MachuPikacchu on Nostr: The kilogram and the meter were first introduced in the late 18th century to ...

The kilogram and the meter were first introduced in the late 18th century to standardize measurements. The joule was introduced in the 19th century.

International trade benefited massively from adopting these standards. Without these a merchant might need to know the local units for each country or region they did business in and further have to trust the methods of measurement which were often manipulated for profit.

We now use these units in textbooks, research papers, and specs all across the world and humanity has the benefit of being able to compare weights and lengths across the world and through generations.

Until 2009 we didn’t have a precise unit for economic measurement: local currencies introduce the same problems we had with weights and the global supply of gold isn’t auditable. With the introduction of Bitcoin we’ve set the stage for a new era of economic development and prosperity.

The world is still learning to live with this new unit though and there’s a real motivation for some people to slow adoption at all costs. We’re truly living in exciting times.

#bitcoin #history #standards #economics