In my Bitcoin community, there was a discussion on how to onboard over 5,000 merchants in the food market, and the following explanation was given, which was the most brilliant analogy of Bitcoin I have ever come across.
PERSON A:
Ok...
Please 🙏 you are a Bitcoin evangelist, and I am a market goatmeat seller. We just met, and you are about to lead me to Bitcoin adoption. How will you share the evolution of money with me?
In writing, so I read up.
Please share!
PERSON B (CHEF GREEN):
Imagine the story of money as a kitchen story:
1. Trade by Barter: The First Kitchen
In the beginning, people didn’t have money.
They traded goods.
You bring me yam, I give you fish.
But what if I didn’t want fish?
Or what if your yam got spoiled?
Trading was stressful.
Just like a chef trying to swap raw tomatoes for pepper with a farmer every day, very hard!
2. Shells and Cowries: The First Small Tools
To solve this, people started using cowries and shells.
These things were small, easy to carry, and had value.
Everyone agreed: “Cowries are valuable.”
Like chefs discovering knives and pots, small tools that make work faster.
3. Gold and Silver The Chef’s Premium Utensils
Later, people used gold and silver.
Precious, beautiful, heavy.
But too heavy to carry everywhere.
Like a chef buying heavy iron pots, strong but not convenient for a mobile kitchen.
4. Paper Money The Light Apron
Then governments said:
Instead of carrying heavy gold, carry this small paper. We promise it's worth gold.
People trusted the paper.
Paper money made life faster, like switching from heavy iron pots to lightweight stainless steel pans.
5. Bank Transfers, Cards, The Modern Gas Stove
Then came banks, ATMs, and transfers.
Now, you don’t even need cash.
Just tap your card or send money on your phone.
Like a chef moving from firewood to clean gas stoves faster and smoother but dependent on big gas companies.
6. Bitcoin and Digital Money: The Smart Kitchen
Now comes Bitcoin.
No need for banks.
No need for permission.
No border restrictions.
It’s like a chef upgrading to a solar-powered, mobile kitchen
You control your own kitchen.
You cook anytime, anywhere.
You’re independent of NEPA, gas suppliers, or middlemen.
Bitcoin is the smart chef’s money.
It's lighter than cowries, safer than gold, faster than transfers, and not controlled by any single kitchen (government).
Summary in One Line:
Money evolved from heavy, risky things to faster, smarter tools and Bitcoin is the chef’s modern apron for a global, digital kitchen.
Credit
Chef Green on BTC Map: see location
Chef Green on Facebook (most active here)
Chef Green on Twitter/X
Chef Green on Instagram
Chef Green on TikTok