Over time currencies have become more and more virtualized. Gold is stored away at central banks, currencies like the dollar have mainly significance as abstract numbers on your bank account. No wonder that someone came up with the idea for currencies that are no longer related to central banks and monetary policies (why Trump loves them). Only, limited availability and hyped demand makes crypto curriencies highly speculative (bordering to a pyramid scheme) and -therefore- not likely used for what currencies were originally meant for: engaging in economic transactions... except for money laundering. CC ought to be phased out, then outlawed. The U.S. is able to have its humongous deficit, because the dollar is still the accepted legal tender all over the world, and central banks recognize and respect the Federal Reserve as a monetary authority which acts independently from whoever resides in the White House.