Systematic upgrades and iterations are never achieved overnight. What appears to be revolutionary is often still revolving within the old framework. The crypto industry is a typical example — on the surface, aiming to reconstruct the financial order, but ultimately, the entire ecosystem still operates on the basis of the dollar system.

The logic behind this is actually very solid. The world has long been accustomed to using the dollar for pricing, settlement, and storage. Once this habit is formed, it’s not something that can be instantly changed just by adopting new technology. Everyone uses dollars for accounting, liquidity is the strongest, and credit is the most stable. Who is willing to take risks trying out new things?

There are similar examples in history. The US economy has long surpassed the UK in size, yet the British pound persisted in the international financial system for many years before gradually exiting the stage. This isn’t because the British are too stubborn, but because of systemic inertia.

True financial revolutions always take decades, even a hundred years or more. A nation’s strength may fluctuate dramatically, but once the underlying financial system is established, like a giant ship, its turning cycle is much longer than we imagine.