Hold onto your teacups, Brits! The digital revolution has officially stormed the Bank of England, kicking the Great British Pound to the curb and establishing Bitcoin as the world's 6th most valuable monetary asset. Yes, you read that right. That internet funny money your grandpa warned you about is now worth more than the currency that built an empire.

What exactly makes something "money," you ask? Well, it boils down to being the bedrock of the financial system—what experts call "settlement media" or "settlement money."

Think of it like this: you've got debts to settle, but instead of juggling IOUs, you need cold, hard cash. In today's world, that "cash" is the monetary base, the ultimate tool used by nations, central banks, and regular banks to square their accounts in real-time.

Now, let's rewind the clock a bit. We all have a sneaking suspicion that gold and silver weren't just shiny trinkets our ancestors hoarded. They were OG money, minted into coins for trade and used as a yardstick for value. Even before that, they were crafted into jewellery and ornaments, passed down through generations as a store of wealth.

Today, gold is more than just bullion bars. It's a diverse market, with the majority held as jewellery. Interestingly, private individuals and institutions hold more gold bullion than central banks. A small chunk is still used for industrial purposes, constantly recycled and reused.

Silver, on the other hand, has taken a slightly different path. Today, it's more at home in your smartphone than in a treasure chest. It's a key component in microchips, wires, and all sorts of tech gadgets. While you'll still find it in jewellery and silverware, its role as a store of value and medium of exchange has diminished.

But wait, there's more! Bitcoin isn't stopping there. Its sights are set on dethroning the almighty US dollar and even gold, and frankly, the numbers suggest it might just pull it off.

Let's face it, fiat currencies are looking a bit flimsy these days. Governments can't seem to resist the temptation to print money like it's going out of style, and inflation is biting everyone in the backside. Meanwhile, Bitcoin, with its limited supply of 21 million coins, is a beacon of stability in a sea of financial chaos. It's like the digital gold rush, but without the dusty prospectors and questionable hygiene.

Bitcoin is a strange beast, a hybrid of old and new. Like gold and silver, its supply is determined by miners competing to unearth new coins. But unlike those precious metals, Bitcoin has a fixed ceiling—that famous 21 million coin cap.

Here's where things get really interesting: Bitcoin's supply is publicly verifiable, like central bank money. But unlike fiat currency, which can be printed at the whim of policymakers, Bitcoin's growth is predictable and transparent.

And gold? Well, it's had a good run, but let's be honest, carrying around a gold bar to buy your groceries isn't exactly practical in the 21st century. Bitcoin, on the other hand, can be sent around the world with a few clicks, making it a far more convenient store of value and medium of exchange in our modern, interconnected world.

So, where does this leave us? Porkopolis Economics has compiled a handy chart showing the current value of all these monetary assets, past, present, and future.

This isn't just about comparing numbers; it's about understanding the evolution of money. Your bank accounts, credit cards, and investments? They're all derivatives, built upon this foundation of base money.

Hold your horses, stock market enthusiasts! Stocks might be liquid, but they fall short of the "money" definition. They can store value (sometimes), but they're not used to price your pint of beer or send to your mate overseas. Bitcoin, however, ticks those boxes – it stores value and you can send it globally, even without internet access! Take that, gold bars!

Remember, the magic ingredient of money is acceptance. People need to agree it's a valid medium of exchange. Bitcoin's already nailing the store of value and transferability aspects. It's only a matter of time before it becomes the go-to unit of account for everything from your daily coffee to a luxury yacht.

The writing is on the wall, folks. Bitcoin is the future of money, and those who ignore it are going to be left behind, scrambling for pennies while the Bitcoiners are sipping champagne on their virtual yachts.

So, what are you waiting for? Get on board the Bitcoin train before it leaves the station without you. Your future self will thank you for it.