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Tokens: The Future of Money in the Age of the Platform

Name: Tokens: The Future of Money in the Age of the Platform
Price: 29.95 USD
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Book Synopsis: Platform capitalism is coming for the money in your pocket**Longlisted for the Financial Times Business Book of the Year**Wherever you look, money is being re-placed by tokens. Digital platforms are issuing new kinds of money-like things: phone credit, shares, gift vouchers, game tokens, customer data—the list goes on. But what does it mean when online platforms become the new banks? What new types of control and discrimination emerge when money is tied to specific apps or actions, politics or identities?

Tokens opens up this new and expanding world. Exploring the history of extra-monetary economies, Rachel O’Dwyer shows that private and grassroots tokens have always haunted the real economy. But as the large tech platforms issue new money-like instruments, tokens are suddenly everywhere. Amazon’s Turk workers are getting paid in gift cards. Online streamers trade in wishlists. Foreign remittances are sent via phone credit. Bitcoin, gift cards, NFTs, customer data, and game tokens are the new money in an evolving economy. It is a development challenging the balance of power between online empires and the state. Tokens may offer a flexible even subversive route to compensation. But for the platforms themselves they can be a means of amassing frightening new powers.

An essential read for anyone concerned with digital money, inequality, and the future of the economy.

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Introducing "Tokens: The Future of Money in the Age of the Platform," the groundbreaking book that unveils the impending revolution in the world of currency. In today's digital landscape, traditional forms of money are being replaced by tokens. These digital platforms are creating new forms of money-like entities such as phone credit, gift vouchers, and game tokens. This book delves into the profound implications of this transformation, exploring how it affects control, discrimination, and the balance of power in our society.

Author Rachel O'Dwyer takes readers on a journey through the captivating history of extra-monetary economies, revealing that grassroots tokens have always been present in our economic systems. However, with the rise of tech giants, tokens have permeated every corner of our lives. Amazon's Turk workers receive payment in the form of gift cards, online streamers trade wishlists, and even foreign remittances utilize phone credits. The emergence of Bitcoin, NFTs, and game tokens symbolize the shifting landscape of our evolving economy.

By reading Tokens, you gain a deep understanding of the larger implications of these changes. Do platforms hold more power than ever before? How does money tied to specific apps, actions, politics, or identities impact our daily lives? This book explores these crucial questions, offering insights into the complex relationship between online empires and the state. It sheds light on the potential flexibility and even subversiveness tokens may provide for compensation, while also examining the alarming new powers they afford to the platforms themselves.

If you are concerned about the future of digital money, the rising inequality in our society, and the future trajectory of our economy, Tokens is a must-read. Gain valuable knowledge and be at the forefront of understanding the transformative impact of tokens. Get your hands on this essential book today and stay informed about the changing dynamics of currency and power.

Ready to dive into the world of tokens? Don't miss out - get your copy of "Tokens: The Future of Money in the Age of the Platform" here.

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