Nothing was before #bitcoin as far as cryptocurrency is concerned. There were plenty of attempts at all types of things that failed.. so I’m unsure also
Discussion
Wrong. Bitcoin was an iteration of earlier ideas and projects that actually existed but didn't make it.
hashcash, eCash, digicash etc
Yes, #Bitcoin was 40 years in the making and pulled from many things.. to me, #Bitcoin is the only real money that ever existed. Therefore everything else should be categorized as fake that came before it. Not real.
Proof of work is why #Bitcoin is #Bitcoin. If it doesn’t have proof of work. It doesn’t exist. Nothing existed before #Bitcoin as far as I’m concerned.