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It has been suggested that there will still be a need for money, in the form of unforgeable [[digital cash]], even when advanced nanotechnology exists. It might be useful in markets for those goods and services that are unique, or for which only a finite amount exists in the solar system. These might include: matter, energy, information, real estate, design services, entertainment services, legal services, fame, political power, or the attention of other people to your political/religious/philisophical message. Some people have claimed that no matter how good virtual reality gets, there will always be a strong interest in obtaining limited resources, such as a chance to talk to the real president of a major country, or owning part of the real [[Jerusalem]], or having a famous celebrity say nice things about you in a digitally-signed document, or gaining the mining rights to the larger near-earth asteroids. Demand will always exceed supply for some things.
Of course, nanotechnology is not without its risks. In addition to enabling the development of much cheaper and more destructive conventional [[weapon]]s, nanotechnology also offers the possibility of weapons that operate by self-replication, as [[virus (biology)|virus]]es and [[cancer]] cells do when attacking the human body. There is general agreement that self-replication should be permitted only very controlled conditions. There is a fear that nanomechanical robots (nanobots) allowed to self-replicate could consume the entire planet in their hunger for raw materials. This situtation is sometimes called the "grey goo" scenario.
In light of these dangers, the [[Foresight Institute]] (founded by Drexler to prepare for the arrival of future technologies) has drafted a set of guidelines [http://www.foresight.org/guidelines/current.html] for the ethical development of nanotechnology.
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