Money and the Architecture of Trust

This research paper, published by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), is based on the credit theory of money. Starting from payment as a fundamental monetary behavior, it outlines four core tensions in the operation of the monetary system and proposes that money is essentially an institutional achievement sustained by trust. The paper applies this framework to the analysis of gold, Bitcoin, and stablecoins. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the BIS or its member central banks.