The real “futures” market
The idea of making money based on potential future events is not a new one, but the Futures exchange has somewhat of a unique take on the idea. Previously covered on this blog was Longbets, which connected a bettor for both eventualities of a given future outcome with something like an escrow account until said even happens (or fails thereto). Futures exhange removes the waiting part of that equation, allowing members to buy, sell and trade their shares of something that is or isn’t going to happen. There, “safe” bets definitely cashable many years from now stand shoulder to shoulder with unlikely thoughts of bloody coups, upheavals, wild inventions and sea changes the likes of science fiction or worse. It’s not real money, but someday it might be worth something.
