Bitcoin Age

In 1971, the average American could buy a home with just two and a half years of income. Today, it takes more than five. Despite decades of innovation, productivity gains, and an increasingly digital world, real wealth seems harder to attain. If technology is making us more efficient, why are basic necessities becoming less affordable? In Bitcoin Age, best-selling author of Layered Money and USC Marshall School of Business professor Nik Bhatia explores humanity's attempt at creating the perfect form of money-one that holds its value, resists manipulation, and empowers individuals rather than institutions. Bhatia takes the reader on an enthralling journey through time, traversing the rise of the US dollar, the development of global banking, and the unchecked money creation that has led to rising prices, inequality, and financial crises, ultimately breaking down how today's economic landscape is designed to benefit the few at the expense of the many. Enter Bitcoin-a decentralized, digital store of value designed to bypass the systemic flaws of finance as we know it. While traditional money loses value over time, bitcoin's purchasing power has soared, giving individuals a new way to save, transact, and opt out of the credit-money system. With deep historical analysis and forward-thinking insights, this book bridges the past and the future, showing why Bitcoin isn't just an asset-it's the foundation of a new monetary era. Bitcoin Age reveals why we are witnessing the biggest transformation in money since the invention of banking-and why those who understand it today will shape the economy of tomorrow.