These puzzles are not about memorising facts. They are about thinking deeply about systems that everyone uses but no one truly understands.
Winners are not just smart — they see patterns others miss. These puzzles reward people who can synthesise knowledge across economics, history, psychology, and technology.
Most people never stop to ask why money works the way it does. We are forcing you to confront the deepest assumptions of modern finance.
Out-of-the-box reasoning that is clear, logical, and fun to read. We are not looking for textbook answers. We want the reasoning of a first-principles thinker.
Think of well-researched, logical, out-of-the-box thinking. Read what others think, vote on the best answers, and submit your own to win prizes!
Our modern money is paper or digital money but for most of human history money was physical — like gold coins, silver coins, shells etc. Something that was scarce and hard to make more of. The big change from hard money to paper money happened in the 1900s. Until then, humans used hard money. Paper or digital money is incredibly easy to make more of and central banks do print their way to hyperinflation sometimes. The big question is — "why did this happen only in the 1900s and not before?" Are people in the 20th century so stupid that they can easily be fooled with Fake Money? To create long lasting wealth, one needs to understand how money works. And as they say — until you study history, you can't predict the future!
The best thinkers rise to the top. Show off your intellect to thousands of fellow IITians — and take home a prize.
