In 1999, when the wave of digitalization was just beginning to rise, a famous economist had already foreseen the arrival of Crypto Assets. This scholar is none other than Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman.

In an interview, Friedman presented a surprising viewpoint. He believed that the internet would become an important force in diminishing the role of government and predicted the emergence of a brand new electronic cash system. This system would allow users to transfer value over the network while remaining anonymous, without the need for both parties to recognize each other.

Friedman cleverly compared this future electronic cash to paper currency, saying: 'Just like I give you a $20 bill, this process leaves no record.'

Remarkably, a decade after Friedman made this prediction, the Bitcoin white paper was released. An anonymous individual claiming to be Satoshi Nakamoto created this decentralized, encryption-based electronic cash system that does not require trust in a third party. Since then, Bitcoin has gradually evolved from a theoretical concept into a significant global digital asset.

Friedman's insight lies not only in his foresight of the direction of technological development but, more importantly, in his capture of the era's deep demand for 'trustworthy private transactions.' Although he could not foresee the emergence of blockchain technology at the time, he profoundly understood the significant importance of reconstructing 'cash privacy and autonomy' in the digital world.

This prophecy not only proves Friedman's foresight but also prompts us to reflect: truly great ideas are always able to transcend the limits of time, having already insightfully grasped the essence of the future before the technology is realized. This forward-thinking mindset is of significant enlightening value for our understanding and shaping of the future.