the.com/token
A stand-in for value, proof, or affection — worth exactly what we agree.
means A small object, sign, or amount that represents something larger — value, identity, a feeling, or membership — standing in for the real thing by mutual agreement.
from From Old English 'tācen,' meaning a sign or symbol, kin to the German 'Zeichen' and tied to an ancient root for 'showing' or 'pointing out' — the same family that gave us 'teach.' At heart, a token was always something that points beyond itself: a mark that says 'look here, this means more.'
- Etymology
- From Old English tacn, meaning a sign or symbol
- Subway era
- NYC transit tokens jingled in pockets until 2003
- Computing
- Language models read text in tokens, not words
- Authentication
- Security tokens generate one-time codes that expire fast
- Crypto craze
- A single token sold for over 69 million dollars
bitcoin — first cryptocurrency token created in 2009, worth over $40,000 per token in 2024
ethereum — blockchain platform launched 2015 with ether token, enables smart contracts and defi
subway card — new york city transit token system, physical card used for subway and bus rides