no warning”. Crypto is no harder to use than dollars and it is no harder to understand than dollars.
@davidkelsey4254
October 14, 2025 at 5:20 pm
Bitcoin is a great investment vessel if you're looking for short-term profit. Digital currencies may also be a long-term investment due to their high market demand,And it is a profitable venture
@FREESPIRITSSOARING
October 14, 2025 at 5:20 pm
wow look at all those mem currencies, must be legit
@JonnoPlays
October 14, 2025 at 5:20 pm
TLDR: Every bank has a ledger of transactions. But they will never show it to you. Crypto is a big ledger and it's public. It's why you can see large transactions publicly which I find fascinating. There are Twitter feeds that post large transactions and what wallet they came from.
@mascadadelpantion8018
October 14, 2025 at 5:20 pm
Well, I still support this podcast! I just feel like this episode was not for me
@travisross9913
October 14, 2025 at 5:20 pm
Robinhood list Shiba Inu now!!
@unpopuIaropinion
October 14, 2025 at 5:20 pm
I love crypto but it its definitely flawed.
There is a shroud of mystery behind it, and there could be governments or organisations behind it.
It is much easier controlled than cash (no, not cards) or metals.
You see in order to convert it into cash (which hopefully will not be essential in the near future) you need to provide all your personal information.
Also most cryptos are transparent (but not all-monero) so a third party can see exactly where you are spending your money.
@tanakeller7289
October 14, 2025 at 5:20 pm
Exactly!! The system goes down, you have nothing!! Digital money is so easy to have disappear as well! So many crypto currency systems get hacked!!
@worldgoyimunite7290
October 14, 2025 at 5:20 pm
What's up fellow whites
@saind4170
October 14, 2025 at 5:20 pm
What happens when the utilities, and telecommunications are controlled by the government? What then?
Comments are closed.