Cyberskies
In 2053, the world was living the “Peak of Nations”. Powerful countries had control over their territories, population, economy and everything else, outlining the United States of America and China as the most powerful countries in the world and the most stable economies.
Even with the announced arrival of cryptocurrencies that threatened the economies of all countries, no one was prepared for the “Great Inversion”. Big companies and corporations came together to dominate the cryptocurrency market, and when the time came, it was too late for those who weren’t ready.
At first, the stabilization of cryptocurrencies use for commercial purposes caused countries to start losing control of how much each person profited and how much they spent. In short, each country lost control of how much money ran in the hands of its citizens.
Some countries tried to tax cryptocurrencies, but Blockchain technology made it possible for operations to be carried out anonymously, so many people weren’t truthful about their wallets or where their money really was. Other countries believed that blocking the use of these coins within their territory would solve the problem. However, as Blockchain was widespread, this did not prevent people from continuing to use this hidden currency to leave their money in a safer place other than in the hands of the government. Ultimately, it caused many countries to interrupt the Internet Backbones, in order to leave the population trapped inside the local internet, not communicating with the rest of the world and forcing the population to use the old coins.
What followed was the fall of many countries that did not know how to seize the moment. Many dictatorships have sprung up around the world in an attempt to maintain the status quo. Other weakened countries were annexed to larger countries and other large countries were divided, forming new kingdoms. The world had entered a new “Dark Age”.
Not only were cryptocurrencies banned in these countries, but outdated thinking also reduced the level of technology, causing ancient diseases to ravage through these places again. The energy crisis hit the countries so hard that they no longer had the purchasing power to reform power plants and transmission networks. Food also became an issue because without technology and trade with other nations, they could not feed every mouth as they used to. Computers and other new technologies began to become scarce, leading the population to extreme misery.
It is not only nations that have undergone a great change in the world. Cryptocurrencies themselves have changed a lot over time. Gradually, they needed to adapt to the new world paradigm, so that many coins disappeared and gave way to new ones.
Finally, in 2084, the great economic war was no longer between countries, but rather between corporations and other groups, such as pirates, nomads, etc. Those who managed to get more resources – including large amounts of the most important cryptocurrencies – became large and powerful. For instance, Paxton Skylines, which not only dominates a large amount of Cybercoins, as well as the territory of Old New York City alone.
Between money and power, these corporations today focus their efforts on keeping vital resources under control. Airports are one of the most important resources nowadays. The only – relatively – safe way to market products across great distances is by air. Owning an airport makes it possible to charge fees and keep an eye on all products that enter and leave the region.
