The Price of Time by Edward Chancellor - outstanding book for those interested in financial history.

The ending was unexpected.

"Still, it's possible that one day a cryptocurrency may emerge which is safe to store, efficient for transactions and limited in supply. The trouble is that governments won't willingly give up their monopoly."

Then he mentions CBDCs and seems to be on the cusp of the rabbit hole... made me think of idea of bitcoin backed bonds at sovereign level.

Worth the read.