Here's the question that has interested me for a long time: how much money is there in the world actually? It seems like a simple question, but the answer depends on how we count. Recently, I delved into this topic again and realized that most people have no idea about the scale.

Let's break it down by layers. Starting with the simplest — physical money in circulation. Banknotes, coins, cash in wallets and safes. Sounds like a huge amount? It turns out, it's only about 40 trillion dollars. Agree, not that much for the entire planet.

And now let's add demand deposit bank accounts — money that people can withdraw at any moment. Here, the numbers become more interesting. How much money is in the world if we count M1, including cash and easily accessible deposits? About 80 trillion. Already twice as much.

But wait, that's not all. If we include savings accounts and other liquid financial assets (M2 and M3), then the amount of money in the world becomes a completely different figure — 100 to 130 trillion dollars. You start to understand the scale of the global economy.

And if you look at the total value of all financial assets — stocks, bonds, derivatives, and others — the picture changes completely. Here, we're talking about 400 to 500 trillion. And if we add all complex financial instruments and derivatives, the nominal value could even reach quadrillions.

What amazes me about this? The cryptocurrency market, despite its growth, still makes up only a small part of this huge pie. Virtual currencies, by my estimates, are about a third of all these trillions. Wild market fluctuations, central banks printing money, geopolitical events — all constantly change these figures.

Understanding how much money there is in the world and how it is distributed helps better navigate where capital is heading. In my opinion, this is basic knowledge for anyone who wants to understand financial markets.