Layered Money: From Gold and Dollars to Bitcoin and Central Bank Digital Currencies Paperback – January 18, 2021

I liked the way Nik framed the layers of money. I had not encountered that idea before. But it became slightly confusing at times working backwards and slipping from different kinds of historical monetary instruments. Overall I'm really glad I purchased this small book and supported a unique voice in the Bitcoin community.

This book built up a clear and concise, theoretical model of how the world’s monetary systems have evolved over time. This book is similar to “The Bitcoin Standard”, without over playing the politics of libertarianism. Instead, the book emphasised the fragile nature of our traditional monetary system, with its heavy reliance on creating money by issuing credit and liabilities. The tone of the explanation was objective and demonstrated the enormous complexity and counter-party risks that were inherent in the global monetary system, by the financial crisis of 2007 and 2008. The book was able to transition, smoothly and convincingly, to the logical benefits of using neutral monetary denominations, like Bitcoin, as a reserve currency - a first layer of a hierarchy of monetary layers.

Provides a very solid breakdown of current, past, and potential future monetary constructs. Stays higher level so it helps if you already have an understanding of how money is created, issued, and utilized. Definitely worth reading.

This is a must read for anyone who wants to understand how the Federal Reserve really works and who it serves. This book builds the history of our financial sysyem and explains how crypto currencies will play a role moving forward.

A great read that puts in perspective the global monetary system, it's cracks and weaknesses, and how cryptocurrencies, specifically Bitcoin, will like play a key part in the future.

By the time I bought this book I was deeply into bitcoin. I somehow intuitively knew it was the answer to a looming monetary crisis. What Nik did in this book was explain in an easy to read story why my intuition was right. Understanding the layers of money makes it far easier to understand that Bitcoin is and will remain first layer money making it a great choice for a store of value.

Great overview and explanation of how money has historically worked, using the concept of layers rather than overly complicated models of assets vs. liabilities on a balance sheet. It’s a much easier way of visualizing the way money moves and who controls what in a monetary system. Looking at money through this lens, it becomes easy to see how and why BTC became the first layer asset in a digital system — and why there can be no other.Be a first layer holder. Own your own keys. ✌️

Nik did a magnificent job explaining the financial system, how it was shaped by history and how we ended up where we are now. He clearly explained the problems with the fragility of the current dollar based system and how it is likely to change over the coming years. Then he explains where bitcoin fits into the monetary system and how building a future international monetary system around bitcoin as the ultimate 1st layer money could provide tremendous benefits to humanity.

Der Autor beschreibt wirklich sehr gut den Aufbau von Geldsystemen und schafft es aufzuzeigen wie auch Bitcoin in so einem Aufbau in unserer Gesellschaft einen Platz finden kann.

I am glad I got this book. It was a very read. I got the book after doing lots of research on the topic, by looking at different websites and books. If you enjoyed this book, I would also recommend these other authors and their books Andreas Antonopoulos, Mastering Bitcoin Unlocking Digital Cryptocurrencies, BBCD Satoshi, Buy Bitcoin You’ll Thank Yourself In The Future and Saifedean Ammous, The Bitcoin Standard. I recommend you get this book if you are interested in the topics.

One of the most concise, well written books on monetary history & systems that I've ever read. In a relatively short read, you will come to understand the various 'layers' of the monetary system, how they developed throughout history, and how they came to be in their current form.This is NOT a particularly difficult or long read. Anyone would be able to read it and understand the issues at the core of today's monetary systems, and possibilities looking into the future. Highly recommend! Especially in these times..

This book teaches the history of money and how Bitcoin establishes itself in the space and can lead the monetary freedom and shape economies . Very simple and good book to read

Après avoir lu la plupart des livres importants sur le Bitcoin, je crains toujours de relire encore une fois la même chose. Mais ce livre est une excellente addition, qui décompose de manière simple (le livre est concis) et précise (le sujet est vraiment maitrisé) le système monétaire international, et comment le bitcoin est en train d'y imposer un changement radical pour le meilleur.Pour ceux qui cherchent à s'orienter parmi tous les livres sur le Bitcoin, je vous recommande de suivre cet ordre :1) Inventing Bitcoin : Comprendre comment fonctionne la technologie Bitcoin, indispensable et très concis2) L'étalon Bitcoin : Comprendre le rôle économique du Bitcoin, le changement fondamental qu'il apporte à la société, long à lire et assez exigeant intellectuellement mais indispensable3) Layered Money : Comment le bitcoin peut/va disrupter le système monétaire international et lui imposer une véritable neutralité en le retirant des mains des Etats4) Digital Gold : L'histoire fascinante de la création du Bitcoin (2009-2017), moins indispensable mais passionnant, et aide vraiment à comprendre le contexte autour du Bitcoin5) L'internet de l'argent I, II, et III : Pas indispensable, mais très utile pour comprendre l'idéologie derrière le Bitcoin et comment cette technologie va apporter des solutions concrètes à une grande diversité de problèmes inhérents au système actuelJe m'apprête à lire ces deux livres, dont j'ai aussi entendu beaucoup d'éloges : Au Coeur du Bitcoin (explication du code de Bitcoin), et The Price of Tomorrow (l'importance d'avoir une monnaie déflationniste), je ne peux pas encore dire s'ils ont leur place dans cette liste.