Pretty sure Bill from Pokémon Red and Blue was the true creator of crypto currencies

Pokémon do work in the real world and are transacted digitally in either centralized exchanges at a pokecenter or P2P via trades. Pokeballs are just cold storage wallets.

The in-game currency is more a basic game mechanic than it is in-game currency as we know them today. Items are cheap af and your characters earns far more than enough just by advancing the plot. The only true commodity in the game is Pokémon and they are traded with much more utility, value and scarcity.

Satoshi = Bill

Edit: I’ve been informed that the main character Ash Ketchum, is named Satoshi in Japan. ????