The American Museum recently opened the "National Coin Collection Exhibition", and Bitcoin is included

The Smithsonian Institution recently launched the National Coin Collection Exhibition, with the theme of “The Price of Money.” Bitcoin is also among the exhibits.

Bitcoin is also among the 400 exhibits in the Smithsonian's "Price of Money" collection. Recently, on the Reddit website, a netizen shared photos of Bitcoin at the Smithsonian's coin collection exhibition. The exhibition shows the evolution of the concept of coins in different periods. From the earliest prototypes of currency to the development of today's currency, including legal digital currency and cryptocurrency.

For centuries, economists and social philosophers have been fascinated by the origin and development of money. Initially, primitive humans used barter to buy and sell goods. Over time, humans invented equivalents, such as shells and cast precious metals. After decades of development, paper money could also represent the value of goods.

Today, money has lost its meaning. We now issue fiat currency and can print as much as we want. But this arbitrary printing of money has also led to economic ups and downs. Inflation has led to a severe devaluation of currencies, and in some countries, paper money is even worthless. Bitcoin came into being when the global economy was experiencing the Great Recession of 2008.

Last year the Numismatic Association opened its vault doors

The entrance to the Smithsonian coin exhibition is in the shape of a vault door. Last July, Jeff Garrett, president of the American Numismatic Association, officially opened the archway to mark the opening of the "Price of Money" exhibition. The exhibition features 200 collections, including many rare exhibits. They include a 1993 double eagle gold dollar, a 1934 $100,000 bill, a Yap stone coin, credit cards, and of course, Bitcoin.

The Bitcoin section includes an introduction to the concept of cryptocurrency, explaining how digital currencies are "created by computer protocols." The exhibit also shows a chart comparing the value of the U.S. dollar to Bitcoin. However, the chart is from 2014, the year when mainstream media least favored Bitcoin. The exhibit also features a physical copy of Bitcoin magazine from 2014 and a phone that can send different digital currencies.

History will prove whether cryptocurrencies are friends or foes of banks

Cryptocurrency is different from all previous currencies. In fact, it changes all our impressions of transactions and proposes a new medium of exchange. Many people believe that Bitcoin will change the monetary system to a certain extent. Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve, once said, "Virtual currency has broad prospects. It can build a faster, safer and more efficient payment system."

Now central bankers praise cryptocurrencies, and many people believe that Bitcoin will destroy the current financial system. Many people believe that the protocol established by Satoshi Nakamoto can defeat the inflation and currency devaluation that threaten the world economy. Rick Falkvinge, the founder of the Pirate Party, once said: "Just as email squeezed out the postal industry, Bitcoin will do the same to banks."

The Smithsonian’s Price of Money exhibit features Bitcoin, proving that we should no longer deny its history in society. The Bitcoin community hopes that its influence will continue, just as gold has dominated commodity trading for thousands of years. Time will tell if Bitcoin can do that, but for now, it seems that Bitcoin has already left its mark on society.