Bretton Woods and the Future of Money

In Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, today’s foremost economists, investors, academics and thinkers will gather for three days in August to answer the question: What is the future of money?

article-image
share

key takeaways

  • In 1944, the most powerful countries in the world gathered in a small hotel in sleepy Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, to create a new monetary system for the world
  • While the Bretton Woods system has long been discarded, today we find ourselves in a similar position as the allied nations did back then.

In 1944, the most powerful countries in the world gathered in a small hotel in sleepy Bretton Woods, New Hampshire.

World War II was drawing to a close, and the Allies had come together for one purpose:

Creating a new monetary system for a new world.

After 22 days of intense deliberation, the conference settled on a monetary system with the US dollar at the center.

The Allies also created the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to uphold global financial security and oversee fair trade practices.

While the Bretton Woods system has long been discarded, today we find ourselves in a similar position as the allied nations did back then.

Our monetary system is not working.

Governments around the world are in a race to the bottom to debase their currencies. Trade wars are breaking out. Inequality is worse than it has ever been.

The end of the US dollar’s status as reserve currency is no longer a question of if, but of when.

So now the question is: What is the future of money?

During a conference hosted by Blockworks at the very same historic hotel in Bretton Woods, today’s foremost economists, investors, academics and thinkers will gather for three days and attempt to answer that question and consider:

  • The history of money itself
  • An overview of the short- and long-term debt cycles
  • Today’s financial plumbing
  • The complicated relationship between the US and China
  • Bitcoin and the promise of a new monetary system

It has never been more important to ask these questions than it is today. Be part of the conversation and the solution. Join us for Bretton Woods: The Realignment (August 11-13, 2021). Apply to attend here.

Tags

Upcoming Events

Old Billingsgate

Mon - Wed, October 13 - 15, 2025

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

Industry City | Brooklyn, NY

TUES - THURS, JUNE 24 - 26, 2025

Permissionless IV serves as the definitive gathering for crypto’s technical founders, developers, and builders to come together and create the future.If you’re ready to shape the future of crypto, Permissionless IV is where it happens.

Brooklyn, NY

SUN - MON, JUN. 22 - 23, 2025

Blockworks and Cracked Labs are teaming up for the third installment of the Permissionless Hackathon, happening June 22–23, 2025 in Brooklyn, NY. This is a 36-hour IRL builder sprint where developers, designers, and creatives ship real projects solving real problems across […]

recent research

Featured.png

Research

Helium stands at a pivotal moment in its evolution as a decentralized wireless network, balancing rapid growth, economic restructuring, and global expansion. With accelerated growth in domestic DAUs and Hotspots supporting its network, Helium is leveraging strategic partnerships and innovative proposals to scale internationally. The recent implementation of HIP 138, “Return to HNT,” has unified its token economy under HNT, simplifying participation and strengthening liquidity, while HIP 139’s phase-out of CBRS refocuses efforts on scalable Wi-Fi offload. Meanwhile, governance shifts under HIP 141 raise questions about centralization as Nova Labs consolidates control over the roadmap.

article-image

The DeFi Education Fund has ideas on how the crypto-friendly SEC can bring Commissioner Peirce’s vision to life

article-image

“Be prepared to do more with less,” Framework Ventures’ Michael Anderson said

article-image

Q1 may have been “frustrating,” but things are looking brighter for Q2

article-image

Tokens worth 20% of the current supply of the TRUMP memecoin launched by the president are set to be unlocked tomorrow

article-image

A crypto-industry lawsuit is “moot” now that Joint Resolution 25 has been signed into law

article-image

Fed Chair Powell assured markets that the labor market is in “good place,” dependent on price stability