History of Money, 1995 –– 2000
1995
The Age of Electronic Money and Bowie Bonds
Over 90% of all transactions in the US are made electronically.
Mondex introduces the smart card in Britain, which is intended as a replacement for cash.
The Mark Twain Bank adopts DigiCash an anonymous form of digital money developed by cryptographer David Chaum.
1997
Bowie Bonds
David Bowie issues Bowie Bonds which are backed by the copyrights of his previously published songs. It is a remarkable demonstration of the fungibility of money.
1999
The Wuro
The Euro a European single currency is created and becomes the currency of 11 of the member states of the European Union (Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland).
2000 —
The Chiemgauer Flourishes
In the Bavarian region of Chiemgau the local currency the Chiemgauer has flourished. It is one of 16 regional currencies that have sprung up in Germany and Austria since the launch of the Euro.