A new paradigm is useless if it only solves technical problems. It must solve human ones. It must be a system designed for the messy, unpredictable, and trust-based reality of human life, not a rigid prison of code.
The Digital Prison
Our current digital systems are failing us at the most critical moments: in the transfer of value and trust between generations. This failure is the heart of the story.
Derek:
I just met with some of the early [crypto] investors but lost their passwords because they believed in their sons but now know they have a claim to the stakes and not know how to get there?
This is the core failure: a system of value built on a principle so rigid ("code is law") that it has no room for human error, grief, or legacy. Fortunes are lost in a digital void, and families are left with nothing but a "claim" they can never access. The technology, meant to liberate, has become a digital prison.
The VDES Solution: The "Human Ledger"
To prevent this problem from ever happening again, the VDES is built on a foundation of human-centric security. Code is brittle; people are resilient. We must embed trust directly into the system's architecture.
Derek:
Upon and during the dealing with transactions you should build a list of real people who you depend on and be honest about these reliable people.
This is the "Human Ledger." It is not just a vague "belief" in someone; it is a formal Trust Network, a social recovery protocol built into the VDES. It is a technical and legal framework—like a multi-signature wallet or social recovery system—where access and recovery are distributed among a small, trusted group of "real people you depend on".
This "Human Ledger" ensures that value can always be passed on. It guarantees that no single point of failure—a lost password, a sudden tragedy—can destroy a family's legacy. It is a system that uses technology to enforce human trust, not replace it.