TOKENS The Future of Money in the Age of the Platform

Gabrielle Baker's posh London accent adds a classy touch to this intriguing study of financial devolution. As defined by the author, tokens are "things that are almost but not quite money." For example, ancient Mesopotamia's clay tokens signified a share in the grain harvest. In modern times, tokens include phone cards, discount coupons, frequent-flier miles, pre-loaded EBT cards, and NFTs. Baker's brisk narration connects historical and contemporary tokens; for example, two-ton Micronesian Rai stones served as ceremonial gifts and were maintained in an invisible oral ledger, not unlike the blockchain system used for cryptocurrency. Other modern examples, such as Amazon workers being paid in Amazon gift cards and online gamers using tokens ("skins") as collateral for online gambling, hint at a dark financial future. R.W.S. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2024]