The principles of self-custody and the transfer of assets can be likened to the concept of cellular automata—a system in which simple rules at the individual level lead to complex structures and behaviors at the collective level.

In cellular automata, each cell follows a basic set of rules regarding its state and its interactions with neighboring cells. Despite the simplicity of these rules, the system as a whole can evolve into intricate patterns and complex behaviors. Similarly, in human society, the basic acts of self-custody and asset transfer—each governed by simple principles of ownership and exchange—can lead to the formation of complex social structures.

Consider how, from the simple act of a person securing their resources and transferring them to another, entire families, communities, and organizations emerge. Just as in cellular automata, where the interaction of individual cells leads to emergent patterns, the interactions between individuals—rooted in self-custody and transfer—lead to the emergence of intricate societal structures.

These structures, formed from countless individual acts of custody and transfer, eventually scale up to form the fabric of civilizations. The complex economies, governments, and cultures we see today are the result of countless simple interactions, governed by the basic human desire to secure, control, and exchange what we value.