Why do we need an Open Money framework?

One of the hardest things about learning new systems is figuring out what parts are the most important. A framework provides a starting point.

A framework is a useful way to make sense of a lot of complicated information. It’s a tool to distill takeaways from complex data or logic systems and apply them to new concepts.

The biggest challenge in understanding the massive changes that underpin a new Open Money system is all the complexity involved. Some days, this stuff feels so abstract that it starts to lose any kind of grounding in reality.

Why is it so complex?

Part of the reason is that we’re talking about big systems. When phrases like “internet scale” or “global financial system” start getting thrown around, you’re immediately in the realm of massive, interconnected topics that span economics, technology, policy, and human behavior. These aren’t just standalone concepts — they’re ecosystems, and they’re messy.

The other issue is that Open Money isn’t just about money or information. It’s also about politics and policy. Designing systems that resist the creep of oligarchies or authoritarian control feels more relevant these days.

Technology-wise, solving dense computer science problems that touch everything from scalability to security. And it's about tools to help build a digitally-connected society and how to solve questions about fairness, access, and equity.

In short, Open Money is like a multi-tool, and it’s impossible to be an expert in all fields — or even all the overlapping seams where Open Money operates. That’s where a framework comes in.

A framework gives us a way to navigate complexity. It’s like wearing 3D glasses in an IMAX theater. Suddenly, the shapes that felt flat and impossible to parse take on dimension and structure. It’s not that the framework removes complexity, but it makes it legible.

There are a few ways to use the Open Money framework:

First, it would help us understand why digital assets work and why they matter — not just as technological artifacts but as societal tools. If we are evaluating new projects, it gives us a starting point to try and quickly understand what we are looking at. Is the project built open source? Is someone or some entity controlling access?
Second, a good framework acts as a filter or lens, helping us ask key questions: Does this solve real problems, or does it add complexity for complexity’s sake? Is it truly open and fair, or does it replicate old power dynamics in new forms?
Lastly, a framework can also help with context. Not all new digital asset projects are designed to be full-on replacements for legacy systems. Some are alternatives. Others are complements. A framework gives us the tools to analyze whether a system challenges the traditional model, fills gaps in it, or creates something entirely new.

Ultimately, the purpose of the Open Money framework is to help make this new explosion of financial technology more accessible to more people by making these big concepts easier to grasp.

If Open Money is the future, then a framework can function like a guidebook. Without a guide these topics can feel overwhelming and filled with buzzwords and hype cycles. With a guide, we can see not just what’s happening, but why it matters — and where we should go next.

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