this post was submitted on 19 Nov 2025
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History Memes

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[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 20 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Explanation: In the mid-17th century AD, the immensely prosperous Dutch Republic (the Netherlands) was exposed to a fascinating and beautiful new flower from Turkiye - the tulip! Originally a status symbol, the explosion of popularity led to tulips, and exotic varieties of the tulip, becoming a vehicle for investment and speculation. For some three years, entire fortunes were won and lost on tulip speculation, with individual bulbs being worth the same price as a good plot of land, or an ordinary artisan's house!

The tulip market collapsed as suddenly as it arose - not out of disappointment with the tulip, but a realization that the whole business of investing fortunes in ornamental flowers might've been a bit silly. Tulips are still very popular in the Netherlands to this day - but you won't be making fortunes day-trading them!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulip_mania

[–] Jax@sh.itjust.works 5 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Pretty sure this is the first cryptocurrency, or it was the oldest known cryptocurrency at the time of my research — something like 12 years ago.

[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 5 points 4 months ago

Crypto refers to a particular technological feature of digital currencies, rather than just alternative currencies.

[–] MotoAsh@piefed.social 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Nah, native nations in South America (or was it central America?) traded many things using blue bird feathers for probably centuries. Of course I forgot all the details, and it may be a bit silly to go so far back in time that bartering was just as valid as any currency use, but history is very colorful.

[–] Jax@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I don't think that cryptocurrency means what you think it means.

[–] MotoAsh@piefed.social 1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

I didn't say cryptocurrency. I said currency. I was replying in reference to using tulips as currency, not cryptocurrency. Learn to read.

[–] Jax@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Well, I said cryptocurrency — so you're either wrong because you went after an entirely separate tangent or you're wrong for not drawing the distinction that tulip mania was not a cryptocurrency despite similarities between the two.

Bottom line: don't ever tell someone to learn how to read again you troglodyte.

[–] MotoAsh@piefed.social 1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

rofl again, I DID NOT say cryptocurrency. You fucking dumbasses and your insistence on a specific topic is just sad... Let tangents arise, you pathetic illiterate CHUD.

[–] saltnotsugar@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

SOUND THE ALARM! TULIP MADNESS MOON SHOT STOCK INVEST EVERYTHING NOW!!!

[–] BlackVenom@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

On top of this don't they have a massive trading house for flowers? (May be thinking of something completely unrelated)