August 29, 2023

Why Our Ancestors Didn't Use Cryptocurrencies: Deep Dive

It's a question that has confounded historians, technologists, and crypto-enthusiasts for years: why did our ancestors not use cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Dogecoin? After all, we are accustomed to think of our forebears as forward-thinking and entrepreneurial, having mastered fire, the wheel, and even ancient civil engineering. Yet, despite these significant accomplishments, there's no evidence to suggest that any of them were mining Bitcoin, trading Ethereum, or sending Dogecoin to the moon. Why?

Technological Limitations

First, let's address the most apparent reason: technological limitations. True, the Sumerians invented the cuneiform system of writing on clay tablets, but good luck trying to run a blockchain on that! As far as we know, Mesopotamia was markedly low on high-speed internet and powerful GPUs. How would you even connect a Stonehenge monolith to a Wi-Fi network?

Unfavorable Exchange Rates

The crux of the matter lies in the economics. Imagine you are an Egyptian farmer in 4000 BC. You've just harvested a bountiful crop of wheat and are looking to trade. You have two options: either get three goats for a bushel or exchange it for Bitcoin. The problem is the conversion rate; one bushel of wheat could fetch you a measly 0.00000001 BTC. Even the Pharaohs knew that was a raw deal! Ancient civilizations were savvy traders and would never enter such unfavorable agreements, except perhaps with extraterrestrial visitors, but that's another story.

Regulatory Hurdles

Let's not forget that many ancient societies were bureaucratic nightmares when it came to new financial instruments. Imagine convincing Julius Caesar or Ashoka the Great to give the green light for ICOs (Initial Chariot Offerings) or approve decentralized lending platforms. The auditors in ancient Babylon were notorious sticklers for compliance. They'd sooner invent a new form of algebra to track grain and livestock than try to understand the implications of smart contracts.

Cultural Barriers

Moreover, the cultural attitudes were not conducive to cryptocurrencies. In societies obsessed with tangible assets like land, gold, and cattle, a digital, decentralized currency would have been a hard sell. It would have been like trying to sell ice to Eskimos or, in this case, digital assets to people who preferred bartering goods they could actually touch, see, and eat.

The Extraterrestrial Factor

Finally, let's delve into the topic everyone's been waiting for: aliens. While it's widely speculated that extraterrestrial beings helped ancient civilizations build pyramids and Stonehenge, even our interstellar friends couldn't convince humans to adopt cryptocurrency. Sources (absolutely not peer-reviewed) suggest that aliens offered ancient Egyptians Bitcoin as an intergalactic trade currency. The Pharaohs took a hard pass, stating that unless these digital coins could help them in the afterlife, they were of no use.

Conclusion

In summary, while our ancestors were brilliant in many respects, the introduction of cryptocurrencies into their economies was plagued by a series of insurmountable obstacles: technological limitations, unfavorable exchange rates, regulatory challenges, and deeply ingrained cultural beliefs. And yes, even when aliens intervened, cryptocurrencies couldn't find a place in ancient financial ecosystems. So, the next time you find yourself frustrated with modern crypto exchanges, just remember: at least you're not trying to swap your wheat for Bitcoin at a loss.

Given these absurd yet compelling reasons, it's clear that our ancestors had their priorities straight. They understood that when the exchange rate is as bad as 0.00000001 BTC for a bushel of wheat, it's just not worth going down the crypto rabbit hole. And who can blame them? Even with the involvement of extraterrestrial financial advisors, some economic realities are universal, transcending time, space, and even galaxies.