The "What is Money?" Show Bitcoin Hits All-Time High: A Once in a Species Breakthrough w/ Jesse Myers (WiM586)
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May 23, 2025 Join Jesse Myers, a Bitcoin advocate and author of the "Once in a Species" Substack, as he explores the fascinating relationship between money and human evolution. He dives into how money, especially Bitcoin, acts as a cornerstone for social cooperation and development. The conversation touches on the emotional and psychological implications of scarcity and its role in shaping civilization. Myers also highlights Bitcoin's potential as a transformative monetary system, contrasting it with traditional currencies and discussing its impact on society.
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Money Unlocks Larger Societies
- Money enables larger social groups beyond natural brain limits like the Dunbar number of 150.
- It removes social debt enforcement issues allowing tribes to cooperate constructively rather than compete violently.
Shell Beads as Proto Money
- Early shell bead jewelry served as proto money, signaling value through scarce, crafted items.
- Homo sapiens' use of proto money correlated with greater population density versus Neanderthals.
Money Breaks Dunbar's Constraint
- Dunbar's number of 150 limits pre-money social groups due to debt tracking complexity.
- Money removes this limit by providing real-time settlement, enabling infinite social counterparties.
