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Will we soon be paying for brilliant ideas with our digital wallets? Despite its quirky name, Tablecoin isn’t the brainchild of a trendy New York eatery or a quirky crypto experiment. It’s a new kind of currency—part of the bold and unconventional Genius Act—that aims to redefine how we value human intelligence. This is Beirut explains.
As technological advances accelerate, Washington has just passed two landmark pieces of legislation: the country’s first national framework for stablecoins and the ambitious Genius Act. The aim? To regulate digital assets while safeguarding human intellectual contribution in an increasingly automated world.
What Is the Genius Act?
Recently adopted in the US, the Genius Act proposes a radical idea: rewarding human intellect in the age of generative AI. With machines now capable of writing theses, coding apps, and composing music, the act seeks to ensure that humans remain at the negotiation table. The fear is clear: without intervention, we risk a “dematerialization of both intelligence… and income.”
Enter Tablecoin: a public digital currency not backed by gold or Bitcoin but indexed to human intellectual input. The idea is simple—offer tokens to those who contribute value through ideas, insights, and constructive debate. The more brainpower you bring to the table, the more Tablecoins you earn.
The project supports a broader vision: creating a “cognitive democracy” where active participants in knowledge-based exchanges are recognized and rewarded.
Advantages and Challenges
The core strength of Tablecoin lies in its attempt to put humans back at the center at a time when AI is becoming ubiquitous. The initiative highlights the importance of professions based on intellectual contribution—researchers, mediators, and artists—whose work resists automation. It also aims to enhance the quality of public discourse through moderated “digital deliberation tables,” where meaningful input is rewarded.
But key challenges remain. Can the value of an idea truly be measured objectively? Critics warn of potential arbitrariness or bias—where eloquence might outweigh substance and less visible yet equally valuable contributions go unrecognized. Additionally, although Tablecoin is designed as a stable currency, it could still be subject to political or ideological pressure. There’s also the risk of manipulation, where users flood platforms with low-effort contributions just to collect rewards.
An American Political Gamble
This initiative is part of a broader US push to regulate the digital economy. Congress recently approved the first federal framework for stablecoins—cryptocurrencies pegged to assets like the dollar. Meanwhile, Trump Media disclosed it holds nearly $2 billion in bitcoin and related digital assets, making up two-thirds of its cash reserves. Another $300 million is invested in crypto options—a move aimed at achieving financial independence from Big Tech.
With stablecoins, Tablecoin, the Genius Act, and increasing regulation, the US appears ready to monetize brainpower as much as bandwidth. Think arguing online is a waste of time? Think again—a well-placed insight might soon buy you a coffee. Paid in crypto, naturally.
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