Illustration of a stylized financial ecosystem with flowing data streams and interconnected nodes.

Reimagining Money: How a New Economic Theory Could Reshape Our Financial Future

Theo Raines in Business & Economy August 2025 • 3 min read.

"Is it time to trade short-term greed for long-term gain? A groundbreaking approach integrates digital currencies for a more sustainable economy."

The world of finance is rapidly evolving. With the rise of digital currencies like Bitcoin, Tether, PayPal, Zelle and Venmo, old economic models are being challenged. These technologies present an opportunity to reshape our financial systems, moving away from short-term exploitation and towards long-term prosperity.

To realize this potential, we need a new theoretical foundation that incorporates digital currencies into the core of economic thinking. This requires re-evaluating traditional economic theory and extending it to encompass the unique characteristics of digital assets.

This new approach draws inspiration from physics, specifically the relationship between Einstein's theory of relativity and Newtonian mechanics. Just as relativity revolutionized our understanding of the universe, a new economic "uber-theory" can redefine finance by prioritizing sustainable economic activity, or “social aesthetic” [1], over short-sighted profits.

From Short-Term Profits to Long-Term Value: A New Economic Compass

Illustration of a stylized financial ecosystem with flowing data streams and interconnected nodes.

Traditional economics often focuses on maximizing short-term profits, as measured by Net Present Value (NPV) of Discounted Cash Flows (DCF). This approach, while seemingly objective, can lead to destructive practices that prioritize immediate gains over long-term sustainability. Milton Friedman and the Chicago School of economics championed this view, advocating for minimal government intervention and maximizing private sector freedom to pursue profit [5].

However, a more holistic view is emerging, one that aligns with macroeconomic principles and recognizes the importance of long-term value creation. This perspective suggests that economic decisions should be guided by their contribution to the “social aesthetic” of sustainable economic activity, rather than solely by short-term profit maximization. A new goal for both the sovereign nation and individual sub-economies.

Microeconomics: Focuses on individual entities maximizing profit (NPV).
Macroeconomics: A global view aiming to maximize the value of currency and overall economic activity (GDP).

This new framework draws inspiration from shows such as Stargate and Mr. Robot, suggesting that we identify macroeconomics as the “uber theory.” It proposes that all sub-economies and entities should strive to maximize the value of currencies relevant to their transactions. This leads to a more coordinated and sustainable economic ecosystem.

Toward a More Resilient and Equitable Future

By embracing this new approach, with novel applications in AI, we can move towards a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable economic future. It's a future where technology empowers long-term value creation and where financial decisions are aligned with the well-being of society and the planet.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2310.04986,

Title: A New Economic And Financial Theory Of Money

Subject: econ.th cs.ai physics.class-ph

Authors: Michael E. Glinsky, Sharon Sievert

Published: 07-10-2023

Everything You Need To Know

How does the traditional economic approach, particularly the focus on Net Present Value (NPV) and Discounted Cash Flows (DCF), potentially lead to unsustainable practices?

Traditional economics, heavily influenced by figures like Milton Friedman and the Chicago School of economics, prioritizes maximizing short-term profits through metrics like Net Present Value (NPV) of Discounted Cash Flows (DCF). While this approach appears objective, it can incentivize destructive practices. These practices focus on immediate financial gains at the expense of long-term sustainability and social well-being. This short-sighted focus neglects the broader macroeconomic implications and the value of currencies relevant to transactions.

What is the "social aesthetic" and how does it contrast with the traditional focus on short-term profits in economic decision-making?

The "social aesthetic" refers to prioritizing sustainable economic activity over short-sighted profits. Unlike traditional economics, which primarily focuses on maximizing short-term gains as measured by Net Present Value (NPV) of Discounted Cash Flows (DCF), the "social aesthetic" emphasizes the long-term value creation and contribution to a more coordinated and sustainable economic ecosystem. This shift aligns economic decisions with the well-being of society and the planet, promoting resilience and equity. It's a novel goal for sovereign nations and individual sub-economies.

In the context of digital currencies like Bitcoin, Tether, PayPal, Zelle and Venmo, what is the role of a new economic "uber-theory" inspired by Einstein's theory of relativity?

Inspired by the relationship between Einstein's theory of relativity and Newtonian mechanics, a new economic "uber-theory" redefines finance by prioritizing sustainable economic activity, referred to as "social aesthetic," over short-sighted profits. This theoretical foundation is essential for incorporating digital currencies into economic thinking, challenging old economic models and extending it to encompass the unique characteristics of digital assets, which can reshape our financial systems, promoting long-term prosperity.

How can a shift towards prioritizing macroeconomic principles and maximizing the value of currencies relevant to transactions lead to a more coordinated and sustainable economic ecosystem?

Prioritizing macroeconomic principles, as opposed to solely focusing on microeconomic profit maximization (NPV), allows for a more holistic and sustainable approach to economics. By identifying macroeconomics as the "uber theory," all sub-economies and entities should strive to maximize the value of currencies relevant to their transactions. This leads to a more coordinated economic ecosystem where decisions are aligned with the overall value of currency and economic activity (GDP), promoting long-term value creation and sustainability. Novel applications in AI can enhance this process.

Beyond Bitcoin, Tether, PayPal, Zelle and Venmo, how might artificial intelligence (AI) play a role in realizing a more resilient and equitable economic future based on the principles outlined?

While Bitcoin, Tether, PayPal, Zelle and Venmo are examples of digital currencies, AI offers novel applications that can enhance the principles of a resilient and equitable economic future. AI can optimize resource allocation, improve decision-making processes, and facilitate the transition towards sustainable economic activities. This can lead to better alignment of financial decisions with societal and planetary well-being, promoting a more equitable and sustainable economic ecosystem. Furthermore, AI can aid in identifying and mitigating risks associated with short-sighted profit maximization, ensuring long-term value creation and resilience.