Why now is Open Money's moment

The right timing is critical to the success for failure of big moments, revolutions, and societal change.

The move toward open money is a story about timing or a series of inflection points. It’s a shift that’s happening in several places all at once. But cumulatively, new trends in various places will compound into a major change.

Bitcoin was first created in 2009 — at the time a fringe experiment in digital value. When Bitcoin launched the goal was to build a peer-to-peer system of exchange that was native to the internet and made self-sovereignty and independence possible.

Ethereum followed in 2015, introducing programmability and smart contracts to the concept of decentralized money. Other networks, like Solana or Polygon, are even younger.

These technologies are not relics or systems we’ve inherited. They are innovations of our time, built in response to the limitations of existing financial and information systems. Maybe the most fascinating aspects of the emergence of digital asset systems are the cultural and organizational elements that they enable.

Why is this all happening now? The answer starts with ever-expanding functionality of the internet. Some key components of digital infrastructure have only recently become capable of handling global-scale transactions.

Blockchain networks, cryptographic security, and distributed computing have matured to a point where they can support billions of users and trillions of dollars in value without relying on centralized institutions. Open Money systems are no longer just ideas —they’re a functional family of apps that are operational and growing at a steady clip.

But that’s just part of the story. The other part is about the world we live in. The past decade has brought about a new kind of globalism. The internet has connected billions of people, creating networks that transcend borders. Digital economies have flourished, and digital goods — from music to memes to cryptocurrency — are now mainstream-ish.

At the same time it feels like we are outgrowing our traditional systems, or at least that traditional ways of organizing and transacting can’t keep up with the speed and efficiency of digital systems.

Open Money fits naturally into this world, providing the financial layer that a global, digital-first society requires.

There’s also a growing sense of instability. Economically, the 2008 financial crisis exposed the fragility of centralized systems, and more recent events, like the pandemic, inflationary pressures, and wars on multiple fronts have further shaken trust in traditional institutions.

Politically, global tensions and the rise of authoritarian regimes have highlighted the dangers of centralized control over wealth and resources. People are looking for systems that are resilient, decentralized, and not subject to the whims of governments, corporations, or their billionaire owners.

Add to this combo new kinds of demographic pressures — mainly that the rate of population growth is slowing, which will put new kinds of pressure on traditional economic and political systems. An economic slowdown caused by changing population dyanmics creates an opening for rapid and profound change.

And then there’s identity. The internet has transformed the way people see themselves and their communities. Online, individuals can belong to global networks, niche subcultures, or decentralized movements. Open Money dovetails with this shift by offering financial tools that align with these new forms of identity— permissionless, borderless, and community-driven.

The move toward Open Money is happening now because the world needs it. The technology is here, the systems are scalable, and the demand for alternatives is growing. Open Money isn’t just about better financial systems — it’s about rethinking how we interact, collaborate, and build in a globalized, digital-first world.

This is why Open Money feels inevitable. It’s not just a response to the limitations of the past — it’s a reflection of where we are now and where we’re heading.

Recent Open Money project posts