So, how much money is really in the world? I asked myself this question, and the numbers are pretty crazy. We’re talking about around $37 trillion if we count all physical currency plus what’s in bank accounts. But here’s where it gets good: when you add investments, derivatives, and cryptocurrencies, the total rises to $1.2 quadrillion. It’s hard to even imagine a figure that big.

If you think only about the money you can actually hold in your hands, the coins and banknotes in circulation worldwide are about $6.6 trillion. That’s not small, but it’s nothing compared to the rest. If you want a more complete picture of how much money there is in the world, you also have to consider bank deposits and all liquid assets, and that’s where the numbers become tens of trillions.

What strikes me is this: how much money is there in the world for each of us? Because when you see these astronomical totals, and then you look at your own account and think, “Where did all that money go?” Evidently, the distribution isn’t quite fair. I wonder how much money there is in the world and where it really ends up, considering that much of it is tied to investments, complex financial instruments, and digital assets like Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

If you start thinking about it, most of this wealth isn’t real money but representations of value: securities, derivatives, digital property. Stuff that exists only on a screen. Interesting, right?