My current feeling is it's all a massive house of cards / confidence based thing
Fiat currencies always are. It's a house of cards propped up by optimism and collective self-delusion. Seems to work though, so fuck it. Unless you're advocating a return to the gold-standard, or making seashells or (DNA hat-tip) leaves legal tender there are remarkably few alternative workable options. Other than barter, which is kinda clunky on any sensible scale.
Fiat currencies always are. It's a house of cards propped up by optimism and collective self-delusion. Seems to work though, so fuck it. Unless you're advocating a return to the gold-standard, or making seashells or (DNA hat-tip) leaves legal tender there are remarkably few alternative workable options. Other than barter, which is kinda clunky on any sensible scale.