Understanding Why People Are Turning To Alternative Currency

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 astonishing the number of people talking for granite that tiny pieces of paper they are carrying around on them retain real value. Assorted ways to exchange and value goods are developing at an all time rate. Some are even endorsed and used and by the famous and wealthy. While it is improbable they will overtake common types of money like euros or dollars, they are gaining popularity.

These alternative means of trade often become more popular during rough economic times. National money begins to dry up and people still have needs that need to be met. Families still have to buy food, they still have to pay bills and for goods and services. People have had to come up with creative ways to meet all these needs that are not illegal while still being accessible to the average person.

In the US currency is watched over by the federal reserve. Even though Americans can use their money, it does not belong to them. Defacing US currency is a federal crime. Counterfeiting US money is one too. Knowing this, people are surprised to learn of 13 states seeking approval from their collective state governments to start printing 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 trying to use alternative currency honestly believes them to be a separate means of offering buying power back to the group of people who otherwise would live on the outside fringe of any fiscal success. This gives these people like the disabled, underemployed and elderly an opportunity to achieve some form of economic freedom. As times begin to get bad, people will be more worried about what they have to trade for than what they have. And this is what they are betting their future on.




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