electrek: Electricity is about to become the new base currency and China figured it out [ADMIN WARNING: NO POLITICS]

[Cycliste]

“What I’m trying to explore in this op-ed is the idea that if the present is electric and the future is even more electric, then it makes sense for electricity to be the foundation of the economy.

If electricity is the backbone of global trade and the metric of productivity, the kWh ultimately becomes the real currency of a truly electrified world.

And I think China has figured this out, as evidenced by its new electricity generation surpassing the rest of the world combined and by its ban on cryptocurrency.

They are going to let the rest of the world hold the crypto bag while they have more electricity generation than anyone to power their industries, which are already taking over the world.

I think the rest of the world should learn from this. Instead of pouring capital into meme coins and made-up stores of value, we should invest in electricity generation and storage.”


https://electrek.co/2025/11/21/elec...e-new-base-currency-and-china-figured-it-out/

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[Cycliste]

This was an interesting op-ed. Electricity in the early 20th century was a revolution, and the revolution feels like it is increasing speed over one hundred years later.

 

[shrink]

Interesting but in Arizona (and other Colorado River Dependent States), the currency is water.

 

[Cycliste]

Great thought, especially when we have negative electricity prices during peak solar and wind generation. California agrees.

 

[COdogman]

Oil, Water, Electricity. Humans will fight over all of it until the end of time. And as usual, we have no long term plan, unlike the Chinese who are masters at playing the long game.

China bans crypto, but they sure don't seem to want to stop the massive amount of crypto scams that originate in their country and target older Americans. In 2024 alone they stole $9 billion from Americans. No one can convince me it isn't government sanctioned organized crime.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

Oil, Water, Electricity. Humans will fight over all of it until the end of time. And as usual, we have no long term plan, unlike the Chinese who are masters at playing the long game.

China bans crypto, but they sure don't seem to want to stop the massive amount of crypto scams that originate in their country and target older Americans. In 2024 alone they stole $9 billion from Americans. No one can convince me it isn't government sanctioned organized crime.

It probably is. We already know China prints paper money and circulates it here to devalue our money.

 

[lefkonj]

Water going to be the bigger thing. I can always do wind, solar or hydro for power but without water I can't grow crops or feed livestock. That is a much bigger problem.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Oil, Water, Electricity. Humans will fight over all of it until the end of time. And as usual, we have no long term plan, unlike the Chinese who are masters at playing the long game.

China bans crypto, but they sure don't seem to want to stop the massive amount of crypto scams that originate in their country and target older Americans. In 2024 alone they stole $9 billion from Americans. No one can convince me it isn't government sanctioned organized crime.

They are masters of the long game because it's the same political party and system, over and over. We flip flop every which way, back and forth. Pretty hard to stick to any plan. That said, each system has pros and cons. I would not want China's cons.

 

[Tim-in-CA]

My solar + powerwall ROI timetable gets better with every SCE increase

 

[Time2Roll]

Water going to be the bigger thing. I can always do wind, solar or hydro for power but without water I can't grow crops or feed livestock. That is a much bigger problem.

Fresh water comes from the ocean with enough energy.

 

[COdogman]

They are masters of the long game because it's the same political party and system, over and over. We flip flop every which way, back and forth. Pretty hard to stick to any plan. That said, each system has pros and cons. I would not want China's cons.

Agree 100%

 

[TexasBob]

Oil, Water, Electricity. Humans will fight over all of it until the end of time. And as usual, we have no long term plan, unlike the Chinese who are masters at playing the long game.

China bans crypto, but they sure don't seem to want to stop the massive amount of crypto scams that originate in their country and target older Americans. In 2024 alone they stole $9 billion from Americans. No one can convince me it isn't government sanctioned organized crime.

If you have not read or listened to Scam Inc in the Economist it is very much worthwhile. Chinese gangs operating in Myanmar and targeting mostly Chinese citizens but now Americans and other Westerners. Bad stuff.

 

[beatle]

They are masters of the long game because it's the same political party and system, over and over. We flip flop every which way, back and forth. Pretty hard to stick to any plan. That said, each system has pros and cons. I would not want China's cons.

True that. Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others.

 

[lefkonj]

Fresh water comes from the ocean with enough energy.

Sounds great for the coasts but what about Kansas?

 

[docwhiz]

Fresh water comes from the ocean with enough energy.

Or from the air...
The book "Walkaway" is a great read. It describes a future where everything is electric and electricity is abundant. Autonomous machines mine resources from waste and make everything. Everyone has everything they need and nobody has to work.
Of course, there are reactionaries stuck in the old paradigm which drives the plot.

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